My TV Week

in association with

Rebekah Billingsley
Digital business director, EMAP (Heat and Closer)

What’s your TV tip for the week?Wife Swap (Mondays, 9pm, Channel 4) It’s a guilty pleasures and I can’t believe I’m admitting to it but it give me permission to have a total superiority complex.

So who keeps control of the remote in your house? My boyfriend, I keep hold of it but he tells me what to switch to.

And what do you both switch to? Any Channel 4 cookery show and anything with David Mitchell in it – The Mitchell and Webb Look (BBC2) obviously, but if he’s on anything else we’ll absolutely watch it. And we’re watching repeats of My Name Is Earl (C4).

And what about when your boyfriend’s out and you get some TV me-time? It’s generally the guilty pleasure stuff again. Supernanny (C4), Location, Location, Location (C4). I probably watch far more of that than programmes I don’t feel guilty about.

What did you like to watch as a kid? Jackanory.

They’re bringing it back, you know. Will you watch it? Are they really? I probably would. We’ve got a TV in the office so I’ll be interested to see who they have on and what kind of books they’re using.

If you could be in charge of what shows were brought back, what would they be? Threads – because it terrified me as a teenager, I’d like to see if it’s still as scary though it probably isn’t. And there was a programme called Raffles on Saturday evenings about a Victorian gentleman thief. My mum lusted after the star (Anthony Valentine). I was allowed to stay up late to watch it, so I have fond memories if that.

What about the ads, got any favourites at the moment? I love the Nokia sponsorship bumpers for the X Factor (ITV1), they’re excellent, especially the Mr Loverman one. They’re funny, sum up the product, and definitely go along with what people are watching.

Are there any recent shows you wish you hadn’t missed? One of the things I’m really regretting missing is Death of a President (More4). I’ve seen bits of it since and it looked really good.

What shows mirror your life most accurately, not Wife Swap presumably? God no. Probably Lost (Channel 4) because I lost my mobile last week, and left a bag of birthday presents and a cardi at a theatre on Friday. I’m going through a losing phase at the moment.

If you could get a part in any TV show which would it be? I would like to have been one of Dr Who’s helpers in the Tom Baker years (though David Tennant is the sexiest). Not as Bonnie Langford though. Or a walk-on part in Coronation Street (ITV1) because I’m northern.

David Tennant and Raffles aside, who’s your top TV crush? Julian Rhind-Tutt, the gorgeous blonde curly-haired guy from Green Wing and the new Barclays ads. I’ve always had a thing for blondes. I used to fancy Chris Packham when I was at school.

Interview by Mark Johnson

For next week’s viewing, Thinkbox recommends:
• All Star Family Fortunes, Saturday 4:55pm, ITV1.
• George Michael I’m Your Man – A South bank Show Special, Tuesday 10pm and 22pm, ITV1.