‘Livid. Broken Britain’
Gogglebox fans have been left fuming after finding out that the show has been moved from its usual slot this week.
The hit Channel 4 show usually airs on a Friday at 9pm, but this week’s episode, due to air on October 21, is being replaced with a one-off revival of the stand-up and entertainment show Friday Night Live.
In an unusual move, Channel 4 will instead air the brand new Gogglebox episode the following day on Saturday October 22 at its usual time of 9pm.
Friday Night Live is returning to celebrate 40 years of Channel 4, with Ben Elton hosting a revival of the iconic show that aired on the network in the 1980s.
The one-off 90-minute special will “unite the hottest new wave stand-ups and character comedians alongside some original show legends in a dangerously live night of comedy”, according to producers.
Although the change had been in the schedule for some time now, it was only on Wednesday night (October 19) that an announcer said: “It’s one for your diary. Brand new Gogglebox isn’t on its usual Friday night spot. Saturday at 9pm is your go-to for this week over on Channel 4.”
Having previously spotted the change, @heyfifi fumed: “Absolute DISGRACE moving Gogglebox to a Saturday ….for a reboot of an old show that may or may not work in 2022…..crap move channel four ……crap move ……. @ch4 #gogglebox.”
Absolute DISGRACE moving Gogglebox to a Saturday ….for a reboot of an old show that may or may not work in 2022…..crap move channel four ……crap move …….@ch4 #gogglebox #ch4
— Angus&MackysMum (@heyfifi) October 14, 2022
Another said: “Can’t believe the news today. How dare they move Gogglebox to Saturday nights. Livid. Broken Britain.”
Can’t believe the news today. How dare they move Gogglebox to Saturday nights.
Livid.
Broken Britain.— Phil Earle (@philearle) October 14, 2022
A third grumbled: “Moving #Gogglebox to Saturday nights is a stupid idea. If you’re gonna move it, Sunday and Thursday are the best choices. Do you actually want to kill off a great show, Channel 4?”
Moving #Gogglebox to Saturday nights is a stupid idea. If you're gonna move it, Sunday and Thursday are the best choices. Do you actually want to kill off a great show, Channel 4?
— flirty fun? it's 31 (@htbuk1992) October 16, 2022
Someone else complained: “You can’t move #Gogglebox to a Saturday night to make way for Ben Elton…..”
You can't move #Gogglebox to a Saturday night to make way for Ben Elton…..🙄🙄
— Pjmeek 👤 (@pjmeek) October 19, 2022
And a fifth added: “Soooo #Gogglebox is changing from Friday to Saturday, @Channel4 that’s right when strictly and the voice are on so now can’t watch gogglebox so thanks for that.”
Soooo #Gogglebox is changing from Friday to Saturday, @Channel4 that’s right when strictly and the voice are on so now can’t watch gogglebox so thanks for that 👍🏻
— R_Everson (@IamR_Everson) October 15, 2022
Ben Elton, 63, will act as compere for Friday Night Live which will feature some of the future stars he introduced back in the ‘80s like Jo Brand, Harry Enfield and Julian Clary. Elton has also shared he would love to see a full-time return for the show, which began as Saturday Live in 1985 and ended as Friday Night Live in 1988.
“The show literally changed British entertainment because it basically invented the stand-up boom,” the Irish Mirror reports him as saying.
“When we started there were two clubs in London and the odd pub comedy night everywhere else. That was it. By the time we finished three years later, there were two clubs in every town in the country.
“I said to Channel 4 ‘You should think about doing it again because there’s never been an edgy, proper live cabaret since on the TV’. I mean, with respect to a show like Live at the Apollo, it’s not a live gig, it’s recorded.”
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