Television – “All In The Name Of Charity” – Sports Relief 2016 – Friday 18th March

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With a stack of surprises up its’s sleeve, this year’s “Sports Relief” looks like being the biggest & best yet, we taking a look at what’s occurred so far and what to expect from Friday’s towering telethon.

 

 

Sports Relief Poster 1In a period when the grand old national institution that is The British Broadcasting Corporation seem to be cutting back on a multitude of services & programming, BBC Three already having become an online only service, while local radio is being chopped back, presenters reduced & early morning schedules at risk, this in addition to the much publicised cutbacks on sporting coverage, the latest causality being Formula One which has be handed over to Channel 4. However, one piece of programming that you can rely on is the famed BBC telethon, the jewel in this BBC crown being “Children in Need” which is now into is 32nd year, while the annual rotation of “Comic Relief” & “Sports Relief” is into double figures, a whole host of entertainers, comedian’s celebrities, T.V. personalities and, in the case of the latter, sports men & women lending their services in raising money for the much needed charities these telethons support. And the centrepiece of these colossal fund raising machines is the telethon, in the case of “Children In Need”, the third Friday in November, while for “Comic Relief” & “Sports Relief”, it’s usually the third Friday in March, this year being no different as it’s the turn of sports to stand in the spotlight.

 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlhJqgj45ig[/youtube]

 

 

Sports Relief Poster - Bake OffBut before we rundown what to expect this coming Friday (18th March), let’s take a brief look at what has come already, the first high profile programme airing back in February, “The Great Sports Relief Bake-off” spread across four episodes and drawing in celebrities come personalities from across the board, including Ade Edmundson, Morgana Robinson, Alison Steadman & Will Young, these from the final incredibly entertaining instalment, politician Ed Balls, sports commentator Chris Kamara & comedian Jason Manford part of sixteen hopefuls vying for the coveted bake off apron. But with comedy seemingly ruling this year’s “Sports Relief” the next two major headline events ahead of Friday’s telethon were Jo Brand’s “Hell of A Walk”, journeying on foot from Hull to Liverpool, some 135 miles, in just seven days, no mean feat for someone such as Ms Brand’s stature. Yet she did it, as did fellow comedian Eddie Izard, his challenge a little more considerable, as it took him some 187 miles, he running seven marathons in seven days across splendid South Africa, it is late summer hear to boot. Although we are sure Jo would argue that the winter like March conditions she faced over the peak district were far worse.

 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gq-5qk6iSE[/youtube]

 

Sports Relief Poster - Frank SpencerHowever, while Sports Relief 2016 began way back in February and the charity fundraising doesn’t stop post Friday, a whole weekend of activity ahead including the “Peoples Sports Relief” on Sunday, all eyes will be on the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London from 7 pm onwards this Friday (18th March) when the telethon commences, the emphasis very much on fund raising so those that have already contributed, such as Jo Brand, we also expecting a live beam across to South Africa to check on the progress of Eddie Izard’s progress, five days’ worth of marathon’s expected to be under his belt by this time. However, there will be plenty of Sports Relief Poster - Frank Spencer 2entertainment in the mix as well, clips from “Bake-off” expecting to feature, while we already know of comedy sketches from Idris Elba & a host of sports personalities & celebrities acting out a parody of scene from “Luther”. We also know that Matt Lucas & David Walliams will feature in a special “Little Britain” sketch, while comedy genius and main man Jack Whitelaw will be meeting Gareth Gale in a make believe football locker room and then out on the pitch, one not to be missed. However, perhaps the most talked about contributor is Michael Crawford who, especially for this year’s Sports Relief telethon, will be bringing back one of the worlds most loved & famous comedy characters, Frank Spencer”, this teaser below whetting your appetite for what is sure to be the highlight of the evening. So, the time 7 pm this Friday (18th March), the place, the Olympic Park & Stadium in Stratford, the whole six/seven hours beamed live on BBC One when even you can make a difference by donating. (DISCO MATT)

 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d0Z8Z4b6OQ[/youtube]

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About discomatt

The History........................................................Created in 2008 after a short period of blogging under his real name, the pseudonym, “Disco Matt”, was born on the back of a reputation for being London’s original party boy having partied and clubbed across the London gay scene since in mid 1990’s.........................................................Through his series of blogs via individual blogging pages which soon morphed into a full blown website (http://discomatt.com), Disco Matt established himself as an independent journalist come columnist who quickly gained a reputation for supporting & promoting one of the world’s most prolific clubbing scenes. He previewed, reviewed & recommended London gay clubs, as well as the diverse gay/metrosexual London club/bar culture, linking to & reviewing the scene top D.J.’s and generally covering the gay scene including international gay events....................................................Regularly reporting on the top events across the scene, Disco Matt’s reviews, over the years, developed a strong following, not just by clubbers, D.J’s, promoters, music producers & scene faces, but people far and wide that were looking for an insight to the incredible scene that was London. He also previewed upcoming events that signalled, either a major change or update of existing clubs, new ventures on the gAylist/metrosexual scene, or where he considered events that deserved more comprehensive coverage to that provided in other posts.............................................However, having pretty much reached the top of his game in his chosen specific field, due to a number of personal predicaments, challenges & changes in his life priorities, Disco Matt parked his writing and operation in February 2014. While the burning desire to continue remained, what this much needed period of inactivity did provide was the time & space to re-think & re-focus his activities on a broader spectrum of media and entertainment............................................................So, following this long two year lay-off, he built up the foundations for this diversification into the areas of film, theatre, radio & television where his reviewing, recommending & reporting was to be replicated & resurrected, also pointing his promotions through more visuals & video's linked to all these areas along with his core activities and passions ................................................................................The Present....................................After another (shorter) period of lay-off from mid 2016, a life changing event reignited his passion and early into 2017, Disco Matt has delivered on his promise for a new, more modern look to his website, shedding the old & tired skin in favour of something far more in keeping with the times and with his blogging roots. And he has waived a fond farewell to his clubbing days, this having also been ditched from his site & activity, rather now just focussing on the genres of film, theatre, radio, television, video and of course, music, in so doing, aiming to broaden his appeal to a much wider audience interested in the latest most cutting edge areas of media & entertainment.............................................................................His aim is to be highly regarded across the industry for his writing in these fields and ultimately become a full time critic in film &/or theatre.