When Hughie Green, host of British TV's first talent show uttered his catch-phrase: "And I mean that most sincerely folks" it underlined his patent insincerity. Ironic that this purveyor of vacuous but popular TV should be honoured by a quality semi-biographical drama. It manages to be engaging, entertaining, enlightening as well as at times witty (the coin tossed to the cigarette-seller) - something that Hughie never managed in his entire life*. Sincere Hughie was a heel. The high quality of the writing is fortunately matched by the acting - not too many actors would be qualified to play monster ego Hughie, and Trevor Eve does real fine. But, and it is a thing easily overlooked, the production does also made clear that in his specialist but un-respected field of cheap cheerful TV, Green was, and knew, that he was a great professional and demanded commensurate respect.
In every way a superior production - something that never could be said about the original's own.
*In fact this is wrong - Hughie, aged 14 appears in the 1935 British film "Big Ben Calling" as an impressionist and does Mae West very creditably then, with straw hat, Maurice Chevalier. Seen on Talking Pictures Freeview and Freesat.
In every way a superior production - something that never could be said about the original's own.
*In fact this is wrong - Hughie, aged 14 appears in the 1935 British film "Big Ben Calling" as an impressionist and does Mae West very creditably then, with straw hat, Maurice Chevalier. Seen on Talking Pictures Freeview and Freesat.