What time is it there?!

With a few small highlights TV is pretty dismal here. When we last came four years ago it was quite similar to the UK, but now the programs are almost identical. Obviously in most cases the UK version was just a copy of the US one, but can anyone believe that the BBC have actually managed to export ‘My Family’ and ‘My Hero’(??) ??!!!??!! Oh yes, and Coronation Street is on for an hour every week night. Joy.

One of the best bits about North American TV is that there are two TV channels that show live F1. Not only do they have fewer adverts than the dreaded ITV coverage, but they show the qualifying and even the Friday practice live. AND they then lock up their own presenters and buy the ITV commentary for the main race.

And finally, on the subject of UK TV being remakes of other countries programmes, here’s something we’re fairly certain you’ll be seeing before we get home. So keep an eye out for ‘Iron Chef’. It’s actually a Japanese show that’s been copied by the Americans (as well as showing the original with terrible dubbing), so if nothing else you’ll see it on ‘Tarrant on TV’. Somehow I can’t see Ainsley and A.W.T. pulling off the hardman facial expressions required for the show! The presenter does look a bit like Lloyd Grossman though, so my money's on him to be the presenter.....