There Goes The Fear is primarily a music blog as many of you can probably work out by our rantings and ravings. However, every so often there comes along a film or a TV show that we just have to talk about – last month we raved about MTV’s great Pete Doherty documentary. For February, we reckon you should check out FM, a new show on ITV2 next Wednesday evening.
The series follows a London based radio station and a group of fame-hungry friends who run a daily “indie” show. Chris O’Dowd (who you’ll know from The IT Crowd) and Kevin Bishop (from, errr, The Kevin Bishop Show and also Star Stories) play the DJs Lindsay Carol and Dom Cox, who, let’s face it, would be sacked if they were on most radio stations. Whilst Nina Sosanya (from the amazing Teachers) plays their producer, Jane Edwards, with the up-tight portrayal she does so well of someone responsible for the whole show.
It’s a sort of hybrid of “The Office” and “Peep Show” – both hilarious and eye-wateringly embarrassing at the same time. Whilst it’s pretty good in its own right, the special “Live lounge” style performances and real-life celebrities are what take the show from good to great. They’ve got the likes of Guillemots, Ladyhawke, Wombats, The Charlatans, The Subways, all performing or as a guest on the show oh, and Justin Hawkins (who has a new album out, funnily enough).
Some of the show is hilarious (the dating exploits of all members of the team are absurd and all the better for it), some of it is musically great (Guillemots all around a piano, playing the same piano) whilst other bits are quite cringing (Ladyhawke’s laptop going “missing”). Either way, it’s captivating viewing, and looks set to be (just about the only) good reason to tune in to ITV2.
FM is like “2 pints and a Packet of crisps” (the cult BBC3 show) – it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure show, simple enough to dip in and out of without missing too much. I must admit, not usually an ITV watcher (let alone ITV2), however this could be one to catch on ITV Player one hangover-filled Sunday afternoon.
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=52532141
FM is on ITV2 Wednesdays at 10:30pm. Catch the official website here, and myspace here.
The Forestry Commission has announced their artists for summer 2008’s summer series. This year sees KT Tunstall, The Charlatans, Crowded House and Status Quo all rock various forests around the UK. 
XFM have announced details of a string of Winter Wonderland UK Tour dates, with all sorts of megastars lined up to play some sensational gigs.
The Charlatans have released details of two shows in November to showcase some new material. They have a new single, ‘You Cross My Path’ which will probably be on the shelves in October.
By Phil Singer on Monday, 23rd February 2009 at 12:00 pm
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