Give Your Mate a Break

Host

Broadcast

Granada for ITV, 29 August 1998 to 7 August 1999 (pilot + 6 episodes in 1 series)

Synopsis

Give Your Mate a Break... Yes, give him a Kit-Kat! Ha ha ha! Sorry.

Described at the time by critics as "Just like Stars in Their Eyes, but without the talent" this was indeed done by the same production team as SITE. People set their (apparently talented) friends up and then (the equally talented) John Leslie/Les Dennis surprises them, they come to the studio to be talented then bugger off back to obscurity.

A runway extended out from below the stage to connect it to the interview area.

It did have a Friends Like These-style extending stage, and the title could easily replace 'Pocket Money' as the third round in Big Break but that was about all it had going for it really. Sorry.

Trivia

At least one contestant did achieve a modicum of fame: illusionist Etienne Pradier later turned up on Secrets of Magic and is still performing to this day.

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