T4 On The Beach - Strong Line-Up, Disappointing Result

Sunday afternoon saw the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare taken over by the popular one-day festival, T4 on the Beach.  Now in its 8^th year, the annual event boosts all the tourist attractions and economy in the area by nearly a third, and is a big hit with some of the top popstars across the world.  With tickets priced at £35, it was unsurprising that they were snapped up in double-quick time.  For those, including myself, at least you can take comfort from watching an afternoon of top-quality music and entertainment live on Channel 4.

The event was hosted by the popular T4 presenters, Rick Edwards, Miquita Oliver and Steve Jones, who keeps coming back to host the prestigious event every year, despite the constant rumours that suggest he is on the verge of signing an exclusive deal with the BBC.  The presenters managed to pull all the stops out to attract a dazzling line-up of talent to the 2010 festival – Quite possibly the strongest they’ve managed to attract.

On the bill were the likes of Pixie Lott, JLS, Dizzee Rascal, Scouting for Girls, Jason Derulo, the Saturdays, Plan B, Alexandra Burke, Tiny Tempah, The Hoosiers, Taio Cruz and Ellie Goulding.  It promised a lot on paper, but things are never concluded on paper, they have to happen on the day.  Sadly, this didn’t seem to be the case.  Some of the acts did themselves a load of credit.  Derulo got the crowd going, and certainly the pulses of many crazy girl heartbeats, by stripping out of his top during his live performance.  Pixie Lott’s reputation continues to grow, with another bustling live performance, and is starting to move ahead of Florence + the Machine, as the biggest breakthrough act of recent times.  Another threat for that crown comes from the gifted Ellie Goulding.  Goulding, who won the Critics Choice Award at this year’s BRITS, is going from strength and strength, and is only bound to get better, even if she hasn’t won my full support for her talent quite yet.  JLS closed the show this year, and put in another top-notch performance, even though it was limited to two songs, and their new single may lack in gaining the attention, that ‘Everybody In Love’ and ‘Beat Again’ manage to acclaim. 

Among the disappointments, were The Saturdays, who were lacking the presence of one of their members, through illness?  As a result, it showed, as the girls struggled on without her.  Derulo aside, most of the international stars seemed more interested in the girls, rather than their own performances.  The weather was grey, windy and dismal, which was disappointing, considering the recent heat haze that the country is enjoying.  Although Gok Wan did his best as a guest host, the stars of Skins, The Inbetweeners and Hollyoaks – normally full of co-stars, were also distinctly missing from the action in 2010.  T4’s surprise guest, the annoying and irritating Jedward turned up and performed.  To be honest, the less said about those twins, the better for this country.  The day they get a No.1, will be the day that music officially dies.  Fingers crossed that will never happen then!  They may be entertaining at times, but their vocal talents are simply non-existent.  Presenting is more of a possible career path; singing certainly will never fit the talk of X-Factor 2009.  Another bloke who you wouldn’t mind giving a good old slap, is Louis Spence from Pineapple Dance Studios.  Though his hard work with his studios can’t be faulted, his personality is nothing short of bordering onto pure madness. 

I had high hopes for T4 on the Beach 2010, but like many items before this year, such as England’s diabolical World Cup performance, the letdown of Britain’s Got Talent and the expected failure of the Eurovision Song Contest, it lacked some of the entertainment, musical and comedy value that it traditionally brings.  It was a disappointing outcome, for such a top-notch bill; let’s hope it bounces back next summer.

Channel 4 - A Bleak Future Ahead?

This post was first published ontohttp://happydude88.livejournal.com/ on January 18th,

‘And so as the countdown to a new channel ends, a new countdown begins.’ Those were the first words spoken on Channel 4 in November 1982 by the late Countdown presenter, Richard Whitely. The question now is after twenty-seven years of established and controversial broadcasting, is the future bright or bleak for Britain’s 4th television station.

Channel 4 has been at the forefront of many groundbreaking and sensitive issues to millions of people. Who can forget the infamous lesbian kiss between Beth & Margaret on Brookside in December 1993. To a degree, despite the failings of ITV in recent years, Channel 4 is the biggest terrestrial broadcaster to suffer, thanks to the recession.

Advertising revenues have dropped significantly, major names have left for more lucrative deals elsewhere (e.g. Justin Lee-Collins recent defection to five) and top quality programmes have been dropped in a desperate attempt to keep the Channel in an established situation.

Paul O’Grady has left Channel 4 recently, he is moving back to ITV, and his show joins a list of others such as Wife Swap, Star Stories & the Secret Millionaire to have bitten the dust. Continued doubts remain over the future of the Sunday Night Project, T4 (the weekend winner for kids) and C4’s only decent attempt at the sporting market, the award-winning Channel 4 Racing. And whilst Hollyoaks, Dispatches, The Inbetweeners & Desperate Housewives continue to pull in the much-needed audience market, questions must be asked about the future of Channel 4 News, which is cutting back on its lunchtime programme, despite their impressive in-depth look at the major news headlines. Not forgetting, Deal or No Deal, which started as a rousing success in 2005, but has now become a serious bland of repeating nature that means the twenty-two red boxes have lost all meaning.

          

Of course, it is the axing of Big Brother which had suggested the company’s recent struggles. Starting in 2000, Big Brother became a national and international phenomena and a paramount view for many throughout an often wet summer. However, the racist row which dogged the Celebrity edition in 2007 meant it destroyed its public image and respect with many. After next summer, it will end up in the scrapheap and about time for an out-of-date format.

Despite all the doom and gloom, Channel 4 is still trying to promote new talent. Its ‘Generation Next’ series of last year turned into a massive hit, as has The Family and the comedy values which can leave any normal human being laughing in hysterics throughout the show. Peep Show and 8 Out of 10 Cats have been a pleasant distraction from the real-life problems that bug today’s society.


Andy Duncan is stepping down as Chief Executive at the end of the year and has overseen massive changes in his five years in the role. Can Channel 4 remain a strong force in today’s television industry? 2010 could be a make-or-break year for the company.