Well, it had to happen at some point. The Vicar Of Dibley is losing the plot in its penultimate episode and gives us the clear reasons why it can only stretch to four episodes. As usual the supporting cast kept it watchable, and just about funny, but the Vicar herself really does need some sort of re-birth if she is going to be fit for any future series.
This week ecclesiastical laughs were attempted by a story in which Geraldine appears on the Terry Wogan show. Now, I have a great amount of respect for Terence as broadcaster and light entertainer, (high point of career, repeatedly playing Postman Pat theme tune on early morning Radio Two show during mid-eighties), but to wheel him out in this context most definitely appeared to be a desperate barrel scraping exercise. Still, 10.34 million tuned in, and even if it had been Derek Jameson rather than old Tel, the show would still be a million times more watchable than Birds Of A Feather (11.64 million). I can hardly bring myself to talk about this stagnant, dramatically retarded sitcom…so in fact I won’t.
On to the soaps then. Coronation Street sweeps the board again this week with an average audience figure of 17.47 million. Eastenders continues to trail behind with 15.44 million. This whole Deidre Barlow thing is getting a little out of hand – the poor woman is going to burst one of those bulging veins in her neck if these stress levels continue. Where would she be without Ken? Well I’ve got a feeling we’re going to find out fairly soon…The real stars of the show are turning out to be the Battersbys – how they’ve developed from awkward newcomers to the Street’s main comic focus (apart from the continuing classic japes from Gilroy and Duckworth). Les really has got his life sorted: sends the wife off to work and she even gives him “beer money” on a daily basis. Heaven.
The Beeb’s new documentary series, following on from the success of Hotel, began this week. The Cruise had two episodes, with Tuesday’s watched by 12.86 million and Wednesday’s attracting 11.31 million.
Over on Channel 4, shock, horror, E.R. has totally crashed out of the chart. Only watched by a measly 3.37 million this week, letting Friday’s Countdown take the top spot (4.78 million). Well, Mr Clooney, looks like you’re losing your charms. Guess that’s what happens when one dresses up like a bat and starts to wear one’s underpants on the wrong side of one’s trousers.
Talking of Bats, Batman was not the top film on Channel 5. It attracted 1.44 million, but was pipped at the post by the film The Incident (1.51 million). Well, we’ve all seen it before I suppose…
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Reviewer: Jim Sparkes
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