TFI Friday

TF1 Vendredi?

The more or less already confirmed news has been confirmed, that Chris won't be returning to TFI. The Guardian, as well as some other outlets, cites a "source of the show" that TFI won't be turning at all, but The Mirror states, quoting a "TFI Insider", that C4 want Grimface to come on board and front it. I seriously hope they just leave it to rest, not just because of my explicit loathing of Nick, but I don't think anybody can sufficiently fill the seat that Chris has sat in for what is technically nearly 20 years.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/27/chris-evans-gives-up-tfi-friday-role-top-gear-focus

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/tfi-friday-will-not-return-7076580

I'm in two minds about it. I really think TFI Friday has showed what is really missing from TV at the moment both in terms of live music and television with no purpose other than to entertain and hopefully the door has been opened to that sort of show returning, and probably the best chance of it continuing is under the TFI banner, rather than a new show to replace it. I wish there was someone other than Nick Grimshaw who came to mind as a replacement host, but I actually think he'd probably be quite good.

There is someone out there, back after a couple of years from the broadcasting game, who 'could' just host it - but, as there is still a bit of history between them, it would depend on how long that arms length distance Evans would keep from his 'baby'

Chris Moyles.

Nick Grimshaw is to mainstream, up his own arse and not funny enough to deal with TFI, you need someone off the wall and not so main stream.

I think Moyles would be far more suited and has that same anarchic love-him-or-hate-him vibe that Evans has/had. He's proven himself before with Chris Moyles Quiz Night and shown he's up for a laugh with celebrities and the public. Nick on;y has experience with saying "Now on T4, it's Hollyoaks," and reminding everybody he's friends with One Direction. As I've explained before (to Brekkie, I think) I believe Nick should only be allowed his own show providing he wasn't riding on the back of a successful one. That way, he's not ruining a fondly remembered relic of Channel 4's history and his show will be far more easy to avoid. It's arguably true he meets the "demographic" of TFI, but I do think the majority of its audience has been that demographic from 1996. That being said, a friend of mine has told me of his approval of this series, he's in his early-mid 20s as I am, but he's far more into Radio 1-type culture than I am. I truly believe any of the quirky features in TFI would be spoiled by Nick's "isn't this great and aren't I great for being involved" expression on his face.

There's all sorts of reasons why Moyles won't get the TFI gig. Which others will no doubt repeat, I agree he'd make a much better go of it though.

Chris Evans should really keep his options open. Top Gear's biggest problem is the press seem to be turning on it and once the press have it in for something public perception begins to decline as do ratings.

I feel Evans is sacrifacing 4 or 5 series of this rejuvenated TFI for 1 or 2 ill fated series of Top Gear.

Also if you're going to have TFI without Evans (again) you might as well have Shane Richie's House Party it just wouldn't be the same.

Christian O'Connell? He also gets on with Evans and has presented a similar format on C5.

Is his profile high enough? I listen to his breakfast show on Absolute but the only time I've seen him on TV recently is when he partook in the Red Bull Soapbox Race on Dave.

The C5 show is about the only thing I think he's done on TV, and I think his time has passed. Similarly although Chris Moyles is a good shout it's probably a decade too late for him too.

If TFI were finding it as difficult to identify a successor as we are I'm glad they're ending it though - at least they haven't gone down the lazy route (again) of just using guest presenters to keep the brand going.


P.S. Was The Priory also produced by Evans and co?

It was Ginger, but I'm not sure how much of a hands-on role he had with it. He was much more hands-on with "Live with Chris Moyles" as it was his big comeback and by that time didn't have a radio career to distract him, but it's that experience that means Chris Moyles will never get anywhere near TFI Friday.

At the time it felt like The Priory was being groomed as a TFI replacement, but it folded not long after TFI I recall.

Wish people would give Grimshaw a break. You don't like him, we get it. I'm no fan but there are far less talented presenters knocking about in broadcasting today.