Let Me Entertain You (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Let Me Entertain You was a daytime variety show that aired on BBC Two
from 21 August 2006 and ended on 22 June 2007. The show is presented by British
funnyman, Brian Conley
, with co-presenter Christine Bleakley
.
The show's aim seems to be a modern day remake of ITV
's famous variety show, Opportunity Knocks. The element of removing performers before the conclusion of the act is similar to The Gong Show
.
" in the Grand Final in 2006, (Click here for Matthew's winning performance). Matthew was also asked back to sing on the Grand Final of Series two, in 2007, as a guest performer.
The series two champion was Lee Lambert, who was also 13 years old at the time, and a singer. In the final he performed "I Am What I Am
" in the disco style associated with Gloria Gaynor
. Runners-up were David Ashley, a Frank Sinatra
-style singer, and Faces Of Disco, a comedy dance act who were subsequently semi-finalists in Britain's Got Talent 2009
.
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
from 21 August 2006 and ended on 22 June 2007. The show is presented by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
funnyman, Brian Conley
Brian Conley
Brian Conley is an English comedian, television presenter, singer and actor. At the peak of his television career, he was the highest-paid male television personality in the UK. Outside of television, he is best known for his frequent portrayals of Buttons in pantomime versions of...
, with co-presenter Christine Bleakley
Christine Bleakley
Christine Louise Bleakley is a television presenter from Northern Ireland. She joined Daybreak on ITV as co-presenter with Adrian Chiles in September 2010...
.
Format
The show invites allcomers to entertain a studio audience (doing anything they like) for a cash prize. At any point during their act, a member of the audience can press a button they are given, to register their 'displeasure' with the act; when half of the audience have pressed their buttons, the act is stopped. If they get over one minute of attention they get £100, over two minutes wins £200, and if they last three minutes they earn £1000. If the allcomer is under 16, they receive an alternative to cash prizes - usually a showbiz-related treat or an item useful to their career (e.g. a trip to the West End, a musical instrument). The most popular act from each day is entered into a weekly final.The show's aim seems to be a modern day remake of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's famous variety show, Opportunity Knocks. The element of removing performers before the conclusion of the act is similar to The Gong Show
The Gong Show
The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...
.
Champions
The series one champion was 13 year old classical baritone, Matthew Crane, who sang "Nessun DormaNessun dorma
Nessun dorma is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto , who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot...
" in the Grand Final in 2006, (Click here for Matthew's winning performance). Matthew was also asked back to sing on the Grand Final of Series two, in 2007, as a guest performer.
The series two champion was Lee Lambert, who was also 13 years old at the time, and a singer. In the final he performed "I Am What I Am
I Am What I Am (Broadway musical song)
"I am what I am" is a song originally introduced in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles . The song is the finale number of the musical's first act, and performed by the character of Albin Mougeotte, first played by George Hearn...
" in the disco style associated with Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
. Runners-up were David Ashley, a Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
-style singer, and Faces Of Disco, a comedy dance act who were subsequently semi-finalists in Britain's Got Talent 2009
Britain's Got Talent (series 3)
The 2009 series of Britain's Got Talent was the third series of the programme. It began airing on ITV on 11 April. The 2009 panel of judges consisted of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan...
.
Transmissions
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 August 2006 | 15 September 2006 | 20 |
| 2 | 28 May 2007 | 22 June 2007 | 20 |