“The whole thing is quite retro, and the quiz format adds very little.”

You're Back In the Room

You’re Back in the Room, ITV

“It’s quite funny. For a while. But hardly original. Paul McKenna was doing this years ago. The whole thing is quite retro, and the quiz format adds very little. Phillip Schofield makes it a bit more annoying.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“It’s hard to believe all the antics under hypnosis were really beyond the players’ control. A cynic might even suspect that here were five raving extroverts taking full and conscious advantage of an opportunity to show off like mad on national TV, and win a few thousand quid in the process.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“I’m not suggesting that any of the competitors in this show are pretending to be in a trance but, for all we know them, they might as well be. The end result is something so hypnotically dull you’re obliged to leave the room and never return.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“The contestants’ altered selves could not have performed better than Pavlov’s dog itself. Although Schofield remained slick amid the anarchy, a riot is hard to film and the cameras barely kept up with this one.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Nina Conti Clowning Around, BBC4

“Nina’s up against a lot – not just acquiring new talents, but overcoming clown-prejudice, and – most of all – learning to find the strength to be with very sick kids. There’s not much laughter around where it’s most needed, in the wards of seriously and terminally ill children. It’s almost unbearably sad then. But touchingly human too, brave and important.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“This was no short-term fundraising stunt. It was part of a two-year creative and philanthropic journey, with ups, downs and personal crises all captured on camera.”
Ellen E Jones, The Independent

Wild Things, Sky 1

“Influential Japanese imports started this trend for slapstick in game shows, but unlike Takeshi’s Castle, Wild Thing knows just how silly it is. The eagerness to be embraced as cult post-pub viewing was palpable, but luckily it didn’t quite ruin the fun.”
Ellen E Jones, The Independent

“Not live, sometimes hard to follow, a touch over-produced. If you find the idea of a giant owl falling over a trunk funny — and who doesn’t? — it was hilarious.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

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