BE
I watched one episode for about 10 minutes, the sight of Keith Lemon turned it off straight away for me. Channel 4 does best with these daytime shows when they try something a bit 'edgy.' like Light Lunch or Paul 'O' Grady.
There was just nothing different about this show to anything else. It was basically the Poundland version of This Morning. I don't know what they were thinking.
If it ever returns and gets to the studio once this pandemic is over with, I can the only chance it has is an afternoon slot, but they need to think out a proper format and selling point before returning.
JR
One of the biggest surprises for me with this programme has been the content. It's, at a basic level, Channel 4's version of This Morning - without the same level of stardust or audience recognition.
I expected the show to have a bit more grit - Steph's a fully fledged journalist after all, from BBC Breakfast and with tons of knowledge on business and consumer affairs which could've really played to her strengths. Granted, they've covered some consumer issues, but it feels misplaced. The format of the show is a little all over the place. I think I also expected a bit more from the show as Steph has poached quite a few BBC Breakfast producers and planners - who are obviously good at their job, and have a huge portfolio of work.
I think they need to go back, rethink the format, the timeslot, and hopefully then it'll have a real shot.
AN
Re: Mo Gilligan - I think he’s got the potential to break through to mainstream so I hope Channel 4 stick by him.
The biggest problem with The Steph Show is it felt put together for the sake of it. It did a decent job of providing easy watching at a difficult time for many people, but when it returns it needs to know what it wants to be.
SC
Mo Gilligan is great but agree that the vast majority of Expectation’s comedy entertainment has been dire. The Rob Rinder Verdict didn’t work and the final episode with Stanley Johnson was gobsmackingly bad TV. The Big Narstie Show is crap and whilst I fortunately didn’t see The Alternative Election Night everything I’ve seen and heard since has been terrible.
I’m not sure how they keep getting these commissions away but I am increasingly getting the impression than Ian Katz doesn’t know what he is doing. Some of the commissioning and scheduling decisions have been baffling. Snoop Dogs? I mean WTF. That report a while back about him and Channel 4 was damning.
There’s an over-reliance on existing hits at C4 and I get it because they don’t have a primetime soap to pick up the slack but there’s a lack of new hits coming through and some strange decisions being made.