mostly david ephgrave

At least when Celebs Go Dating starts on E4 tonight, everyone involved will have a TV credit. ...anyone? I keep seeing the series trailed on Channel 4 in the mornings and I can honestly say I don’t recognise a single person on it; not even slightly. I know fame is subjective, but by the law of averages you’d think I'd be familiar with at least one of the eight people taking part; the definition of celebrity is being stretched so far by the programme's producers, I almost expect to see myself among the line-up. This is what’s wrong with the world today, at least as far as popular culture is concerned (and I’m well aware this makes me sound like someone’s grandparent). There once was a time when we’d celebrate talented people for making some kind of achievement, but not any more; now, all you need to be in the public eye is a vapid face and a questionable haircut. These days, you can be branded a celebrity just for appearing on a ...

Another day, another Autumn, another series of Strictly Come Dancing reaches our screens  Every year, it starts and I tell myself, "I won't get sucked in". I also ponder as to whether I (1) know who anyone is apart from the odd big-hitter, and (2) whether I'll grow to like the people I instinctively dislike and vica versa. I know it has the facade of a trashy reality TV contest at first glance, but it's a definite step above the rest; so much so, I forgive myself for my interest in it.  See below for my barrage of tweets as I watched tonight's show. Other people go out on a Saturday night, but not me; I just furiously press the keys on my BlackBerry as I jibe snarkily at a load of people far braver - and more coordinated - than me.  6:59pm: "Everybody dancing now." 6:59pm: The opening number's like the video for Michael & Janet Jackson's Scream, camped up to the max. 7:05pm: Barely ten minutes in & nothing has happened onscreen t...