World of Chig   

16.11.05

Oh Robbie, Robbie, Robbie, why didn't you just bite the bullet and save yourself more years of therapy (and thousands of pounds) by turning up for the reunion for tonight's documentary? Such a damn shame, for you, for the other four, and also for us. It would have made a much better ending to a really good programme.

I thought the nicest bits were seeing Howard and Gary with their respective children. Perhaps I'm just feeling broody. I also can't quite believe how Jason's speaking voice has become less 'Manc' but much more camp in the process.

I really enjoyed the programme, but sadly it wasn't immune from a little bit of shoddy research at the end. So, it's the return of...

Pop Bollox!

The narrator ended the programme by saying that Take That achieved, "eight consecutive number one hits, with eight singles"

No, that's wrong. Their longest run of consecutive number ones was 'only' four, but they did it twice. They had a total of eight number ones in a run of nine singles. They were scuppered by 'Love Ain't Here Anymore', which only made number 3 in the middle of the run. You only need to look in the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles And Albums to know that, or search on everyhit.com. Couldn't the scriptwriters manage either of those?

Not even the Beatles ever managed eight consecutive number ones - their longest run was seven - so it would have been big news indeed if Take That had done it, but they didn't. Abba's total of nine number ones included two hat-tricks, but never more than three in a row. Elvis Presley's longest run was four. Even Westlife stalled after equalling the Beatles on seven, while Madonna's eleven chart-toppers include three pairs, but she's never managed three in a row from consecutive releases. Cliff Richard has also never achieved more than two consecutive number ones.

So, you get my point. It was a big claim indeed for Take That, but it was pop bollox. Sack the researcher!


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