Any regular reader of this blog will know what I think of reality TV talent contests: they're good for one thing - humiliaying the deluded. And as such, the early programmes are normally the best - the auditions.
The One and Only (BBC 1, 6.25pm and 9.20pm tonight), however, is going to be must-see TV all the way through. It's basically X-Factor for amateur tribute acts. The prize is top class - a three month contract in the tribute act capital of the world (Las Vegas, not Liverpool during the Mathew Street festival)But by the very nature of the competition, you get people who take being a lookie-likey so seriously that it can only be amusing. Sadly, the BBC has opted not to go for overkill on this reality show, and compacted the selection process into two shows last Saturday night. Even that was a treat. Instead of having publicity-seeking personality judges picking which tribute acts should go through to the main competition, they got super fans.
Which means when you're done laughing at the tribute acts - some of who should be wary of libel action from the people they are impersonating - you move on to laughing at the superfans. For Diana Ross tribute acts, they found three grown men who between them had seen their heroine sing more than 200 times live. Yes.
Tonight, we get down to business and week-by-week one of the acts will be knocked out in the usual format. But the fact they take being tribute acts so seriously guarantees amusement for any of us not lucky enough to have had our career path set for us by virtue of having a Lionel Ritchie chin.
The real star of the show is Graham Norton, a host who won't resist the opportunity to say what he thinks about the acts. He's already said that there are one or two acts he thinks the superfans got wrong and is promising to make it obvious as to which ones he means.
And then, at 9.20pm in the results show, all 12 tribute acts will perform together in what Norton has likened to a very strange Band Aid. For amusement on a Saturday night, you'll be going some to find better.
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