Roy walker back on Catchphrase

If you want to watch Roy walker doing Catchphrase this year at TV festival you can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=BqWch80522I&ab_channel=EdinburghTelevisionFestival

He's still got it and I dont know why there got rid of him,

Thanks for finding this. He really hasn’t changed in 30 years has he? A bit like Brucie and Jim Bowen who always looked very old. He still very quick witted too.

Nice to see him present with the shows current branding and graphics too.

I'm guessing it was the switch from once a week peak, to five times a week daytime, that may have swung his personal decision.

It's a step change from doing 2 shows per night for a couple of nights, working a full sized studio audience during the recording breaks, reeling off gags from his stand-up act - to the 'meat market' of doing five shows per day, minimal audience, just enough time between recording to change the tie and jacket, neck a cup of tea, munch on a ham sandwich and off you go again - and repeat everyday for a couple of weeks.

Yeah, money might be good - but to some, money isn't everything if you think that presenting the show is only half the job. Entertaining the audience is also part of the gig as well.

Plus, he's not been twiddling his thumbs since leaving Catchphrase. Carved out a nice little career doing stand-up engagements on the cruise ship circuit..

If I recall correctly, he was being interviewed for Channel 5 clip show regarding Nick Weir falling down the stairs, and was told he was going to be replaced because they wanted to freshen up the show for the new millennium.

Catchphrase moved to it's weekday daily slot during the Mark Curry run IIRC. I remember it being reported in late 99 that Walker didn't leave the show through choice.

ITV replaced roy with Nick Weir overhauled the show and made it crap, Nick first episode? he broke his leg falling down the stairs. he managed three series, but it wasn't the same.

Another bad thing about the 2000 revamp: they either gave Mr Chips a horrible makeover or replaced him with an impostor, depending on one's point of view.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2rylw6d.jpg

He didn't seem to feature much in the catchphrases either - and was he even referred to by name? The folks that did appear in the catchphrases, as well as in the opening titles, didn't get referred to by name AFAIK.

Nice to see Roy back again. Is the Stephen Mulhern version still going?

I'd argue Mr Chips looks even worse now.

It was on ITV about two hours ago!

From memory Mr Chips had about 4-5 different looks during the Roy era.

Were they short of contestants for the first six and Chris and Kem just happened to be there?