Noel's House Party

I always remember one end-of-series show, after House Party had finished - where the BBC1 continuty announcer told us we were going back to the house and Noel was unnaware of the surprise.. I remember Noel spotting something on a studio monitor and questionning whether he was still on... but they managed to keep the set up going for a minute or so.

How often did Noel do the 'You Don't Bring Me Flowers' gag? I recall one time where they made him sing the entire song and how horrified he looked at each time the cue cards kept being turned over.

I don't think he used one on House Party as he used to often be taking visual cues from the floor manager, which would get ever more chaotic when things didn't go to plan and the running order was reshuffled.

That was actually on The Late Late Breakfast Show, it's on YouTube - they come back to the studio and ask him to film a trailer, which he does, and then says "What do you mean we're still on air?" and gets gunged. Good job he didn't swear...

When you think about it, the doorbell ringing was a really good cue point, and they could ring it earlier (they often played it over the top of the previous item/skit) if they needed to hurry things up a bit.

As does Paul O'Grady.

I bet windy miller must be getting fed up trying to tell paul to hurry up. I don't think Paul could deal with some of the crap via the talkback

It's this sort of stuff that Saturday Night Takeaway has been lacking over the last couple of series. Ant and Dec have ended up with so much control, it feels over-rehearsed. And the idea of the crew playing a joke on them would be unheard of now.

Over even this: https://youtu.be/H-UZA5Nz6HQ?t=357

*looks at the floor, and mutters quietly*

Actually, thanks Inspector. So I was almost right - looks like it was recorded in the half-term holiday then!

Mind you - recording a short insert with a lighted cyclo, a couple of freestanding chipboard decorations, two small sofas, and (IIRC) a small play area, was making great use of the full floor space within the firelanes of TC3
And, (after these years) explains why the audience reaction always sounded a bit muted to the live show audience.
I worked out they could'nt use the live show audience for the laughter/clapping reactions as they were obviously using the time the vt was playing to prepare the next segments of the show in the studio - but it was such a difference, I thought the laughter track in the WTIGYH inserts were all dubbed.

Bit ironic there was a severe age restriction on entry to the studio as well, given most of the children featured were at least 4-8 years under the minimum allowed age for studio entrance!