TV - Reviews by vollmann1969-45worlds

TV - Reviews by vollmann1969-45worlds

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
vollmann1969-45worlds 11th Sep 2021		TV The Mersey Pirate (1979)	Review Saturday morning Granada kids TV programme which ran for one season (although it seemed much longer!) when Tiswas were on their 1979 summer holidays. Featuring Duggie Brown (Lynne Perrie's brother) Uber-gag-meister Frank Carson and former Cavern Club DJ, professional scouser Billy Butler. Set aboard a boat on The Mersey, featuring a dockside audience and guests interviewed out on deck, it became the only televison programme, apart from the cricket, to be regularly called off due to inclement weather. ANNOUNCER: There will be no Mersey Pirate today because it's raining. KIDS WATCHING AT HOME:Yesss!! ... Brilliant!!! It was rubbish to be honest, despite the inclusion of Carson. It felt as if the producers and crew were trying to manufacture a Tiswas-like anarchic madness within the staid confines of a format which wasn't that far off from resembling BBC's Multi-Coloured Swap Shop. Then again almost anything having to stand in for Chris Tarrant and Sally James would have seemed pale at the time. The format was repeated by Granada the following summer (sans Duggie B and shipping vessel) with the Billy Boyle fronted 'Fun Factory' (verification needed .. especially on the 'fun'.) This effort not only introduced us to idiot cockney DJ Gary Crowley, but was the first ever television show to feature the artistic talents of a young Jeremy Beadle. Enough said I think. 8 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?