Mark_a_Wood Reviews

Genius Game (2025– )

Slick but overly complicated

[9/10 · 1 May 2025]

The Genius Game is a British version of a South Korean game show "hosted" by David Tennant produced by Remarkable Television's Entertainment division for ITV. It is strikingly different than other game show formats on the commercial broadcaster - it doesn't feel like an ITV show it feels more like one you would see on one of the big streaming platforms. It is very slickly made, had plenty of scope for twists and turns but has one massive drawback - it is overly complicated.

The Host - Tennant is the perfect choice for host - except that he isn't the host. He's playing the role of The Creator (might want to tweak that for a US version) and isn't in the room with the players but pops up on a screen for pre-recorded video segments in which he explains how the games and the show work to the players. He then has to voice over explainers of how the games and the show work for viewers with the aid of some cute on-screen graphics.

Prizes - There is a cash prize on offer for the overall winner, but players must accumalate an in-game currency called Garnets to build up the prize pot. The winner of games can win a token of life to give them and a player of their choice immunity.

The Games - Two per episode. A main game for all the players with a head to head death match between two players at the end of the epsode - loser goes home.

Sound complicated yet? Wait there's more - much more. The main game in the first episode was a bank heist game complicated by player planning failures, dealers, abstentions, jail, tip offs and general mind melting. Some players didn't know what was going on they were not alone. The end of episode Death Match was simpler and good but one player didn't understand it at first.

With having to explain everything more than once plus the usual vox pops from the players it took a while to get around to the actual games - which were clever but complex.

One suspects that someone somewhere (probably the Aussies) will do a simpler more straightforward version of this that will take off. ITV will probably bin this and show that instead if and when it comes along.

Live at the Moth Club (2022– )

Curious Comedy

[7/10 · 3 December 2022]

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? - no it's - er a moth! Is Live at the Moth Club a mockumentary? - in part yes. Is it a comedy sketch show? - kind of. Is it a stand-up comedy showcase? - well kind of as well. This new comedy series on Dave is a bit of a mixture of all of those elements - and as can be the case when mixing things together the results may or may not work.

Live at the Moth Club is set in the real, titular, alternative comedy club in Hackney, London. It sounds like a smaller scale version of the BBC's Live at the Apollo - but there's more too it than that. Apparently, Dave have sent a documentary film crew to film behind the scenes as the team that put on these events under the Moth Club banner organise stand-up comedy shows and deal with all manner of problems. But it is a mockumentary with some recognisable faces playing these characters - I particularly liked Mark Heap as George. The show is basically a platform for an ensemble cast of Moth Club regulars to play around with comedy genres. There are actual stand-up performances too from some upcoming and established acts.

I thought some of the sketches went off on bizarre tangents, but most were pretty fun and I enjoyed seeing a few stand-up comedians I hadn't heard of before. I also thought that the Only Fools and Horses style opening titles were a good idea too. A curious and slightly confusing at times (is such and such comedian appearing as themselves or a caricature of themselves?) but fun and somewhat different programme.

The Traitors UK (2022– )

Slick and Twisty

[8/10 · 3 December 2022]

I am not the world's biggest fan of these type of programmes, I've never watched a single episode of I'm A Celebrity and probably never will, but I have to say I have really enjoyed this one - so far.

The Traitors is another of these "Global Formats" that are a success in the country they are originally made in and then local versions are made in other countries. As with Big Brother this one started out in the Netherlands, an Australian version has already been made and now we have British production company Studio Lambert filming both a UK and US version at a picturesque castle in Scotland.

The format is relatively simple - a sizeable group of contestants are set challenges which if completed successfully add money to the prize pot. But three of the contestants have been selected to be Traitors and each evening select one of the "Faithful" to "murder". Each day all the contestants sit around a round table and discuss who they think is a traitor and then they all get to vote on who to expel from the competition - with the expelled person then revealing whether they are a traitor or a faithful.

Claudia Winkleman is the presenter and she seems to be having a whale of a time in the role with a number of "mic drop" moments already after 3 episodes. The challenges have been fun and a bit different - I particularly enjoyed the bell-ringing one. There have been a number of twists and turns and revelations already and the faithful are not having much luck rooting out the traitors.

The Traitors is a really slick production filmed in a gorgeous location with a really diverse cast of contestants. I really like the music used throughout the episodes - lots of haunting almost choral versions of popular songs ranging from Girls Aloud to Nirvana which adds to the atmosphere. So I for one am glad that I stuck around after the Wales Vs. England game to watch episode 1 and look forward to the next trio of episodes.

Harry Hill's Lonely Island (2021–2022)

Nonsense

[7/10 · 12 March 2021]

These three (a 4th has been delayed) wordless, b/w shorts are nonsense - and it is up to the viewer to either enjoy the nonsensical nature of them or to give a harrumph and change the channel.

Harry Hill writes, directs, produces and stars in the three shorts taking on the role of a caveman, Napoleon Bonaparte and a monkey - all wearing Hill's spectacles to add a further air of surrealism. The comedy is physical and unsurprisingly harks back to the silent comedies of Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton et al - as does Hill's exaggerated facial expressions, the stark make-up and the not so special special effects. There are amusing moments in all three shorts but the very short running time doesn't allow ideas to develop much and there does seem to be a recurring problem of how to end each of the episodes.

Overall the episodes made me chuckle and that is what they were intended to do.

Cash in the Spare Room (2020– )

Neat idea, tidy delivery.

[6/10 · 12 May 2020]

I have quite enjoyed this new series, which I think is the first new series commissioned by HGTV in the UK since the rebranding. The format is simple and some the ideas for disused areas of homes ingenious. What lifts this series above average are the two presenters. I have seen Sarah Moore before on "Money For Nothing" and I like her presenting style, I have vague recollections of seeing Max as a judge on another property programme but I thought he really shone here. His expertise and down to earth manner worked really well. This has been a nice little show and I hope Discovery/HGTV will order further series of the show.

Richard & Judy: Keep Reading and Carry On (2020)

A welcome return.

[6/10 · 12 May 2020]

Channel 4 have made one of the better decisions by one of the main UK broadcasters with the decision to commission this pleasant, relaxed and rather comforting programme.

Ostensibly, the programme is simply about providing some suggestions for reading material during the UK's lockdown, and in that respect it does a reasonable job. However, it is the chat with the various guests via video link that really stood out here with Richard & Judy effortlessly switching from talking to an author about their latest work to asking what they have been drinking to get through the crisis - and occasionally having the tables turned on them by their guests.

What a pity there were only five episodes stripped across a single week and that the individual episodes were so brief. Whether during or post lockdown I for one would like to see this return.

Catchpoint (2019–2022)

Not great.

[5/10 · 26 April 2020]

Both the BBC and ITV have served up some exceptionally bad Saturday night game shows/light entertainment shows over the decades. Catchpoint isn't one of the worst - but it isn't particularly good either.

Host Paddy McGuinness doesn't get much of an opportunity to connect with the contestants, there are very few questions posed to the contestants, there is zero atmosphere in the studio and there is too much faffing about with slow motion replays and the like. However, McGuinness still makes for an amiable host, there is some modicum of entertainment to be had from watching people spectacularly fumble a seemingly easy catch, the music question and memory question make a welcome change to the format of the other questions on the show and it is only a half hour programme.

Overall Catchpoint is rather Meh.

Warbird Workshop (2020– )

An interesting series.

[8/10 · 14 April 2020]

This was a really enjoyable and interesting series and I hope Yesterday will commission further series in the future. Each episode followed a different group, facing some differing challenges as they attempt to restore a historic plane (or helicopter in one episode). There was a good balance between historical information/background and following the challenges of the restoration. Martin Shaw does a good job on the narration too. The first episode, in which the group at Biggin Hill restore Spitfire MJ772 was the best of the bunch.

Celebrity Murder Mystery (2020)

Something A Bit Different

[7/10 · 14 April 2020]

I quite enjoyed this and it was certainly a change to the usual fare on a Friday/Saturday evening. This was originally announced as being 3 x 60 minute episodes rather than the two longer episodes as broadcast and I do think that the original format may have worked better in terms of the pacing and a better balance between the episodes. The switching back and forth from the storyline to the history segments was a little odd as was the celebrities talking to camera about the green room and such. However, overall this was entertaining stuff with a beautiful setting and costumes and the identity of the first victim was a real surprise to me and cast the rest of the programme in a new light. Well done to all involved.

Crazy Delicious (2020)

Wow...just Wow!

[3/10 · 30 January 2020]

Crazy Delicious is a really strange new cookery competition programme produced for Channel 4 in the UK, which will also be available via Netflix. It instantly wins the prize for THE most pretentious cookery show on British television.

The foodie contestants are challenged to take humble ingredients such as strawberries and everyday foods like hot dogs and come up with their own unique (often bizarre) dishes. The dishes are tasted by the panel of 3 judges, contestants eliminated and a winner for each episode declared. Comedian Jayde Adams is the host. Sounds like other cookery shows? Think again.

The contestants have to get some of the ingredients for their recipe from a "magical" edible set that looks like something out of a Tim Burton film and has rabbits and things running around it! The judges are dubbed "Food Gods" and wear togas. The prize awarded to the winner of each episode is a golden apple. Once they have made their dish the contestants have to ascend a stairway to present their offering to the food gods. Jayde Adams hovers around the contestants saying Wow (a lot) and trying to make "funny" observations - when she is particularly impressed/excited/bored she says Wwwoooooooooooooowwwwww!!!. The recipes frequently involve stomach-churning "experimental" combinations of ingredients such as mackerel and chocolate. In essence the whole programme is simply bizarre from beginning to end. Crazy...yes, Delicious...no.

Maybe, just maybe, there will be enough people dotted around the world who are looking for a very quirky, highly unusual new take on the standard cookery competition to make this work on Netflix - however it has flopped very badly here in the UK and is unlikely to be re-commissioned by Channel 4.

Head Hunters (2019– )

A Grower

[5/10 · 22 November 2019]

After watching the first episode of this new afternoon game show I wasn't very impressed. The game play seemed convoluted, at times confusing and comedian Rob Beckett hardly sparkled as the host and is a little slow at reading the questions - which is a hindrance in the finale.

However, after watching several further episodes I began to warm to it more and more. The range of question categories is far broader than in many quiz shows and within a category contestants can be asked some unexpected questions. The difficultly level of the questions is varied but overall this has to be one of the more difficult daytime quizzes to win that I have seen recently. When the prize money is won it actually feels like an achievement - which is not true of all game shows.

Head Hunters could do with a few tweaks here and there and I am still unsure if Beckett is the ideal presenter for this format but I would quite like to see this return for further series.

Good Girl's Guide to Kinky Sex (1997– )

Beyond Vanilla

[5/10 · 22 November 2019]

I'm not sure where the programme makers found the participating couples, a monastery? Had they really never tried ANY of these things before?

This 6-part series on Channel 5 has an "interesting" interpretation of the word kinky. Is rubbing an ice cube over your lover's skin kinky? This is bland stuff.

On the plus side there are some unintentional laugh out loud moments, such as opening the box to discover that the "kinky" gift they have been given to try out is a feather boa!

Help! My House Is Haunted: The Corn Exchange, Hertford (2019) Season 2, Episode 1

All change

[6/10 · 10 November 2019]

The second series gets underway with this investigation of the historic Corn Exchange venue in Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire.

To say that there have been a few changes made to the show would be an understatement! It had already been announced that Sandy Lakdar had left the show and that Barri Ghai and Chris Fleming would be joined by Jayne Harris for series two. Jayne appeared with Barri and Sandy on another Back2Back Productions programme broadcast on Really earlier this year (the clip show "Unexplained: Caught on Camera") so fits in well. Instead of travelling to the location in Barri's car the team now have a "mobile nerve centre" in a camper van. There is a new title sequence featuring a voice over from actor Ian Shaw (son of the late Robert Shaw of Jaws fame). After an introduction to the location and eye witness account from the building's owners the team members split up with Barri interviewing a member of staff, Jayne doing some historical research and meeting with local author and historian Ruth Stratton and Chris commencing an initial solo investigation. The team members then meet to discuss what they have learned and plan their investigation.

I liked this new look opening to the episode with each of the team members seeming to have a more clearly defined role. The building was then locked down to begin the investigation proper and eventually a cleansing ritual. Not a bad start to the new series overall - though Chris' overacting is annoying at times.

One thing to point out for UK viewers is that although the show is still broadcast on the Really channel, Really is no longer one of the UKTV group of TV channels - so episodes old and new can no longer be watched via the UKTV Play catch up service (confusingly the show still has a page on there with no episodes). Really is now part of the Discovery Networks group so you need to use their Dplay service to catch up with episodes - I will add links to the IMDb pages that take you straight to the Dplay pages.

Tonight With Vladimir Putin (2019– )

Odd and very, very short.

[3/10 · 27 June 2019]

One of the world's leading film and television visual effects companies has the motion capture technology available to film a comedian performing the role of Vladimir Putin and to create an animated 3-D caricature of the Russian Premier around him - but just because you can do something doesn't automatically mean that you should do it.

Comedian Natt Tapley (and Gbemisola Ikumelo as Meghan Markle) takes on the role of Putin as chat show host for these two pilot episodes interviewing two celebrity guests per episode. However, the running times for each episode are so short that there is barely any time to for CGI host and guest to say much to each other. Part way through a fairy princess version of the Duchess of Sussex comes out and takes questions from the sparse audience. And that's about all there is to it - there is little time for anything much to happen before the end credits roll leaving the viewer to wonder what on earth was that all about?

The Stand Up Sketch Show: Episode #1.1 (2019) Season 1, Episode 1

Strange smorgasbord of laughs.

[6/10 · 30 January 2019]

ITV2 have commissioned a strange little show here. A veritable array of British stand-up comedians (some new faces, some familiar ones) appear on stage and begin to tell their routine but then the action switches to the comedian and a cast of actors re-enacting the events of the joke in a comedy sketch. Stand-up shows can be a bit hit and miss and sketch shows are notoriously hit and miss - so it should come as no surprise that this is too. However, there are some genuinely very funny skits here:- Adam Hess' job interview from hell, the plain weird reaction of Catherine Bohart's mother to her daughter coming out as gay and the violent granny were all very funny. Trouble is you may wish that the comedians you enjoyed watching had just stayed on screen and done a full regular stand-up routine.

Make Me a Dealer (2018– )

Far too slow.

[4/10 · 20 November 2018]

The pacing of this new BBC One antiques programme is so slow. The opening segment in which we are introduced to the episode's two participants as they look around an antiques shop or fair but don't actually buy anything is completely pointless and we also get vt packages of them at home. It takes far to long to get to the actual buying, selling and learning about the antiques.

Paul Martin does his usual solid job as presenter/expert and former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry does a reasonable job on commentary with some groan worthy puns thrown in for good measure. There have also been some fun and quirky contestants. But as a whole this is an underwhelming watch.

The Great Model Railway Challenge: Globetrotting (2018) Season 1, Episode 3

Quirky Teams, odd layouts.

[6/10 · 5 November 2018]

The theme for this third episode is globetrotting and this week's three teams make some very odd interpretations of that theme. The Steampunks team opt for a trip through time as well as around the globe but opt for a flat almost featureless layout. The Bodgers go for a fun, quirky Santa on his holidays layout while the Tonbridge team's globetrotting doesn't even extend beyond the south coast of England! Some very quirky but also very odd decisions by two out of the three teams this week.

The scratch build challenge again sees the teams really think outside of the box with some very creative uses for a plunger and sponge but the Tonbridge team totally ran out of time to leave two unfinished pieces.

As good as the Bodgers layout was they were effectively handed the win this heat thanks to mistakes made by the other two teams. The Steampunks use of foam underlay allowed them to get their layout up and running first but the lack of experience on the team saw them blow that lead. Tonbridge's layout was too pedestrian for the theme and the double derailment crippled them.

The Bisexual: Episode #1.2 (2018) Season 1, Episode 2

Experimental

[5/10 · 19 October 2018]

Wow, this is quite a strange programme. The silences, awkward encounters, lighting, softly spoken dialogue and introspective nature of The Bisexual mean that this is hardly going to grab the attention of viewers. Like the piece of bizarre performance art Leila, Gabe and Deniz go to see, this series has the feel of an experimental film that explores some interesting and challenging concepts but in an uncompromisingly individualistic way that will alienate many. Not as many amusing moments in this second episode as in the first, but we gradually began to unravel the characters a little more.

The Great Model Railway Challenge: British TV (2018) Season 1, Episode 2

Aargh Presenters!

[6/10 · 13 October 2018]

In my review of episode 1 of this new programme on Channel 5 I said that the presenters didn't get in the way too much, well that lasted all of one, single, solitary episode.

Episode 2 opens with a cringe-worthy attempt at humour from the two presenters larking about - it made me want to change channels immediately. Then during the build both presenters managed to annoy the contestants by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, asking daft questions and trying to make corny jokes. Stop it you pair of pilchards.

The teams all come up with ambitious plans and cope with the scratch build challenge really well with some very imaginative uses for the copper pipe, rawl plugs and in particular the paint brush. All three teams were really pushed for time this week but all three layouts were impressive. It was such a shame that the Track Laying Ninja's had so many technical problems. This week's winners were worthy winners with their layout head and shoulders above the other two - and with no problems in the demonstration. A good episode despite the goofy presenters.

The Bisexual: Episode #1.1 (2018) Season 1, Episode 1

Tricky first episode.

[6/10 · 12 October 2018]

The first episode of any drama series has its work cut out introducing the cast of characters, the setting, character relationships etc. etc. If it is a comedy drama it also has to make you laugh as well. The debut episode of this comedy drama created by, directed by and starring Desiree Akhavan has an extra complication in that Akhavan's central character is in the process of discovering and exploring her own identity.

There are some genuinely funny moments in this episode, the differences in the replies to the questions asked of Leila and Sadie by the reporter, the awkward proposal in the lavatories, the abortive one-night stand, Francisca and her assessment of Gabe, the awkward silence following Gabe asking the lesbians if "Blue Is The Warmest Colour" was a fair representation of them etc. There are also a couple of dramatic moments such as breaking into the flat and discovering Sadie in bed with the secretary.

It's an interesting idea for a comedy drama but the whole episode was a bit patchy and didn't quite hang together as a whole. There is a quite odd feel to the show with its muted colour scheme, awkward social situations and rather grim portrait of London. It will be interesting to see how The Bisexual develops over the coming episodes though I am expecting this to be very much a "Marmite" show that people either take to or hate.

The Great Model Railway Challenge: Classic Movies (2018) Season 1, Episode 1

Great fun, good debut episode.

[7/10 · 8 October 2018]

I really enjoyed this debut episode. It was both interesting and fun - helped by some of the team members this week. The idea of a team of complete strangers working together was an interesting contrast to the other two teams this week. The captain of the winning team in particular made me laugh out loud with his dry remarks.

The presenters are enthusiastic without getting in the way, the judges explain their decisions well and there are some interesting and unusual camera angles at play here. The scratch build challenge seemed a bit daft at first but bravo to some of the teams for how inventive they were. The winners deserved to win, the team bending (if not breaking the rules) didn't. Fair enough.

World of Sport Wrestling (2018– )

Could have been better (but could have been worse).

[6/10 · 3 October 2018]

British professional wrestling returns to mainstream television in 2018 as World of Sport/WOS Wrestling gets a 10 episode series on the UK's most watched commercial TV channel. That is in itself remarkable, but is also something of a problem for this programme - with the 5pm Saturday afternoon time slot causing a few headaches for the producers.

All of the bouts shown across the 10 episodes were recorded at a three day TV taping at the Epic Television Studios in Norwich in May 2018 for broadcast on ITV during July to September. Which is again a problem.

So is WOS Wrestling any good? Well, yes there are certainly some things to like about this show. The presentation is very good with the WOS Arena looking good, the actual staging of the shows looking slick and professional and the commentary team doing a good job. The in-ring action is to a decent standard - okay there are a few poor matches here and there, but generally it is not bad. It is not going to revolutionise pro wrestling but the bouts tick along nicely. However, the delays in getting this 10 episode series commissioned by ITV have allowed WWE to come in and sign up a slew of Britain's top wrestlers (including one or two who appeared on the WOS Wrestling New Year's show in 2016) to exclusive contracts for their own NXT UK promotion. Sadly this leaves the roster a little thin and we quite quickly get into seeing the same wrestlers appearing in episode after episode.

Each episode has a 1 hour running time including commercials which equates to about 47 minutes per episode and WOS have taken the decision to try and cram as much actual wrestling into each episode as possible. This means the episodes are split into four segments with usually one bout in each segment. However, this leaves very little room for anything else. There are a few interview segments scattered across the 10 episodes, but most of the build up has to be done by the commentary team. In fact there are lots of interviews with the wrestlers before and after the bouts but these are only available to view via the WOS Wrestling social media platforms - which makes the fact that there are no on-screen hashtags or links to the company's website/twitter/facebook really glaring.

Sadly, that is not the only glaring problem with the show. The early time slot and short running time mean matches are heavily edited with cameras cutting away to crowd shots during bouts. Action replays are used a lot and are rather intrusive. Despite the heavy editing of bouts, inexplicably, botches are not edited out. The TV studio setting allows some interesting camera angles to be used (between the turnbuckles shots and overhead cameras etc.) but the cutting from camera to camera is frenetic at times.

With no promos, few interviews and bizarrely no on-screen graphics showing the wrestlers names (!) viewers don't get much of an introduction to the wrestlers. WOS have signed up a mixture of recognisable names - Grado, Davey Boy Smith Jr, Joe Hendry, Viper & Doug Williams plus some newer less familiar wrestlers like Gabriel Kidd, Adam Maxted, Justin Sysum and Ayesha. Storylines are kept fairly simple and for the most part work well.

The episodes are pacy with plenty of in ring action per episode, the wrestling is of a decent standard and the whole show has a slick style to it but dammit there are a lot of annoying things about this show. At the time of writing it is not known if a second series will be commissioned, so sit back enjoy the 10- episodes for the fast paced rollercoaster ride they are.

World of Sport Wrestling: Episode #1.10 (2018) Season 1, Episode 10

Underwhelming Grand Finale

[7/10 · 3 October 2018]

Or the not so grand finale to this pre-recorded 10 episode run of WOS Wrestling. Like the programme as a whole this episode has its good points and its bad - and in fact pretty much sums up WOS Wrestling as a whole.

The final episode of series one plays out the conclusion of the series long storyline of Rampage being the undefeated and (by hook or by crook) undefeatable heel champion finally being beaten by the fan favourite who finally gets the chance to win the title against his nemesis.

But first we get the show's first (and only) decent promo segment recapping events from across the series that have led us to this point. This is quite good but begs the question why they could not have done something similar at the start of the series to introduce viewers to the cast of characters competing in WOS. As with the penultimate episode, this week there will only be two longer bouts featured.

We once again get the weird thing of Stu Bennett announcing matches that have already been announced. And so on to the opening bout of the show as the tag team champions "Alphabad" make their first (and only) defence of their belts against the team of Grado and "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith Jr. The whole tag team situation is a good example of where WOS have not quite go things right. A tag team tournament leads to Alphabad winning the belts but half the teams have disintegrated leaving few options and not enough episodes left for multiple title defences. So we get this one tag title defence and for what it is it is not too shabby. The team of Grado and Bulldog look an awkward pairing but they sell the match well. Iestyn Rees and Kip Sabian do their jobs well as the more "well-oiled" pairing but before the bout commences we know that the fan favourites are going to win the belts and the bout was a little underwhelming. A nice touch at the end with Stu Bennett giving Grado a slow hand clap from the commentary table.

Then it is on to the main event and again we know how this one is going to play out and it is a little underwhelming. Justin Sysum and Rampage put in a shift here and there is some good action early on. The interference angle from Sha Samuels and CJ Banks has been a little overplayed and we finally get the referee throwing the pair to the back. From then on in the action putts along without really going too far above expectations with numerous standard wrestling cliches thrown in for good measure. Sysum finally gets the win and claims the title and there is again a nice little spot at the end with Stu Bennett getting in the ring and decking Rampage and a nice bit of tension is built up before Stu shakes Justin's hand and everything is wrapped up nice and neat and tidy. There is just time for a plug for the live tour and we are done.

I have no idea if ITV will bother to commission a second series of WOS Wrestling the viewing figures dropped sharply between episodes 1 & 2 and people seemed to be actively avoiding the show with the programmes on before and after maintaining their audiences with this big wrestling-shaped hole in between. If they do order series two it may be shunted across to one of ITV's other channels where 400,000 or 500,000 viewers would actually look good whereas on ITV 1 it looks very low indeed. WOS Wrestling has been fun but frustrating to watch, it has been great for younger wrestling fans to see British pro wrestling broadcast on a mainstream TV channel for the first time in their lives and I for one will be going to the live show at the Victoria Hall - whether we get to see them back on our TV screens we shall have to wait and see.

World of Sport Wrestling: Episode #1.9 (2018) Season 1, Episode 9

Best episode so far?

[8/10 · 24 September 2018]

WOS Wrestling have really packed bouts into the relatively short run time of the episodes so far - at the expense of interviews/promos and other content which has been shunted online (and with no links on screen to point this out to viewers). But the format of the "main event" on episode 9 means we only get one other bout. But I for one am not going to complain as this was possibly the best episode of WOS so far.

After the usual recap of last week's show/preview of this week's action we get down to business with Stu Bennett attempting to explain the rules and format of this unique main event he has dreamt up and called the Buzzer Battle. His explanation is not entirely 100% accurate though - the bout doesn't feature the entire male roster with the likes of Ospreay, Kirby and Hendry not in it and it doesn't start as a tag match actually. But he does build it up nicely.

The action gets underway with the WOS Women's title match between Kay Lee Ray and Viper. This is a really good bout and fully deserving of the "This Is Awesome" chants from the crowd at ringside. There is a some great back and forth between the two women and the sequence leading up to Kay Lee Ray pinning Viper was really well done. Apart from the usual gripe over the editing of these matches my only complaint was that the match was a bit short - due to Stu's explaining the main event no doubt. I don't think that they have used Viper as well as they could have (I think she has lost all but one match on the show).

The main event is going to take up the whole of the rest of the show and like most things on WOS Wrestling has good points and bad. This is a pretty weird format that just feels like elements of different types of matches mashed together but it is quirky and something a bit different and actually worked OK - allowing some storyline elements to play out within it. The bout is to decide a new No. 1 contender for Rampage's Heavyweight title - ignoring the fact that Justin Sysum won that honour on an earlier edition. It starts off with two wrestlers in a singles elimination match and at any moment he chooses Stu can sound the buzzer and two more wrestlers come down and make this an elimination tag match. Then each time he sounds the buzzer two more men come to the ring and one joins each of the two tag teams. This will continue until all of the participants are involved. However, once the eliminations have reduced the number of participants down to eight across the two teams the whole match switches to an over-the-top rope battle royal with the last man standing getting the title match on the final show.

The whole thing was a little bit messy in parts but there were also some great ideas at play here. Robbie X and Kip Sabian were the men to start us off and were given some time to show what they can do. Stu eventually hits the buzzer and we get tag partners Stevie Boy and B.T. Gunn coming down to face each other on opposite teams. A neat idea that worked well, I particularly liked it when Stu was appalled to see the two men shaking hands after a spot and hitting the buzzer to bring in Liam Slater and Iestyn Rees. Having Sabian and fellow tag champ Rees on the same team also played out well and I loved it when they hit their finisher and try to get Gunn to pin Stevie Boy then allow Gunn to be eliminated too.

I thought this format started to get very messy quickly after this with Grado and Sha Samuels entering the match but quickly getting cut off by the advert break. SoCal Val hit the buzzer to save Grado from a beating leading to Bulldog and CJ Banks entering the fray but ultimately leading to Grado, Bulldog and the tag champs all being messily DQ (to save them for the tag team title match). There are some quite amusing exchanges amongst the commentary team and we get Adam Maxted and eventually the dismissed Nathan Cruz entering. Justin Sysum and Crater enter the fray but there is a surprise in store when the last two men enter the bout as one of them is Scottish star Moose. We now have 10 wrestlers, five on each team but when two are eliminated it will switch to the battle royal. Robbie X and Liam Slater are the two to exit and klaxons wail to indicate the 8-man battle royal is on. Gabriel Kidd and Nathan Cruz are eliminated, Maxted is eliminated by the already eliminated Cruz (which is silly). Samuels, Banks and Moose all exit to leave Sysum Vs. the no longer invincible monster Crater. Some great work from Sysum leads to him bodyslamming Crater before tipping him over the rope for the win - thus making up for him getting stiffed earlier in the run.

So for the final (possibly ever) WOS Wrestling episode next week Sysum will face Rampage for the title and after some pretty weak set-up over the last two episodes Grado and Bulldog somehow "deserve" a shot at the tag champs. So it should be a fan favourite championship extravaganza then!

Peng Life (2018– )

Quirky, Fresh & Fun Review Show...reviewing nonsense.

[5/10 · 24 September 2018]

Elijah Quashie and his two sidekicks Nelson and Wilson Quaresma have made a name for themselves with their funny, quirky, down-to-earth internet reviews of high street fast food outlets. So, Channel 4 commissioned a 4-episode "Pilot Series" from Renowned Films of the trio and some celebrity guests reviewing some Peng stuff.

The hosts and the friendly banter between them liven up this show and they are able to get some good reactions from their celebrity guests. The programme is filmed and edited in a quirky, fast-paced way with lots of on-screen graphics popping up and feels fun and fresh.

However, there is a simple, fundamental flaw to this programme - the things that they are reviewing. Maybe someone will buy a helicopter ride as a once-in-a-lifetime birthday present for a loved one or maybe there is someone who is seriously considering buying a Segway but a lot of the stuff being reviewed on here is just ridiculous stuff that no-one in their right mind would ever buy. I can't see the point in comparing a high street pizza or kebab to one that is so expensive that no one would ever buy it irrespective of whether it is the best pizza in the world or not.

This is a wasted opportunity and part of me hopes that a full second series does get commissioned so that we could see the lads reviewing things that people might actually want to buy!