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TV review: Michael Winner’s Dining Stars, ITV1

foodie fun: Michael Winner who is travelling the country judging home-cooking

5:43pm Thursday 4th March 2010

I QUITE like Michael Winner. He made rubbish films, his insurance adverts are terrible, but somehow he managed a long-term relationship with Jenny Seagrove and he once ordered his chauffeur to stop while I crossed a road in London, enthusiastically waving me on in the process.

TV review: One Born Every Minute, Channel 4

baby tales: One Born Every Minute

5:45pm Thursday 4th March 2010

A LETTER fell out of a birthday card sent to my partner by her friend Dominique.

TV review: Masterchef, BBC1

master foodies: John Torode, left, and Gregg Wallace

5:51pm Thursday 25th February 2010

“WHOEVER wins this it could change their laaaf,” hollers grocer Gregg as he shouts in another series of Masterchef.

TV review: EastEnders, BBC1

capital dramA: Larry Lamb as murder victim Archie Mitchell, surrounded by other EastEnders characters

5:50pm Thursday 25th February 2010

IN 1985, as we settled down in our gaff with a nice cup of cha, I says to my old mum, I says, “Mum, the only soaps that will still be going in 2010 will be Albion Market and El Dorado, you mark my words."

TV review: Relocation: Phil Down Under, Channel4

searching in the sun: Phil Spencer looking for new homes in Australia

3:26pm Friday 19th February 2010

TELEVISION seems designed to provoke jealousy.

Peter set for Brits debut

Peter Kay is hosting the Royal Variety Show at Blackpool

12:07pm Wednesday 10th February 2010

PETER Kay fans will be able to see the Bolton comedian host this year’s BRIT awards when they are broadcast live on ITV on Tuesday.

TV review: Delia Through The Years, BBC2

COOKING THROUGH THE AGES: Delia goes back to basics

11:54am Thursday 4th February 2010

IF nothing else, this programme serves up (ho ho ho) a lesson as to why viewing figures have dipped over the years.

TV review: Bellamy’s People, BBC2

FAN CLUB: Bellamy, centre, and his sisterly fans

5:30pm Friday 29th January 2010

THIS programme arrived much-hyped, with a strong on-screen team and a decent concept.

TV review: How It’s Made, Discovery Science

5:16pm Friday 29th January 2010

WATCHING roughly eight Sky+ed episodes of this taught me two things: why the world is hurtling towards full unemployment and just how my teachers managed to make science so boring.

TV review: Celebrity Big Brother, Channel 4

TV review: Celebrity Big Brother, Channel 4

4:22pm Friday 29th January 2010

SO tonight’s the big night — it’s the Big Brother final.

TV review: Nurse Jackie, BBC2

6:01pm Friday 22nd January 2010

TV fans still mourning The Sopranos are in for a treat with the latest US-imported drama, Nurse Jackie.

TV review: The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best, BBC2

TV review: The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best, BBC2

3:57pm Thursday 21st January 2010

ARE Dave Myers and Si King the luckiest people on television?

TV review: The F Word, Channel 4

4:05pm Thursday 14th January 2010

Just as I thought Gordon Ramsay had completely lost the plot, he pulled it back from the brink.

Interview: Mary Tamm talks about Doctor Who - and win a box set

Cartoon by Jason Lythgoe-Hay

3:30pm Friday 8th January 2010

MIDWAY through Tom Baker’s tenure as Doctor Who, the producers decided on an innovative idea. The whole of the 16th season of the show, which was broadcast in 1978, would be one vast story-arc comprising six separate adventures.

TV review: Gavin and Stacey, BBC2

GOOD SERIES: James Corden and Mat Horne, who play Smithy and Gavin

11:56am Friday 8th January 2010

SO, the last Gavin and Stacey ever? Or was it?

TV review: Out of My Depth, ITV1

3:39pm Friday 18th December 2009

I learned two things from this week’s telly: midwives are angels on earth and Amanda Holden is actually quite nice.

TV review: Save Our Boozer, Blighty

pub hero: Jay Smith at The Raven Inn in North Wales

5:32pm Thursday 17th December 2009

TIMES have changed. Attracting a few meat and potato pie-chomping, real ale quaffing, beer-bellied Henry V111 lookalikes to the back room of your pub on a Thursday night is no longer enough to sustain a boozer.

Gig review: Marilyn Manson @ Academy 1, Manchester

5:25pm Thursday 17th December 2009

MUSIC’S self-confessed anti-hero came, entertained and went without delivering the shock factor we have come to love/hate at his concerts.

Gig review: The Pogues @ Apollo, Manchester

5:26pm Thursday 17th December 2009

HERE’S a conundrum. How can somebody on the one hand apparently lack real charisma, yet on the other ooze a stage presence and sense of mischief that is unsurpassed?

Gig review: Abba The Show @ Arena, Manchester

9:55am Thursday 17th December 2009

SWEDEN came to Manchester as the phenomenal Abba The Show delighted an enthusiastic audience at the MEN Arena.

Gig review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Apollo, Manchester

12:59pm Wednesday 16th December 2009

SPITTING water over herself with a punk energy that reverberates throughout Manchester Apollo, Karen O kick starts a vibrant and energetic set.

Panto review: Cinderella @ King George's Hall, Blackburn

Panto review: Cinderella @ King George's Hall, Blackburn

9:29am Monday 14th December 2009

IT LOOKS fantastic, it sounds fantastic and you’ll definitely have a ball!

TV review: Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes, BBC1

4:26pm Monday 14th December 2009

CAN Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes? That was the title of the programme I stumbled upon this week.

Panto review: Jack and the Beanstalk @ Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn

GIANT FUN: The cast of Jack and the Beanstalk take to the stage

3:30pm Monday 14th December 2009

It’s panto time again and along with my youngest children and their young at heart Nanna, I was looking forward to a night of good old family panto fun.

Panto review: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz @ Library Theatre, Darwen

Panto review: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz @ Library Theatre, Darwen

9:32am Monday 14th December 2009

FOLLOW the yellow brick road to Darwen over the next couple of weeks to enjoy a fabulous alternative to the traditional pantomime.

Panto review: Sleeping Beauty @ Civic Theatre, Oswaldtwistle

Panto review: Sleeping Beauty @ Civic Theatre, Oswaldtwistle

9:30am Monday 14th December 2009

If you're after a pantomime treat this festive season, Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre has a real Beauty ... Sleeping Beauty.

TV review: Life, BBC1

TV review: Life, BBC1

4:31pm Thursday 10th December 2009

I have not watched every episode of the outstanding Life, but having sat enthralled through the programme about plants, wished I had put it on “series record”.

TV review: The One Show, BBC1

TV review: The One Show, BBC1

4:30pm Thursday 10th December 2009

I occasionally watch The One Show as anything with Adrian Chiles in it is invariably good.

TV review: Ace of Cakes, Good Food Channel

TAKING THE BISCUIT: Ace of Cakes proves how banal life can be

2:55pm Friday 4th December 2009

ESSENTIALLY, the producers here have managed to make an entire series about a company that bakes cakes.

Concert review: Classical Spectacular @ Arena, Manchester

2:59pm Friday 4th December 2009

IF I was going to miss Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night, it would have to be for something special.







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