Monday 10 May, 10:00pm on Five
Continuing on Five this week is the unique chat show hosted by one of the country’s favourite presenters. ‘Justin Lee Collins: Good Times’ is an unashamedly feel-good hour of chat, music and fun filmed in front of a live audience at south London’s iconic Rivoli Ballroom. Joining JLC on the sofa this week is TV fashionista Gok Wan and spirit specialist Yvette Fielding. Elsewhere, Sharon Osbourne attempts to hit the dartboard and Danish popsters Alphabeat provide the music. The Rivoli Ballroom in south London is the opulent setting for ‘Justin Lee Collins: Good Times’. As the backdrop for many a famous pop video, the ballroom is the perfect venue for a glitzy cabaretstyle night out. “It is a magnificent building. This show has the flavour of late-night cabaret because everything is plush velvet and original,” says Justin. Each week, Justin interviews some of the most interesting and topical guests of the moment. There are also crowd-pleasing performances by pop, rock and theatre acts. Despite the 300-strong live audience in attendance for each event, the setting allows ‘Good Times’ to retain a real sense of intimacy. Justin explains how his proximity to the audience gives the show a unique feel. “We can reach out and touch each other,” he says. “It’s a very touchy show!” Justin’s first guest this week is TV presenter and fashion expert Gok Wan. Famed for his direct presenting style and forthright fashion advice on such shows as ‘How to Look Good Naked’ and ‘Gok’s Fashion Fix’, Gok initially trained as an actor. However, he left drama school upon learning that he could not act and blagged his way into the business because he needed the money to pay his rent. “It all happened by accident,” he says. After finding work as a make-up artist for magazine shoots, he started working on pop videos for such artists as Erasure, Brian Ferry, Wet Wet Wet and All Saints. While normally self-assured, he found himself very nervous when working as a stylist on Madonna’s ‘Sorry’ video – so much so that, by his own admission, he “farted” when he first met her. It does not take long for Gok to turn his critical eye onto his host. “I’m liking the new look,” he says. “If there were a lesbian in ‘The Blues Brothers’, you would be the character.” He goes on to talk about the forthcoming third series of ‘Gok’s Fashion Fix’, the auditions for which he describes as “a very gay ‘X Factor’”. “Believe me, there are quite a few people in this country that need a makeover,” he concludes. “It’s time to get shitted up – Yvette Fielding’s here!” announces Justin as he welcomes his next guest onto the Rivoli couch. Since presenting ‘Blue Peter’ in the 80s, Yvette has made a name for herself as a presenter and producer of a number of paranormal shows, most notably ‘Most Haunted’ on Living. She discusses her outlandish theories on ghosts and the afterlife, before renouncing the work of mediums who claim to be able to contact the dead. “I’ll lay it down now,” she says. “�200,000 to the medium that can prove to me that they are genuine.” Elsewhere, Sharon Osbourne joins Justin at the oche and talks about her new novel, Revenge. “It’s just a load of waffle in my head,” she says. “It’s based on willies and tits and all of that.” After a brief chat, she prepares to throw her first arrow. “Fuck, shit, bollocks!” is her unorthodox battle cry. Will she give JLC a run for his money? Providing the music this week is UK-based Danish pop outfit Alphabeat, whose new single, ‘DJ’, is due out at the end of May. The six-piece, three of whom are called Anders, recently toured with Lady Gaga. “Did you at any stage see her penis?” asks Justin, before welcoming the band onto the stage.
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