[Romantic Old Bird]

Mmmm, I know you are right about Helen in the present format, because it's not REALLY a children's programme per se.

It goes along similar lines to Tiswas in the seventies. Nowhere near as funny though, IMHO, as the phantom flan flinger, the dying fly, a very young and very funny Lenny Henry, all very silly groundbreaking slapstick, fantastic.

OH and I glued to the screen and howling with laughter, whilst our very little ones were tugging at our sleeves for attention.

SM:TV is like that, aimed at the slighter older, aspiring to be grown up child, and there are loads of innuendo's thrown in for the discerning. Ant and Dec were perfect for that, because they had the cheeky cherubic look which allowed them to get away with murder.

Helen is not as 'quickfire' but would be lovely with little children on a 'proper' children's prog. Remember the bit on Lorraine where she worked with those girls for their Cinderella dance. She was completely on their wavelength, and they loved her for it. She would be great doing a 'challenge' or 'fix it' type programme with them.

Back to SM:TV. Bubble? Sorry, no, I don't see it myself. I think he is a nice enough fellow, but I agree with discolady, not nearly as funny as he thinks he is. He didn't make me laugh once in the house, but he did annoy me. When he mooned the housemates I found myself going 'yuck, what a pasty little bum' not hahaha at all.

Did I not read that they were considering Hayley for the Cat Deeley job? If the end up with Hayley, Tess and Brian, it's not going to be terribly 'butch' is it? No more relying on the old sexual chemistry thing in 'Chums'!