Don't Ask Me, Ask Britain: Is it boring?

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Don't Ask Me, Ask Britain: Is it boring?

April 21, 2017 - 10:45
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Panel shows are ten to the dozen these days. You don’t have to scan your TV paper for very long before you come across one. From long running hits such as Have I Got News For You to modern twists on the format, like the sports-themed Play To The Whistle, just about every format has been tried and tested.

Don't Ask Me, Ask Britain

By Matthew Gormley @MatthewPGormley

Panel shows are ten to the dozen these days. You don’t have to scan your TV paper for very long before you come across one. From long running hits such as Have I Got News For You to modern twists on the format, like the sports-themed Play To The Whistle, just about every format has been tried and tested.

Don’t Ask Me, Ask Britain a new, live and interactive panel show which taps into the 21st century by getting the viewers involved via an app. It’s a format that’s so bewilderingly simple, it’s a wonder it got past the TV execs. Wait, I stand corrected. It’s a format that’s so bewilderingly simple, it’s no wonder it got past the TV execs.

Alexander Armstrong, star of the BBC’s teatime hit Pointless (something which many are describing this new format as after seeing the first episode) is your host. He’s joined by two teams of celebrity guests; in the first show, it was Frank Skinner and Jamelia vs Jonathan Ross and Deborah Meadan. The teams compete against each other to try and second guess how the public will vote in a series of multiple choice opinion polls, with the percentages being converted into points for the team. Because what do percentages make? Points, as Xander frequently reiterates in an attempt to coin a catchphrase.

I’m not entirely sure whether it’s lucky or unlucky that this new series should launch on the day that Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap General Election. Do we really want to hear them discuss this? As Frank Skinner pointed out, there are few things more irritating than celebrities talking about politics. Unless, of course, it’s politicians talking about anything else at all. And so, to the first poll: ‘Do you think there should be a snap election?’ A question for which there are only two answers, yet they managed to discuss it for the entire first part of the programme. Never mind a snap election, a snap viewer vote might be a good idea, as the process was far too drawn out.

As much as I dislike Jonathan Ross, he actually brought a hint of humour to the proceedings on Tuesday night, but was outdone by Frank Skinner, who was highly amusing, although I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely taking the proverbial out of the whole thing.

Thankfully, the pace did increase ever so slightly. Other topics covered included what you would do if you accidentally ran over your neighbour’s cat. I expected the majority to be in agreement with Jamelia, who suspected that most would look around to check nobody saw them do the deed and drive off, but the result was overwhelmingly in favour of owning up. Did people forget that the voting is entirely anonymous? I suspect the self-proclaimed pop princess had a point when she said that the majority of the majority were not only lying to the nation, but also lying to themselves.

Ross and Skinner were invited up to the lectern to canvass for votes on a topic close to their hearts. Frank campaigned for hand luggage with wheels to be banned on aeroplanes, whilst Jonathan pleaded for men to refrain from going topless in public as soon as the sun protrudes. Perhaps for the first time during his career, the nation was in agreement with Jonathan Ross.

Despite its mind-numbingly simple format, I thoroughly enjoyed Don’t Ask Me, Ask Britain. With four people giving their opinions on the burning questions of the day, it’s like Loose Women with a public vote. There was less news, of course, and many of the questions were completely random. But it was entertaining; a nice, easy watch. With seven weeks of turbo-charged politics ahead of us, it’ll make a pleasant change to have a vote on some lighter topics.

It won’t exactly win any awards for its genius format. It’s a simple premise that puts the fun into debating. I watched the first edition on catch up, but I’m hoping to catch the next show live, so I can download the app and play along. With many viewers branding the show ‘boring’ on social media, there’s a potential risk of voting numbers diminishing as the series goes on.

Perhaps one of their next questions should be: Will it be a long runner, or will viewers get bored? Don’t Ask Me, Ask Britain.