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Alternate Chairmen

Messages in this topic: 1
bobbyshaddoe3004Feb 23, 2007
 

 
I thought this would be a good chance to discuss those individuals
who alternated with Nicholas on a few occasions. And also to discuss
people's views on how well that individual did in the chair.

Now, we all know that aside from Nicholas only 5 people have been the
chairman in varying points in the show's history:

Clement Freud
Kenneth Williams
Geraldine Jones
Andree Melly
Ian Messiter

Now, obviously these instances were simply moments of
experimentation, since the panelists were very critical of Nicholas'
chairmanship, and so these moments cropped up to provide some new
flavor to the proceedings. But in the case of Ian Messiter, it came
about by accident, because Clement couldn't arrive on time and they
forced Nicholas to take his spot and Ian was pushed into the chair.
which is rather unusual considering that in one episode in 2004,
Charles Collingwood was late and yet they still did the show without
him until he ultimately arrived, but that's besides the point.

Anyway, I think each of these experiments really added something more
to the proceedings as a whole. especially when you consider that
Clement has often been the most vocal about the way Nicholas runs
things, and in one edition I thinkn during 1983, he took frequent
opportunities to make things hard for Nicholas, quite rightly too.
Clement was almost like a schoolmaster in his demeanor, but you tend
to get that vibe given that solemn voice and that monotone baritone
of his.

Kenneth seemed all over the place, but he was extremely funny, just
unhinged and in some cases tried coming across as posh and proper,
but it just seemed more like he was impersonating Clement.

I haven't listened to Geraldine's stint, only cuz the sound quality
of the episde in question is so awful.

Andree was brilliant, as she usually is and it was great for her to
get her own back, since there have been many times when she herself
has been treated unfairly by Nicholas, even when she was correct or
even clever with her challenges, he was terribly patronizing to her.
She had wit, humor and class, and definitely had a great ear for
picking up on the transgressions of the rules, wonderful.

the episode with Ian in charge was I think the funniest because it
was chaos everywhere with everyone yelling and insulting each other
left and right, Nicholas trying to act like Kenneth's twin sometimes
(which was just nauseating), but it was hilarious. But Ian's
demeanor really helped set the comedic tone, he was almost like a JAM
version of Humphrey Lyttleton, because it did make the show easier to
enjoy.

Now, I'll open the floor to everyone else.

 
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