Titchmarsh Apologises to "Northern Viewers" Ahead of Controversial Victoria Wood Sketch
This weekend's episode of "Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh" saw the host issue a pre-emptive apology to "viewers in the North" before airing a potentially controversial sketch featuring guest Susie Blake.
Blake is best known for her portrayal of the snobbish TV announcer in Victoria Wood's iconic "As Seen on TV" series. Soap opera fans may also recognise her as Coronation Street's Bev Unwin, a role she played between 2003 and 2006, with a brief return in 2015.
One of Wood's most famous sketches, featuring Blake, prompted Titchmarsh's pre-emptive apology. The sketch, originally aired during Wood's seminal 1985-1987 show, depicts Blake as an unnamed newsreader seated behind a desk, delivering the infamous line: "We'd like to apologise to viewers in the North. It must be awful for them."
Despite acknowledging the potential for offence, Titchmarsh aired the retro clip, prompting a subsequent discussion with Blake. He labelled the joke "brilliant", cheekily asking, "How hard is it to alienate half the viewers in the country?"
Blake, chuckling, confirmed that her newsreader character, whom she affectionately nicknamed "Pamela", was indeed a "frightful woman". However, she reassured viewers that the joke's authenticity stemmed from its creator, the Lancashire-born Wood.
Wood, who sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 62 following a battle with cancer, was a celebrated English comedian, actress, lyricist, singer, composer, pianist, screenwriter, producer, and director. She is best remembered for her sketches, frequently re-aired by the BBC as a testament to her comedic genius.
Wood's collaborations with Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, and Anne Reid are legendary. Her talent was recognised in 1986 when she received a BAFTA TV Award for her sketch comedy series, a feat she would repeat three more times during her illustrious career.
"Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh" airs Sundays at 9.30 on ITV and ITVX.
