First and Last

It can't be easy to find the formula for a hit game show.

On the evidence of this I think all involved need to keep trying.

Dire.

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.

Saturday evening TV has never been the best in the UK, but I do hark back to the days we had the Generation Game, Gladiators, Blind Date.......

Started watching this, and OMG, this has to be poorest idea for a gameshow ever.

Jason Manford is a great comedian and he desperately tries to hold together a competition that would be expected in low quality holiday park.....

People hiding in card board boxes and weighing onions.... this is not light entertainment.

Please BBC, put some more effort in.

Fun and inventive new gameshow. Jason is a natural host, and fun games make this a good watch. Probably a bit too new and edgy for many!