Gareth Gates In The Buff

Gareth Gates - Pop Idol (Getty Image)

Back in late 2001 around 10M viewers tuned into Pop Idol, watching Gareth Gates and Will Young battling it out to see who would ultimately be crowned the winner. Both contestants went on to become household names. Although Gareth was the runner-up, he scored chart success with his solo career - releasing three studio albums between 2002 and 2007.

In 2002 Gareth Gates hit the headlines when Katie Price sold her story to the tabloids about taking his virginity while he was only 17 years old. His image may have been tarnished by the story, but it didn't stop him scoring more hits. Hitting the number one spot four times and earning eight Top 20 hits by the end of 2003.

Boyband In The Buff (YouTube)

Fast forward to 2026 and 41 year old Gareth Gates is hitting the headlines once again. Boyband In The Buff is currently appearing at twenty five locations around the UK, featuring a very toned and hunky Gates on stage. A night of nostalgia with boyband hits and an eyeful of semi naked men on stage, leaving little to the imagination.  Some might be watching on, praying for a wardrobe malfunction!

Tickets: Boyband In The Buff 

*The Enemy - The Enemy Unofficial

UK Top 10 TV Ratings (w/c 15/01/24)

UK Top 10 TV viewing figures for week 3, from #BARB 15th - 21st January 2024.

BBC dominated the charts, captivating viewers with The Traitors and Gladiators.

Coronation Street returned to the top 10 as the highest rated UK soap opera for the week. 

UK Top 10 TV Ratings (w/c 18/12/23)

Top 10 most watched TV shows in the UK for week commencing 18th December 2023.

Shedaloogoo: Episode 1

Just watch one episode and the programme title will be in your head for the rest of the day!
Shedaloogoo is a crazy mix of fun, quizzes and general mayhem.

Can you guess the song in Shedaloogoo Lyrics? Name This Location? Work out 'Who Am I?'
We take a trip down memory lane with the Teletubbies and ask, 'Where Are They Now?' Episode 1 takes us on a journey through Children's TV from the very beginning until today - how many programmes will you recognise?

Let us know your thoughts - completely bonkers or good fun?

Tales From The Television - Part 20

In the final part of  'Tales From The Television', we end the series on another soap opera. This time 'Brookside' is the theme and a trip down memory lane to the time when the Channel 4 soap opera was ground breaking and gritty. The body under the patio, the first off screen campaign and the first onscreen full on lesbian kiss - these were just some of the headline grabbing stories over the 21 years Brookside graced our screens.....


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Tales From The Television - Part 19

Crossroads becomes the focus in this penultimate video, turning the clock back to a time when UK soap operas attracted massive viewing figures. The story lines may not be as dramatic but we grew up in simpler times where sex wasn't the main focus.

When Central TV took over the franchise from ATV, Crossroads fell out of favour with TV bosses and the beginning of the end for Crossroads began when Noele Gordon was axed from the long running Midland soap. It was a captivating yet heartbreaking to witness the departure of the Crossroads  matriarch who had been a positive role for women on TV being tossed aside like a used rag .......

Tales From The Television - Part 18

If you remember TV from the late 70's, early 80's then this 'Tales From The Television' video might bring back memories about one of the TV shows from that era. I loved the theme music and opening titles even more than the actual programme itself.

No cheating on the mini quiz though .........




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Tales From The Television - Part 17

The opening and closing titles to this cult TV series from the 60's only helped propel this classic British drama to new heights when it was repeated on Channel 4 in the mid 1980's. The Prisoner was one of those memorable programmes, although Channel 4 caused a bit of a stir when it showed the series in a different order (it was confusing enough in the right order!).

The famous line, "I am not a number, I am a free man" will live on in my mind forever - Number 6 and that big white balloon is also etched there........






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Tales From The Television - Part 16

Australian soap opera's were the first programme I would watch when I got home from school. Monday to Wednesday it would be 'The Young Doctors' and then 'Sons and Daughters' for the latter part of the week.

I have to admit that I actually liked 'The Young Doctors' and I found myself rushing home from school so I would not miss the episodes. The Aussie soaps were so much better than our own daytime soaps like Emmerdale Farm or Take The High Road. .....


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Tales From The Television - Part 15

Afternoon soap operas were all the norm in the late 70's and no-one made them better than Australia. As a kid, I would quickly make my way home from school for the latest episodes of The Young Doctors and Sons and Daughters.

Somehow, Take The High Road and Emmerdale Farm just didn't cut it for me ........

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Tales From The Television - Part 14

The battle for breakfast TV viewers began back in 1983 when the BBC launched 'Breakfast Time', quickly followed by TV-AM on ITV. After much hype, it was the BBC which began to win the ratings war as ITV said goodbye to some of the famous five who were originally presenting TV-AM's 'Good Morning Britian'. But all was not over in this telly battle - a rat was about to save the day. Watch this latest tale to find out more......


 

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Tales From The Television - Part 13

A TV channel going off the air because of a strike seems almost impossible to believe these days, but it did happen back in the 1970's when ITV was off the air for what seemed like weeks. This latest Tales From The Television looks back at the advert strike that hampered Channel 4 in it's early days, but the geek in me found great excitement -  find out why in the video below!

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Tales From The Television - Part 12

It was slammed in the press for being 'Channel Swore' but for me, as a bright-eyed innocent thirteen year old - it represented fresh, inspiring television. The launch of Channel 4 on November 2nd 1982 changed my viewing habits forever. Then, in January 1983, my parents bought me the best present I had ever had ...........

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Tales From The Television - Part 11

On November 2nd 1982 I witnessed the launch of a brand new television channel in the UK. As a young lad, I was excited beyond belief because I had only ever had three TV channels to choose from. Back in 1982 satellite didn't exist and cable TV was not yet invented, Sinclair Spectrum and Commodore 64 computers were just beginning to become popular. Life was seemingly simple  - I had not even watched a video by the time I was thirteen!

So the launch of Channel 4 was a life changing moment in my life ....... yes I was a nerd, yes I was a geek  - but I didn't care because I had such a passion for this new TV channel and no-one could take that away from me. (Except my parents, with whom I had to battle with too watch any programmes they would allow me to watch!)

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Tales From The Television - Part 10

In the days before we had the internet and DVD's, we had to rely on whatever TV churned out for us. In this episode of robmacca's 'Tales From The Television' find out what programmes you recognise. You might even be familiar with the tune playing in the background!

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Oscars 2012 - The Complete List Of Winners

Here is the list of Oscar winners from the 2012 Academy Awards:

Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson, "Hugo"

Best Art Direction: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schavo, "Hugo"

Best Costume Design: Mark Bridges, "The Artist"

Best Makeup: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, "The Iron Lady"

Best Foreign Language Film: "A Separation"

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, "The Help"

Best Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

Best Sound Editing: Phillip Stockton and Eugene Gearty, "Hugo"

Best Sound Mixing: Tom Fleischman and John Midgley, "Hugo"

Best Documentary: "Undefeated"

Best Animated Feature: "Rango"

Best Visual Effects: "Hugo"

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource, "The Artist"

Best Original Song: Bret McKenzie, "Man or Muppet"

Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, "The Descendants"

Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"

Best Live Action Short: "The Shore"

Best Documentary Short: "Saving Face"

Best Animated Short: "The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore"

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"

Best Actress: Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"

Best Picture: "The Artist"

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Tales From The Television - Part 9

Team GB are hoping to do well in the upcoming Olympic Games in London, but let's hope they don't follow the route of Great Britain in Jeux Sans Frontières. Week after week team GB would finish near the bottom of the table. 


The latest video looks back at It's A Knockout and Jeux Sans Frontières and how fun TV can help unite families.

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Tales From The Television - Part 8

Over the years television has given us numerous catchphrases and many TV personalities are known for their one liners. Back in the day before we had the Internet and satellite or cable TV - as children had few programmes to choose from so we had to make the most of what we had.

Looking back now, it's easy to think the programmes were tacky or 'dated' but hidden inside each show were real gems. From the outrageous Tiswas to the energetic Runaround in the late 70's early 80's  - we grew up loving the fun they bought into our young lives.

Have a cuppa and enjoy this latest tale ........

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Tales From The Television - Part 7

This one might sound like the Chipmunks but it should put a smile on your face as we look at more classic children's TV from Grange Hill, Byker Grove and Marmalade Atkins for this episode of robmacca's Tales From The Television .......

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Tales From The Television - Part 6

Getting home from school and putting the TV on was tradition we grew up with. Cartoons provided hours of entertainment and captivated our imagination from both the UK and US, as this tale looks back at the unforgettable Dangermouse and He-Man.

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