Be Excellent To Each Other :: View topic - Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot

Crikey, I saw the beginning of thayt last night and said to MRSA "He's been replaced by a robot". What are the odds of that?

My dad had a Scimitar.

They were fucking awesome cars.

MaliA wrote:

Crikey, I saw the beginning of thayt last night and said to MRSA "He's been replaced by a robot". What are the odds of that?

Craig will back me up that as it came on last night (I hadn't seen any of the preceding episodes) I turned to him and said the exact words 'have they replaced Des Lynam with a robot, now?'

Is he this shit on Countdown?

MaliA wrote:

Crikey, I saw the beginning of thayt last night and said to MRSA "He's been replaced by a robot". What are the odds of that?

Craig will back me up that as it came on last night (I hadn't seen any of the preceding episodes) I turned to him and said the exact words 'have they replaced Des Lynam with a robot, now?'

chinnyhill10 wrote:

Is he this shit on Countdown?

Not any more, he was replaced by Des O'Connor about two years ago!

chinnyhill10 wrote:

Is he this shit on Countdown?

Not any more, he was replaced by Des O'Connor about two years ago!

He will be working on his 36th album and is in talks about a West End show.

Jesus fuck, are they going to be able to keep no-one in that job?

Apparently Lynham said he would only continue if they moved the show to London, which showed utter contempt for the crew who worked on the show (many of whom had been working on the show for years and years).

True, except this happened a year after he took the job.

Anyone know if they really forced a 90% pay cut on the Vorderman or if there's some other reason?

If you believe Carol (and I have no reason not to), the show took a 33% budget cut. She offered to match this by taking a 33% pay cut herself, they demanded the 90.

In all honest it could "survive" Whiteley going, but the fact it's now having to take a 33% budget cut suggests it was a blow, and to cut Carol as well probably is death.

She's "Mrs Countdown" and I think they're wrong if they think it will survive both Whitely and her leaving.

I mean they could probably say nobody watches it anyway so it can survive the same as any other crappy daytime quiz show does. Maybe they should be releasing Countdown Classics DVDs from over the years.

[color=#400080]She was getting one MEEELEEEON pounds a year, though!

Ooh, I used to work with a bloke who went on Countdown years ago, did quite well, go a job as a researcher and then somehow became the producer. I wonder where he stands on all this.

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:17 ]
Post subject:	Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
I just caught a bit of "Sports Mastermind" on BBC2. Have the BBC replaced Des with a robot? He talks in a monotone and he barely changes facial expression. Totally robot like. OK so it's not akin to seeing Dickie Davies on Sport In Question all those years ago after he'd had his stroke (and thankfully he's long since made a full recovery) but is Des ill? Granted I've not seen him on TV for a few years, but is this a sudden thing? Is he this shit on Countdown? What the fuck happened? Still, Des is still a poor mans Dickie Davies who is officially a legend and is certainly my favorite TV presenter of all time. Dickie taking delivery of an unfortunately named car, yesterday.

Author:	MaliA [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:30 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Crikey, I saw the beginning of thayt last night and said to MRSA "He's been replaced by a robot". What are the odds of that?

Author:	Dudley [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:19 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
The prevailing theory in our house is one of 2. 1) He's seen the weakest link and this is his brave attempt to adopt the same scary persona. 2) He's being forced to do it as the remains of some exclusive BBC contract and it's a protest.

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:35 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
To erase the memory of the robot Des, here's Dickie and his best mate Eric Morcombe raising a few laughs in a Christmas edition of World of Sport. Eric wasn't booked to appear, he just went down to the studios with Dickie after staying the night at his house. As Eric was under exclusive BBC contract he got a slapped wrist afterwards from his bosses (this was in the days when you simply didn't mention "the other lot"). Real TV Gold:

Author:	Mimi [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:46 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
MaliA wrote: Crikey, I saw the beginning of thayt last night and said to MRSA "He's been replaced by a robot". What are the odds of that? Craig will back me up that as it came on last night (I hadn't seen any of the preceding episodes) I turned to him and said the exact words 'have they replaced Des Lynam with a robot, now?'

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Author:	Grim... [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:47 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
My dad had a Scimitar. They were fucking awesome cars.

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:52 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Grim... wrote: My dad had a Scimitar. Don't we all? Grim... wrote: They were fucking awesome cars. Oh, I see.

Author:	Craig [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:40 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Mimi wrote: MaliA wrote: Crikey, I saw the beginning of thayt last night and said to MRSA "He's been replaced by a robot". What are the odds of that? Craig will back me up that as it came on last night (I hadn't seen any of the preceding episodes) I turned to him and said the exact words 'have they replaced Des Lynam with a robot, now?' 'tis true.

Author:	Sir John Falstaff [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:42 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
chinnyhill10 wrote: Is he this shit on Countdown? Not any more, he was replaced by Des O'Connor about two years ago!

Author:	MaliA [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:59 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Mimi wrote: MaliA wrote: Crikey, I saw the beginning of thayt last night and said to MRSA "He's been replaced by a robot". What are the odds of that? Craig will back me up that as it came on last night (I hadn't seen any of the preceding episodes) I turned to him and said the exact words 'have they replaced Des Lynam with a robot, now?' We are the hive mind.

Author:	Mimi [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:02 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Bzzzzzzz, zzzzzzp

Author:	Zardoz [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:03 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
I didn't see it, but if I did I would have said, "have they replaced him with a robot".

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:11 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Sir John Falstaff wrote: chinnyhill10 wrote: Is he this shit on Countdown? Not any more, he was replaced by Des O'Connor about two years ago! Des O'Fucking'Connor?!?!?!??!?! There is still only one man for the job! Fred for Countdown!!!!!!! Are you listening Channel 4 you bunch of coked up cunts?

Author:	devilman [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:38 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Des won't be on there for much longer

Author:	Kern [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:50 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Whiteley played the 'mad uncle' role, and finding him grating was part of Countdown's charm. The mistake was extending it to 45 minutes: it just felt too long.

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Author:	Dudley [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:51 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Jesus fuck, are they going to be able to keep no-one in that job?

Author:	sinister agent [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:57 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Sir John Falstaff wrote: chinnyhill10 wrote: Is he this shit on Countdown? Not any more, he was replaced by Des O'Connor about two years ago! Blimey. I'm glad I didn't know that (although I'm crap at countdown, I'm a bit good at the maths ones. Which is weird, because I've loathed maths for over a decade and usually am blinded with rage when I have to do anything mathematical). Des O'Connor? What tasteless idiot came up with that idea? The man's a total arsehole. Quote: He will be working on his 36th album and is in talks about a West End show. Imagine me balking. That's what I'm doing, see. Thirty-six?

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 13:22 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Dudley wrote: Jesus fuck, are they going to be able to keep no-one in that job? Probably not. Remember, Whitleley was working in the same studios every day anyway (doing Calender) and he lived locally. He even had his own permenent dressing room at Yorkshire TV. Apparently Lynham said he would only continue if they moved the show to London, which showed utter contempt for the crew who worked on the show (many of whom had been working on the show for years and years).

Author:	sinister agent [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 13:26 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
chinnyhill10 wrote: Apparently Lynham said he would only continue if they moved the show to London, which showed utter contempt for the crew who worked on the show (many of whom had been working on the show for years and years). Or.. he didn't want to move 300 miles away when he could easily get a job closer to home.

Author:	Dudley [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 13:31 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
True, except this happened a year after he took the job.

Author:	sinister agent [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 14:08 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Dudley wrote: True, except this happened a year after he took the job. Huh. Okay, I'm going to shut up now. It won't last.

Author:	Gerry Mander [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 17:42 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Hmm, looks like Countdown's days are [ahem] numbered : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7527091.stm Anyone know if they really forced a 90% pay cut on the Vorderman or if there's some other reason? I really hope they don't trasform it into some sort of post-ironic oh-so-knowing parody of its former self. And Yes, Des Lynam was hopeless on Countdown - he was transparently going through the motions.

Author:	Grim... [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 18:33 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Everyone who goes on about how good Vorderman looks for her age should shut up and start talking about Des. See that man in the photo? He's seventy-six. Fuuuuuuuuuuuck!

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:58 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Gerry Mander wrote: Anyone know if they really forced a 90% pay cut on the Vorderman or if there's some other reason? From what I understand the show is now shown earlier in the day and ratings have probably declined. Countdown used to be one of C4's top shows, these days it can't even make the top 30. It also used to have a decent sponsorship deal that kept the money rolling in. In addition Voderman was the top paid person on the show by some margin. Not the host, but the helper! Fine while her star was shining brightly, but that star has faded by a huge amount over the last few years. They've seen the fact that the show can survive Whiteley going, so now they can save a few quid by booting Carol.

Author:	Dudley [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:18 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
If you believe Carol (and I have no reason not to), the show took a 33% budget cut. She offered to match this by taking a 33% pay cut herself, they demanded the 90. In all honest it could "survive" Whiteley going, but the fact it's now having to take a 33% budget cut suggests it was a blow, and to cut Carol as well probably is death. I think C4 really want rid of it. They can't be seen to cancel Countdown while popular, but it really doesn't fit anything else in C4's line up these days.

Author:	Plissken [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:37 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
They could always relaunch it. "Extreme Celebrity Countdown in the Big Brother House."

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:58 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Dudley wrote: If you believe Carol (and I have no reason not to), the show took a 33% budget cut. She offered to match this by taking a 33% pay cut herself, they demanded the 90. In all honest it could "survive" Whiteley going, but the fact it's now having to take a 33% budget cut suggests it was a blow, and to cut Carol as well probably is death. From what I understand this is a 33% budget cut across all ITV made productions (Countdown was always made by Yorkshire TV for Channel 4, and is now produced by ITV productions in the same studios).

Author:	Dudley [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:03 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Fair enough then, although you already pointed out the ratings decline. Assuming again, Carol is not lying, I think offering to match that is as much and more as she should be expected to do.

Author:	AceAceBaby [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:37 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
She was getting one MEEELEEEON pounds a year, though! There was a big article in The Mirror today about it. Apparently Carol would even do it for free if the conditions were right, and this is apparently all due to her stonewalling attempts to put premium rate phone line elements into the show. And the bloke who owns the format has threatened to close down the programme now because of Carol being forced out.

Author:	Dudley [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:40 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Even so, if the show with a budget of...ooh, £10m can pay you £1m. I don't think it's in any way stingy to ask for £666k if they cut it to £6.66m and you've been there that long and are that important to the show. Equally, while they record them in batches, she's still doing 255 episodes for that.

Author:	AceAceBaby [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:44 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
She's "Mrs Countdown" and I think they're wrong if they think it will survive both Whitely and her leaving. I mean they could probably say nobody watches it anyway so it can survive the same as any other crappy daytime quiz show does. Maybe they should be releasing Countdown Classics DVDs from over the years.

Author:	markg [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:17 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Ooh, I used to work with a bloke who went on Countdown years ago, did quite well, go a job as a researcher and then somehow became the producer. I wonder where he stands on all this.

Author:	Dudley [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:45 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
AceAceBaby wrote: She's "Mrs Countdown" and I think they're wrong if they think it will survive both Whitely and her leaving. I mean they could probably say nobody watches it anyway so it can survive the same as any other crappy daytime quiz show does. Maybe they should be releasing Countdown Classics DVDs from over the years. The difference with Whiteley was they didn't have a choice. Plus he was a twat. If they'd forced Whiteley out things might have gone differently.

Author:	AceAceBaby [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:59 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
Maybe they could just start repeating it from the start. If you can stomach kipper ties and Gyles Brandreth, it's the same show anyway.

Author:	chinnyhill10 [ Mon Jul 28, 2008 14:15 ]
Post subject:	Re: Des Lynham Replaced By A Robot
AceAceBaby wrote: [color=#400080]She was getting one MEEELEEEON pounds a year, though! Yes, but remember that having her on the show helps get them more sponsorship money by association. I dunno about now but a few years back they had a fat sponsorship deal which is probably how her wages got so high. For a show like Countdown, staffing costs will be the biggest part of the production budget and therefore the easiest way to cut the budget is to get rid of staff. They never wanted her to continue because she is the easiest way to slash the budget in one go.