The One Show

Matt baker's first night

Doing a great job - just relaxed, at ease, and natural, proving why he should have been picked in the first place!

just noticed that, as of last week, the Friday edition of the One Show is getting a repeat at 11.25pm, after the lottery.

There's nothing wrong with Matt Baker, he's a good presenter. But boy, is he bland? I think the One Show has a real problem. Alex Jones hasn't got any better (she's ok but look how far Christine traveled once she'd been on the sofa a few months). Their chemistry is ok, but has none of the spark of Adrian and Christine. Jason Manford was great because he had an edge. The One Show is eminently missable. We wanted to watch with other presenters. And who's idea was it to bring in Alexander Armstrong as a relief presenter? How does that go down in Hull or Aberdeen?
So, who do you think would be a good pairing? I think you need at least one strong lead, if only to prop up either Matt or Alex.
I think Louise Minchin worked well... and didn't ask completely idiotic questions.

I wonder if that's Chris Evans wanting to recreate the TFI Friday days?

Matt's not bland at all; he's delightful.



The One Show is the only thing I watch on BBC One.



How does a gay presenter go down in Glasgow? How does an Asian presenter go down in The Dales? Who cares?

I don't even understand what point you're trying to make here.

The point I was trying to make is...
The One Show is a down-market entertainment / current affairs show that's designed to appeal to the masses. That's why they have down to earth presenters.
Alexander Armstrong is posher than Prince William.
It does matter.
And you're right, it doesn't matter whether they're gay / Asian / etc. The point is how their voice / look / mannerisms go down with the audience. And for the One Show's audience it appears to me (not necessarily to anyone else, but this is a forum after all) that it's a strange choice.
And Matt Baker may be "delightful", but I think the programme is missing a trick in employing someone who is so anodyne that I for one don't care if I miss the show.

A lot of viewers dislike the voice / look / mannerisms of 'minority' presenters. But no sane person would suggest banishing those presenters from a TV show just to appease the terminally prejudiced. You however seem to be advocating discrimination based on class, and in my opinion that is equally unacceptable. What would you say if I suggested that a Geordie wasn't suitable for presenting the One Show because some viewers in Surrey might have a grievance against northerners?

I can only speak of my own perception but I would say that Alexander Armstrong does have a rapport with the audience. Many viewers probably see him as a figure of fun without feeling resentful because of who he is. And then of course there will be some viewers who vanish in a thick cloud of moral vapours every time they see a 'toff' on TV - just as some viewers do when they see Paul O'Grady, for example - because they are not at peace with themselves and as such, cannot, or do not want to see past another person's background, race, sexuality or etc. But that is their problem, not anyone else's.


So let me get this right... you think Alexander Armstrong is too offensive but then you end the post by saying that Matt Baker is too inoffensive. Just who would you like to see presenting the One Show?

Down-market? Really? I don't know what you're definition is but it's hardly lowest-common denominator stuff is it?

Not quite sure what point you are trying to make - the two sentences seem to be non sequiturs.

Alexander Armstrong is from the North East, just as Matt Baker is. They just don't sound the same...

Down market? Odd description. If you were talking about OK!TV or Live from Studio Five - then maybe I'd see what you are on about.

I wouldn't describe a show that runs items on unmarried mothers in the 50s, how to save money on your mobile phone tariff, the story of a Whistler picture on Anglesey and a plan to train pigeons as biological weapons as that down market (tonight's show's films). A curious mix maybe - but downmarket? The films are usually shot to pretty high standard, in excellent quality HD. Again hardly 'downmarket'. Dan Snow is their history reporter. Dan Snow? Downmarket?

Sure - it's not Newsnight meets Horizon - but the range of topics the show covers (art, science, history, health, current affairs, consumer issues, food - but not cooking, general topical stuff) is much wider than many other shows - and includes subjects not addressed at all on shows on other channels.

Agreed Noggin, and there's Giles Brandreth.