TV companies and phone-in competitions don’t seem to be having the best of relationships these days. If it’s not all those endless late-night “quizzes” and their freaky handbag content ideas, it’s now those bastions of afternoon chat, Richard and Judy, whose “You Say, We Pay” competition is currently suspended (or, by some reports, permanently ditched) after allegations that viewers were repeatedly asked to call in after the winners had already been chosen. A case of “We Say Keep Ringing, You Pay With No Chance”, if the allegations are true.
Now The Observer claims that a viewer complaint on the same subject dates from September 2004, and was never acted upon. Cactus TV, the production company behind Richard & Judy, says that the complaint from Patricia Brooker was never passed on to it. And Channel 4 points out that web forums are not considered “an official channel for viewer complaints”.
Where’s Right to Reply when you need it? Answers on a postcard, please. Or call our premium rate comments line on 0901… nah, only kidding.
Talking of “You Say, We Pay”, here’s a spoof version created by Adam Buxton (with dialogue that’s definitely NSFW:
i have been ringing y s wp from day 1 im unemployed if there is a chance getting any money back please let me know i need it more a cameron
[Editor's note: please do not include phone numbers in any comments. Thanks]
Poor Judy, she probably needed the money to pay off her bar tab.