Was it wise to invite Frankie Boyle to present the awards at the Edinburgh International Television Festival? Executives from Channel 5 were having their doubts last night.
“These awards are all about excellence in broadcasting, which is why no one from Channel 5 is here,” Boyle informed the multitude. “Channel 5’s viewing figures are always higher than I expect, because a lot of their viewers think they are watching Channel 4 plus 1.”
Swiftly moving on, he offered remarks on the impact of modern viewing habits on family life: “Let’s all raise a glass to the box set, surely the biggest leap forward in keeping loveless marriages on track since negative equity.”
Hats off to performance poet Luke Wright, the fastest man on the Fringe, apparently. What I Learned from Johnny Bevan, his excellent show about a jaded music journalist, ends at Summerhall at 17.55. Wright has five minutes to have a quick rub down and apply some Sanex before he strides out at Underbelly on the Cowgate, where he takes to the stage at 18.25 as the Stay-at-Home Dandy. There was, he admits, “some deliberation” before he accepted the two gigs.
He tells us: “So far I’ve really enjoyed the walks which also help mentally as the style and character of the two shows are very different.” Woe betide the poor flyer-person who delays him as he travels between venues: we’d have a third production on our hands: Luke Back in Anger.
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Also appearing at the TV fest was actor Martin Freeman, who had only kind things to say of Hamlet, at London’s Barbican Theatre, in which the pensive Prince of Denmark is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, his co-star in Sherlock. “He was really good, very clear,” Freeman told Mark Lawson. “He made Shakespeare very accessible in his mouth.” Freeman had reason to be kind — Cumberbatch ensured that he had a free ticket for a sell-out show.
Viewers can look forward to more Jane Tennison, the police inspector played by Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect, ITV’s drama series. It’s unlikely that Mirren will be the star this time because, says Peter Fincham, ITV director of television, the new show will be a prequel. He was less forthcoming about a rumoured return of Cold Feet, the 30-something drama starring James Nesbit, Helen Baxendale and the rest. “Common sense says ‘Don’t ever say don’t bring things back’ if it’s an exciting thing to do, but most of what we do is new and original. So Cold Feet, yes I’ve read that in the press, but I’ve nothing to say.” So, Cold Feet is coming back, then?