21/03/2016 Too Much TV

It's Monday, March 21. On the show tonight, we're joined by BBC

Breakfast's Bill Turnbull, who's swapping the sofa for his new quiz

show, Think Tank. But is he going to turn into that nasty Ann Robinson?

No, probably not. Welcome to TM TV. Coming up, we

escape to the country with Nicki Chapman as we talk about swapping

your average semi for a country pile. Toby Earle with all the TV

news. We pay homage to pioneering comedian Charlie Williams in TV

trail blazers. Of course, the don of breakfast television is here, Bill

Turnbull. He tells us all about his new role as quiz master and why he

won't be retiring any time soon. In other news, it could be a case of

Call the Midwife on The Voice this weekend because the lovely host,

Emma Willis, will be more than eight months pregnant. This is scary,

while hosting the first live shows. According to reports, bosses have

ensured that medics will be on standby in case she goes into

labour, when a trooper. Good luck, Emma. Yes, I think she should be

induced because it would be a ratings winner. I'd watch that. I

would too. Boy George there in scrubs. Hot water and towels. Wait,

wait. Will.i.am on his phone as usual. For fans of The Voice you'll

know that the final 12 acts have been decided. Former Liberty X star

Kevin Simm, team rookie, currently the favourite, followed by Cody

Frost by team boy George. There she is. Who's your favourite? I like

Paloma. She's doing it for the girls. Time for our first guest.

Millions have had the pleasure of waking up with this man for the past

15 years on BBC Breakfast. It was an emotional day when he left. Now Bill

Turnbull is back! Whoo. Sorry, took me a minute. He's putting our brains

to the test with a quiz show called Think Tank.

Welcome to Think Tank, a brand new series, where a regular cast of

people from across the UK are on hand every day to help our three

contestants. They've made themselves useful during their careers, whether

that's teaching students about chemistry, serving up pizzas,

diagnosing illnesses or even demonstrating the joys of

Tupperware. We love a tight container. Please welcome Bill

Turnbull! APPLAUSE Tupperware could be a

specialist subject of course. You have to add other plastic food

containing things are also available. Of course. He just knows

his stuff. We had Carol Kirkwood on a couple of weeks ago. She told us

about the rave up when you left breakfast. She called you Billy.

Emma and I wondered if we could too? All my friends call me Billy. So,

that's a no. That's definitely a yes. To you, I am definitely Billy.

Congratulations on Think Tank, it started this afternoon. Have you

watched it back yet? I have seen an episode. Funnily enough I didn't see

today's episode. I have seen one. It didn't fall off air. The feed back

so far has been quite good. Fingers crossed that people are going to

enjoy it. People that haven't seen it, can you tell us about it? Yes,

it is a quiz show with three contestants who are competing for a

modest cash prize, because it is a BBC programme, naturally. ?55. Or

Tupperware. Indeed. We have a think-tank of eight people in any

one show. They help or they're supposed to help the contestants

reach the right answer. They don't always do that. Sometimes they lead

them hopelessly astray, that's where the adventure is. Are they mad quizy

people? No, mad possibly but not necessarily quizy. They all have

specialist areas of knowledge. They're not experts. Abbey, for

instance, is a doctor and Anetia works in an office. Peter's a pizza

waiter. Like a nice slice of British general public. Yes, but they're all

characters and loveable in their own special way. It must be really nice

because you've been such a serious journalist for so many years. Is it

nice to step away from world events and do a fun quiz? It's like having

a burden lifted from my shoulders. I no longer have to worry about the

state of the world. I just have to worry about getting the scores

right. That's quite a challenge any way. I've heard the filming sceng

you'll is -- schedule is manic. 20 shows in a week. Wow. You don't get

to sit down. No, I'm standing up. That was the biggest challenge

actually. Everything else I could manage. I was on my feet up to eight

hours a day. You need a discreet hunting stool, the ones that fold

out, like a walking stool. I made one diva demand, which was I said, I

need to have a yoga mat. They ran out and bought one. After each show,

I go and do 45 minutes of stretching, while the producers then

come and talk to me about the questions for the next programme.

Please tell me you're doing a yoga DVD. I would buy that, I would do a

downward dog with Bill. That's a deal. Got it. The cobbler is my

favourite. What's the cobbler. Can you show us that? Sadly, I can't.

Because there isn't a wall space. But basically, you put your feet

together and like that. Do you really want me to show you? Yes, of

course we do. Absolutely. Briefly, OK. Do I need to help to get new

position? This is before the water shed. You do this down like that.

APPLAUSE You stay like that for several minutes breathing deeply.

You're very bendy Bill. Bendy Bill! Thank you. People thought when you

were leaving Breakfast, you might be down the allotment in a bobbly

jumper, but you've not retired. You're trying new stuff? We did

rather create the wrong impression because I said I would spend more

time with my bees, people thought that was it. I was rolling off the

sofa to do other things. You were at Breakfast for 15 years. How hard is

that to readjust? Oh, re-adjusting was not a problem. How hard can it

be to wake up at 3. 30am and think, "Nah, I think I'll go back to sleep.

" It was great. I still wake up early, but I just think - it's great

Your wife is still watching, though. She gets up before me and I come

down and it's on. Does that make you miss it? No, not really. She does

know that you're not on it, doesn't she? Out of respect for my former

colleagues I watch it for a while, then after half an hour, I say "Can

we turn it off now? I'm glad they're doing really well. It's as if I was

never there, which is fine. No, stop now! Very quickly, your career

highlights, you've been there for presidential elections, you were

there for the Romanian uprising, revolution in '89. Looking back,

what are your fondest memories or strongest memories? Fondest and

strongest are two different things. The big news stories are the ones

that stick out. I remember particularly when President Obama

was located for the first time. I was in Washington for that. That was

a very important moment in America's political history. The natural

stories, so reporting from hurricanes in Florida, I've done

that once or twice. I think one of the most important - There you are

getting soggy. Live in a rain storm, which was wonderful. It looked so

dramatic, it wasn't too bad because the water was quite warm. One of the

most poignant stories was reporting from Camp Bastion, we did a couple

of live shows as British troops were pulling out. That was really

special. Incredible. So nice to meet you. Lovely to have you here. I

didn't know I would be doing yoga with Bill today. I didn't know I was

connected to the Mafia, but you called me the don of breakfast.

Think Tank is weekdays on BBC One. Let's hear it for the lovely Bill

Turnbull and his yoga! APPLAUSE What a star. Time now for

TV trailblazer, this week we celebrate a median who broke through

-- comedian who broke through racial barriers to become a household name,

Charlie Williams. Mr Charlie Williams. Charlie Williams crooner

and comedian is well remembered for his gentle manner and warm northern

charm. Good afternoon my flowers. Hello! But isn't always given the

credit he deserves. This man was a trailblazer. They're walking about,

minding your own business as you do. They're walking along and all of a

sudden, this seagull dive bombed, A shirtful. Then his mate looks and

said, "I'll fetch thee a toilet roll." Third one said, don't be

daft, they'll be miles away by the time they get back. Charlie Williams

was born in Yorkshire in 1929. His mother Doris was a local lass, but

Charlie was raised by his father Charles, a veteran of the First

World War. Charlie left school at the age of 14 and worked in the

mines. He played football for the colliery team and aged 19, was

talent spotted by Doncaster Rovers. I enjoyed my footballing days. When

I ran out the spectators all went, "Oh, there's a darky playing." But

it wasn't said in any malice. It was just amazement. They tell me you're

a good one Charlie. I weren't a good' un but I could stop them that

were. I used to entertain the lads on away trips. We stayed over in a

hotel, I used to get up and sing. I used to put a couple of gags in.

I've always been a fair teller of tales. In 1964 Charlie changed

career and began touring working men's clubs around the country.

He said he found his talent for comedy at school, where he could

either deal with racial prejudice by fighting or making people laugh. It

should be done lightly, in a comical way. Much of his material related to

colour. Is that in colour? I hope it is. If it's in black and white,

you've got a negative. This would lead to controversy down the years.

Some people feel that you are perhaps trading on the white

prejudice Oh, dear me. Prejudice existed long before I were born. It

will exist long after I'm dead. There's only one race in my book,

the human race. If we can all laugh together, I've done a good job.

Refusing to be drawn into debate, Charlie became a leading light

entertainer, playing alongside Frank Carson, Mike Reid and Bernard

Manning. I thought me trousers would never

dry. And was soon a headline act in his own right. A man come home at

2pm one Sunday. He said to the wife, get up them stairs. He said get up

them stairs and get them corsets off. She says, right I've got them

off, what now? He says take laces out, I'm playing football this

afternoon... LAUGHTER Charlie was the first and

for many years, one of the few, black performers on British TV. He

braved the slings and arrows of fame and fortune and undeniably paved the

way for others, shrugging off critics to blaze his own merry

trail. I was in The Grosvenor House on Saturday night, 1,000 people

stood up as I walked out on stage. They thought it were Nelson Mandela.

LAUGHTER Lovely stuff. Oh, I've developed a right thirst, a thirst

for TV knowledge. Can I help you out. EastEnders may have the Queen

Vic and Corrie the Rovers return. But we have The Grapevine.

# I heard it through the grape vine #

Joining us again is TV journalist, London Live's Toby Earle. Cheers!

Bottoms up. Look at our beautiful cheese and pineapple... Pretty sure

that's a balanced diet in one bite. Beautiful. I can't even get it out.

Enjoy. What have you got for us? Well, so Peter Capaldi has revealed

he knows who the next companion is. Jana Coleman is leaving the way open

for a new companion. He says he's excited to know who that is. There

is a cat, there is a bag, the cat is in the bag, but he's let the cat out

of the bag that it has been decided. Looks cased in ice. They want to do

something different. Though Zawe Ashton's name has been mentioned.

Faye Mahsay, another excellent actress and Rakhee Thakrar, who was

Shoaib Nan. Love her. Such a good actress. David Harewood is a

possibility. I would like to see Geordie Girl, the dog would won

Crufts get the role. That would be very different. A westy, why not!

News about the Queen? Apparently she has a birthday this year. She's 90.

In a documentary this weekend, our Queen, you've got a revelation about

what Prince George... And what do you do? Run around really. This is

all about those two. About their relationship. Prince George has a

nickname for his grandmother. We know. Oh, you know, Gan-Gan.

Sweet. Don't call her it yourself, it's probably treasonable! There's

the Crown on Netflix, megabudget drama starring Chris Foy as Her

Majesty. Starting -- Claire Foy. He looks like him. It's a megabudget

drama. They've pretty much bought the Tower of London to make the

show. That's not the only thing. Channel 4 has the Windsors, that's a

spoof comedy show about them. Harry Enfield as Prince Philip. I'm sure

that nothing that could be said is going to match some of the thing

Philip has said. What about The Bridge? There is a story - long

version or abridged version? After that joke, the abridged version.

Hans Rosenfeldt said no, we are not doing another series, we have done

three. We do great things in Denmark in threes! He's suggested there

might be a way forward for a fourth series. We will see his first

English language work over here with Anna Friel in Marcella, which is

about a London detective hunting a serial killer. She has been doing a

lot of theatre. She is a great actress. Perfectly suited that will

be moody. I could tell you more but it is embargoed. A new show from the

States? The one thing Bake-Off doesn't have enough of is axes so

Forged in Fire is called Bake-Off with Blades! It is about traditional

craftsmanship, making your axes... I'm getting a whiff of craft ale...

Doughnut try this at home! Aren't they annoying - The Great Pottery

Throw Down will be back... Steve Coogan has suggested Alan Partridge

might be coming back with a chatshow. The last time he had his

own chatshow he punched a BBC Commissioner in the face with a

turkey. That could have been a hint there is more to come. Thank you so

much. Thank you. So, same time, same place on Thursday because that is

when I'm back! People will be talking! Stop it! Let's hear it for

Toby! Cheers. Cheers. Tonight on ITV the

last episode of Davina McCall's Life At The Extreme. So far, we have seen

Davina race a cheetah, she has swam with a whale, but what do you think

about the series? We will find out now in Telly Talk.

This is my chance to experience life at the extreme. I thought Davina

made the show. Look at that. That is amazing. I wouldn't normally watch

an animal documentary, she made you want to carry on watching. Never

have I seen anything like this. Life At The Extreme is more focussed on

Davina McCall... I have never been a huge fans of scorpions. There is

something quite eerie about them, the tail... What would you really

like to do if we offered you a wildlife show? I have never seen a

polar bear, I would like to see a polar bear. And if I could see some

baby cubs, that would be brilliant. I cannot comprehend that this is

actually happening. There were times when she came across as a little bit

over the top. Oh God! Going to the Arctic, she must have known it was

probably going to be cold. I'm in about 75 layers and I am still

utterly freezing! When Davina was travelling over the snow, I said to

my son, wouldn't it be funny if she goes over here? I thought at first

it was quite funny, and then I thought I hope she is alright.

The episode in the Atlantic Ocean was interesting. I thought at one

point the whale was going to take her out. Wow! When Davina ran up the

sand dunes in her bare feet, we couldn't get over it knowing the

snakes were buried underneath. I don't think she will be the next

David Attenborough. It is a cheetah. Oh my God, there is a giraffe. Oh my

God, look at the babies! She has to take her clothes off to prove a

point. I won't take anymore off. I think I have taken off enough.

Tonight is the final episode. The past three episodes have been

really, not only educational, but they have been entertaining so I

can't wait for the final one. My kids love it. Time now to meet our

next guest. She appeared in 2001 in Popstars as one of the original

talent show judges. She's trying to persuade us to escape to the country

on BBC One, there is no escaping her, it is the gorgeous Nicki

Chapman. One of the originals. It was shows

like Popstars and Pop Idol... Popstars was the first one. We put a

band together. We didn't ask the public for their opinion. You also

put together - he is a superstar now. Will Young has had an album out

this year. This is his first audition in 2001.

# You don't blame it on the sunshine # You don't blame it on the

moonlight # Blame it on the boogie... #

The vocal was good. I didn't like your moves at all. The leg action

and stuff didn't work for me. I liked your voice. I stand by that! I

didn't like his moves either. We all looked so young. The great thing

about Will is, he was one of the last boys that we saw, so he was a

bit of a 50/50. We put him through because we were short of men. Oh my

goodness! He grew and grew and got better. Simon Cowell does look very

young there. What was he like in those days? Simon and I had worked

together at RCA Records, he is really smiling there! That was a

good day(!) When we were doing it, Pete Waterman wasn't a judge and

Simon said, we need a nasty judge. He got Pete in. The first few days,

Pete was ruthless. He is so wonderful but he is brutally honest.

Suddenly, Simon took that title and ran with it. It was great, brilliant

days. I loved Pop Idol. It changed their lives, all the people that

came through to see us, but it changed mine. Escape to the Country.

It is in its 16th series. People love it, don't they? They do. Do you

think we are nosey as a nation? You are right. That is what it is. We

love to see the British countryside at its very best. It is beautiful,

country lanes, the houses, the escapism, we love looking at

people's houses. Let's have a look at it. So, I'm bringing you to see

our final property. I know this is a very important move, it is the first

time you will have bought a house together. You want this to be your

forever home for the next 30 years. This is your mystery house. Take a

look. Oh, wow! That is really pretty. Wow, that is beautiful! It

does look like it is miles away! It is beautiful... Is that it? At the

end of the drive! I'm trying to not let them see the house. This one was

in Kent and they were tempted just outside Ashford. It is amazing what

you can get if you search in the country. Did they go for that? They

didn't. I have heard a rumour you take the pitching quite seriously. I

do. I love that. Afterwards, if they don't like the houses, I am sulking

in the car! You will be waiting outside their house when they get

home! Why didn't they like it? It is so personal. You get a 10% hit rate.

We do really well considering. Everyone has their own idea, what

their ideal house is. If they don't like my houses, I get a bit upset.

This is a massive hit in Australia as well. It is. I film a show called

Wanted Down Under in Australia and New Zealand. When I am over there,

everybody wants to talk about this show. The BBC goes all over the

world. In Australia, it's the number one satellite show. They always say,

"Did they buy the house?" Which series? Which show? It is so lovely

to see you. Go wild, please, for Nicki Chapman!

APPLAUSE It is time for the biggest decision

of the day. What are we watching tonight?

Two brand-new series for you tonight, starting with Channel 4 at

8.30pm, The Food Chain. This documentary shows us the journey of

foods from the farm to the plate. Sounds simple. It does. It is

simple! No, it's not. Here is a look at how the humble Bramley apple is

selected. Oh. The ultimate judgment is left to this photobooth for fruit

where cameras snap eight apples a second. People do buy with their

eyes. Any that the camera doesn't love quite enough face the drop and

the juicer awaits. The most beautiful Bramleys are on course for

the packing line and ready to hit the road. The pressure those apples

are under today, it is unbelievable(!) Really sad. What

about the poor, ugly ones? They get juiced. This one is a stunner! Other

foods covered in the series include peas, eggs and cherry tomatoes. That

is The Food Chain on Channel 4 at 8.30pm. We are all just hungry! If

you fancy a laugh, I suggest trying E4 at 10.00pm for Scheiffer Bates: I

Con. This prank show sees Scheiffer testing his impressions on

unsuspecting members of the public. Tonight, he is pretending to be Bear

Grylls in a bin. I'm Bear Grylls, I'm going to show you what you need

to do to survive in a recycling bin! My body is cold, my mind is

scrambled, I need some help. First thing's first, you've got to make

contact with the indigenous people. Hello? Who is in that bin? I'm Bear

Grylls. Who is it? If you heard a voice in a bin, would you go over to

it? Absolutely not! I would be scared. You are so caring. Pranking

shows are back, though. Absolutely. None of them can beat Beadle. That

is Scheiffer Bates: I Con at 10.00pm tonight on E4. Sarah and Aled will

be back here tomorrow. I'll miss you girl. Greg McHugh will be here to

tell us about his new show. Plus queen of impersonations Deborah

Stevenson will give her rundown of the greatest TV catchphrases. Before

we go, what TV theme are you playing for us tonight? Here we go. Ready?

MUSIC: The Bill Theme Tune A huge thank you to all our guests.

We hope you enjoyed all of tonight's telly. Let us know what you think -

bbc.co.uk/toomuchtv. For now, goodbye. Goodbye.