Saturday Night In

I spend my weekends - my 'days off' as Hubby refers to them - catching up on the housework I have had neither time nor energy to effectively see to from Monday to Friday. The money situation being what it is I don't go out either, as every penny needs to be squirrelled away so we can, err, eat food and that.

I need decent Saturday night entertainment. I've clung on to some shocking rubbish in my time, I have to admit that even tonight (Sat 16 March) I watched Dale Winton on his Lotto quizzy thing.

Dale's jackets seem to have a permanent, unremovable hanger across the shoulders.
And the contestants - where on God's little Earth do they find them?

"I know the answer to this!" says cocky looking bloke. "I went to the Algarve last month!"

Sadly (for him)  he thought he had actually been to Spain.

Only my girl crush on Myleene got me through that.

The highlight of Saturday's TV is beyond compare, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV1, 7pm).

In its renewed incarnation, this 80 minute long (not long enough!) almost complete delight makes me laugh out loud in a way hardly anything else I watch on contemporary telly does any more.

It's so sweet. So warm. So bloody nicely mischievous.

There were two stand out set pieces.

Our boys donned school uniform and joined a Year 5 junior school class. Kudos to the male teacher who berated Ant for talking when he should have been silent; "Our policy for speaking and listening  means if I speak, you listen."

I defy anyone who knows nothing about the school system nowadays and yet still feels they can safely say it is 'dumbed down' to see what Ant & Dec sat through in lessons (all absolutely spot on pitched Y5 ones) and answer the questions on all the info these 9 and 10 year olds are absorbing.

To get John Humphreys (himself a Headmaster that never was!) to ask the questions at the end was a stroke of brilliance.

As if that wasn't enough we were then treated to Aled Jones being a good sport and making a fool of himself in front of unsuspecting party planners.

It's all jolly good fun.

When I was growing up Saturday night TV was for the most part, in the mid to late Seventies, and into the Eighties (3-2-1 anybody?)  utter wastelands. All I recall was that there was Bruce Forsyth hosting The Generation Game.
Dad didnt like Bruce. Or Mike Yarwood. Or anyone mainstream for that matter. Many an evening was spent watching dull as ditchwater BBC2 documentaries about - I dont remember -I want to say Hitler but that would be far too interesting.
But when we did get to see Bruce I used to love the games where the public had to act in a play and read the lines off props.
SNT takes me back to those days.

Then there is Morecambe & Wise.

When it comes to comedy duos, Laurel & Hardy are tops, no arguments; and then, my beloved Eric & Ernie.

My dad looks like Eric Morecambe, or at least he used to, he's older now, white haired, far more care worn.  Eric & Ernie bestride my comedy landscape like Colossus.

It gives me great pleasure to watch Ant & Dec and feel the presence of Eric & Ern in their routines.

It was especially noticeable in the first episode of the series- the piano routine. Each week I look to them to be like my comedy idols. And each week they make me laugh, proper laugh, and I love them for it.


So, dear Ant and Dec : don't just keep on doing what you are doing; silly and funny as it is. You have the potential to be more than just TV presenters.

DO more. Be more.

Be this generation's Eric & Ernie.

Thanks.