What’s On TV Tonight: Saturday 13th September

Let’s take a look at what telly goodies are on offer for those of us who are staying in on this rather damp and dreary Saturday night. Reality TV dominates on Saturdays now the autumn scheduling has kicked in but thanks to Sky, there’s always something else on if you just can’t stand it.

You’ve Been Framed A-Z, ITV1, 6.30pm. This has been a do-not-miss show for me since Harry Hill took over. More than the clips themselves, I find Harry’s commentary to be the best part of YBF. Tonight’s show starts with Accidents, Bikes, CCTV and so on, right through the alphabet of comedic mishaps.

Strictly Come Dancing, BBC 1, 6.30pm. If YBF’s slapstick isn’t for you, you might be pleased to know that Strictly Come Dancing is back. Tonight’s launch show takes us behind the scenes for a sneak peek of the new crop of celebrity wannabe dancers as well as a look at the making of the series and a review of the show’s professional dancers. It’s good that it’s not going to clash with X Factor; reality TV addicts get to watch both!


The male celebs this year include Andrew Castle, ex-soap star Phil Daniels – remember him in Quadrophenia? – veteran actor Don Warrington, chef Gary Rhodes and Holby City’s Tom Chambers. The lady celeb contestants are Heather Small, Gillian Taylforth, Jessie Wallace, Jodie Kidd, Cheri Lunghi, Christine Bleakley and Lisa Snowdon.

Fingers crossed Gillian Taylforth isn’t asked to perform outside at all…

X Factor, ITV1, 7.30pm. As an addict of both the show and its host, the beautiful Dermot O’Leary, I’ll be watching tonight as we see the next round of auditions from Cardiff. There’ll be the usual mix of singers who you just know will go through to boot camp the second they start to sing as well as the ever amusing – if cringe making – auditionees who couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket.

This year’s show has already seen judge Cheryl Cole at the centre of two controversies; first being for her flirty behaviour with auditionee Joseph Chukukere and most recently the accusations of nepotism regarding Austin Drage. The press reported this week that Austin and Cheryl knew each other before X Factor, but the show’s producers denied this was the case yesterday and said that, “It is true that Austin’s former band 5Boyz did once share a bill with Cheryl’s Girls Aloud, but they never met each other, let alone struck up a friendship.”

So there.

Lock Up, Zone Reality, 6pm. For anyone who’s not into tame reality TV shows, preferring the more nitty gritty form of voyeuristic TV, you could check out Zone Reality’s offering of a bumper three hour prisonfest, filmed inside some of America’s toughest prisons. In these episodes we see the controversial tactics used to ‘scare’ offenders back onto the straight and narrow as well as glimpse inside a hospital prison where some of America’s most violent and dangerous prisoners are assessed. We’re also taken behind the bars of Stateville Prison in Illinois where almost half the inmates are murderers.

Schindler’s List, Discovery, 9.00pm. Steven Spielberg’s harrowing Nazi Holocaust drama is still one of cinema’s most controversial and harrowing films so be warned, you’ll need a box of tissues and a happy place to go to once it’s over. The three-hour long, multi-Oscar winning film was shot in black and white, often with hand-held, reportage style camerawork.

The story revolves around Oskar Schindler – played by the excellent Liam Neeson – who tries to save more than a thousand Jews from almost certain death in Nazi concentration camps. In doing so, he bribes Nazi officials and befriends the evil camp commandant, Goeth, who is brilliantly played by Ralph Fiennes. This film is without a doubt a classic but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who finds the horror stories of the holocaust too distressing to watch.

Dara O’Briain Live at the Theatre Royal, BBC2, 10.10pm. This is the incredibly funny Dara’s final performance of his sell-out tour of the UK and Ireland. Recorded in front of 2,500 fans at London’s Theatre Royal, this show is a slick example of Dara at his quick-witted best. If you’ve never seen Dara live before, you really should treat yourself to this show. He’s brilliant on Mock the Week but he’s even funnier in his stand-up shows.

That’s all for today folks but whatever you choose to watch, have a great Saturday!

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3 Responses to “What’s On TV Tonight: Saturday 13th September”

  1. Egor Efiok says:

    I can’t believe that Cheryl Cole did not put Anthony through. He has clearly done a lot of work to change his image and attitude; he also lost over four stones and can sing wayyyy much better than many of the people Cheryl put through.

    Cheryl Cole seems to have forgotten that she was once in Anthony’s position before attaining her present mega superstardom. In fact, she was the one everyone pitied the most during her audition due to her endless stream of tears. Everyone felt so sorry for her and voted; even when Javine lost to Sarah, her comments were: “I’m just glad Cheryl made it through”.

    Given the above scenario, i think it was mean and callous of Cheryl not to have given Anthony a chance. He may not have won the x factor but she at least had the power to put him through to boot camp!

    Well, i’ve lost respect for Cheryl Cole. I don’t like people who forget their humble beginnings…

  2. Natalie says:

    See, now im losing intrest in the show, at the moment, It always ends up focusing more on the judges, then the
    show…Havent they got enough money FGS!

    Although i do enjoy it more when i gets to the live shows,so maybe thats got something to do with.

    Bring back Sharon Osbourne is what i say!:-)

  3. Lynn says:

    Hi Egor and Natalie, many thanks for your comments and I agree with you both! I felt very bad for Anthony and given that they put that old lady through last week – or was it the week before? – just for the novelty value of it, why not give him a go when he genuinely so wanted a chance? It was hard watching him so crushed wasn’t it?

    I too enjoy the live shows but I also love boot camp! I have to say though Natalie, I do like watching the bitching with the judges and so on but on the other hand, you’re right that there’s a lot of the focus on them. Mind you, I’m in lust with Simon so I don’t mind how much they focus on him!

    Thanks again for visiting us here at the best, biggest and brightest UK TV blog!