Gin was such a tonic

1:21pm Friday 30th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

I CAN often be heard saying that television is going to the dogs, but last weekend this was a good thing.

Of all the contestants taking to the stage at the Britain's Got Talentauditions (ITV1, Saturday), it was a cute collie called Gin who stole the show.

Having said that, the canine didn't have much competition.

I didn't watch the first series of this latter day Opportunity Knocks, but I'm amazed how deluded so many people are in this country today. The lure of celebrity seems to make folk think they can get away with anything when a camera points at them.

Everyone wants to be famous, even if it's for being totally rubbish at what they are trying to do. In Saturday's show there was a constant stream of people with little or no self awareness - the type to be offended at the suggestion that maybe their voice did not stand comparison with Frank Sinatra.

Then there are those who think old age gives them carte blanche to cavort around a stage in fishnet tights - and they expect us to be grateful for the sight!

Simon Cowell has a lot to answer for in giving these exhibitionists a chance to inflict their delusions on the poor unsuspecting viewer. It isn't funny any more.

And neither is the returning comedy My Family (BBC1, Friday), although it pains me to say it.

The first few series of the ongoing saga of the dysfunctional middle class Harper family were hilarious.

The storylines were gloriously improbable and the comic timing of Robert Lindsay, Zoe Wanamaker and Kris Marshall superb.

Now, unfortunately, we have to endure the irritating Abi and Roger partnership and the dynamics of the core family have changed since the departure of Marshall's character, Nick.

Lindsay struggles on manfully, but I think the writing is on the wall for this family.