Despite its Saturday evening prime time slot, I somehow doubt 'First and Last' was ever envisaged as a ratings blockbuster. It is an undemanding watch with a relatively miserly pride fund. Almost by design, there is a low key feel to proceedings with rounds including the weighing of vegetables, or even jumping out of a box! The truth is that the producers would have known that the show would not have provided mass appeal to the Netflix obsessed demography. Indeed, Jason Manford often pokes fun at the simplicity and cheapness of the production. However, despite myself, I really enjoyed the show.
Firstly, it is a very easy to follow format (a must for any gameshow). A couple of the ranking rounds are very interesting and allow the viewer to play along as well. I also thought the end game was quite clever. Perhaps most of all, Jason Manford is a likeable and witty host. He has an excellent rapport with the contestants, who also seem to be having a good laugh.
If the show had been launched as a daytime broadcast and allowed to build an audience, it may well have become a cult success. Instead it received a lot of negativity for coming over as too safe and lame. My advice to the schedulers is to let 'First and Last' be placed in a more suitable time slot and watch it thrive.
