EARLIER this week I had my first adventure with daytime TV for quite a while. Because I was sick in bed, with only four channels to go at, the choice was pretty limited which is why I ended up stumbling across Dirty Rotten Cheat (BBC 1, weekdays, 2.35pm). As quiz shows go, it's the absolute pits. And that's even before you've factored in Brian Conley as host.
The premise is quite simple: There are a host of second-rate contestants (let's be honest, only the diehards and saddos go for quizzes other than Millionaire, Weakest Link or Mastermind), but only one has been given all the answers in advance.
Throughout the game, the contestants have to try and guess who knows the answers - cue lots of psycho babble along the lines of 'well it must be Bob, because he's getting one right and one wrong' and so on - and if they guess the right one out, then they share the cash. Or something like that. It's all very confusing and red (well, the set is) and thoroughly pap.
But then there's the questions. The contestants are told a theme - eg What do women think men are useful for - and the contestants have to guess which answers were most popular. Sound familiar. It should do if you ever watch Family Fortunes in the 1980s with Les Dennis.
Which brings me neatly on to Family Fortunes, or, as it is known these days under host Vernon Kay, All Star Family Fortunes (ITV 1, 5.45pm). This format is the one that's how to the 'our survey said' style of questioning, but to be quite frank, it simply wouldn't work in the 21st century if it wasn't for two things: Vernon Kay's love of the cheesie game shows and the use of celebrity families.
Kay brings a whole new energy to the gameshow, and obviously revels in breathing new life into an 80s format, along with his ability to bring the best of his guests, whoever they are. Tonight, its Brian Dowling, a former Big Brother contestant, and Corrie actress Kym Ryder, who presumably will be bringing her hubby, he who used to be Jamie in Eastenders, along with her. Half the fun is actually meeting the family of the celebrities and finding out if they actually try to keep the star's feet on the ground or have gone the way of Jade Goodie's mum, and assumed they are the star.
And what's great about Family Fortunes over Dirty Rotten dodahs is that it is simple. They just guess the answers. There isn't a subtext, a second-guessing going on. It's simple. It works. And it doesn't have Brian Conley.
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