The People's Channel

Well folks, it's the one we have been waiting for. I think the idea first came as late as the end of 2003 but it's the four parter from Melvyn Bragg taking a look at ITV reaching 50. It's spread over four programmes. There's a little feature about on Teletext although worringly two pages is devoted to Simon Cowell's views.

Question is how will the four documentary cover ITV. Will it be strictly network programme related or will Melvyn take a chance and tell us the days when ITV was really Independent.

I noticed the promo for this during The South Bank Show last night, the promo had a tendency to keep showing clips of programmes, but they did show a clip interviewing Greg Dyke, so hopefully it might be a bit of both.

There's a special series on ITV1 Granada called "Those were the Days" - looking back at 50 years of Granada Television.

Starts this Tuesday (21st) at 7.30 on Granada.

Funny little review here from The Times website:

No generalisation is challenged, not even when Simon Shaps, chief executive of Granada, says that ITV continues to take risks, push boundaries and offer viewers the unexpected. They are proud of their achievements. One contributor says: “There was no artist you couldn’t afford and no programme ambition you couldn’t realise.” And we ended up with Celebrity Love Island.

Couldn't stop laughing at that. The even sadder thing is that they are considering a second series. They really have no shame do they?

Ill be watching this for definate, my only hope is that its a balanced portrayal of ITVs fortunes, and the recent mistakes are acknowleged by those at the top. Sadly, I have a feeling this wont happen and all we'll get is a viewpoint seen through rose tinted specs.

I also hope we get a balanced view. The BBC managed it last year with "Grumpy old Men" where they basically said that the BBC was nothing like it was. I wonder if ITV can admit they are sh*te compared to the old days.

Radio Times says its 5 parts.

I'm sure with it being Melvyn Bragg and being shown in the Sunday night 'South Bank Show' slot it will talk alot about the background issues and themes across the 50 years and avoid being populist. I find it tacky that reporters are mentioning Celebrity Love Island, I doubt that will get more than 1 second's coverage. It's about the last 50 years, not the last 50 days!

I'm thinking it will feature many clips of Hughie Green, Des O'Connor, Leslie Crowther, Cilla Black, Denis Norden and er....Michael Barrymore.

I do find it amusing you're talking about Celeb Love Island being mentioned as tacky...oh the irony.

I'm hopeful that the series will be rather insightful (and with a clip of Leslie Crowther's Price is Right in there ...it's got me watching!!!) and reflective of ITV.

But no doubt there will be an underlying theme of how the last 50 years have made the channel the success it is today. As soon as I get a hint of that, I'm switching off.

I wouldn't hold my breath. Dead Ringers never hesitates to poke fun at the BBC (and other channels), but when have we seen 2DTV satirise its host channel? I rest my case.

I think you've missed the point of the two progammes, 2D satrical look at the weeks NEWS but Dead Ringers is a long running radio and TV satire, which has always used this element of the weeks Media ala Greg Dyke or BBC Ident usage, or Radio C/A...

But this programme the "People's Channel" sound utter crap, and who are we kidding, ITV has always been crap, just now using this wonderful beacon of celebrity to yet again enlighten the mass...Twoddle.

Melvin Bragg, any respect has just got up, put on a rather large duffle coat and hat, and slammed the door on its way out.

But 2DTV is the closest thing ITV has to Dead Ringers, although there is certainly less emphasis on current affairs.


Something tells me Melvyn isn't as pleased with ITV as he publicly admits. An article in last week's Devon Independent hinted at his displeasure with ITV's current "celebrity" obsession. Yet he remains "fiercely loyal" to ITV and rightly points out the 645 people most ignorant about television pass the laws which determine how it operates.