Where did it go

Over the past year, the creative types at ITV and Sky have spent hours/days/months coming up with some new shows - Gladiators and Krypton Factor!!

The thing I don't understand is, if they were cancelled first time round what makes them thing they are going to be popular this time round. Gladiators never did that much for me but I do remember watching the Krypton Factor with my mum when I was young. The thing that was great about the Krypton Factor was that it challenged everything. The rounds consisted of Mental Agility, Response, Observation, Physical Ability, Intelligence, General Knowledge. Now, the two best rounds were always Physical Ability where the contestants ran and real army assault course, and the Response round which involved on a flight simulator landing a plane, this was always entertaining, especially when they crashed.

The remake is a disgrace, firstly it is now hosted by Ben Shepherd who has the personality of a cabbage. Secondly, the Physical Ability round isn't an army assault course any more, instead they've built their own assault course in the cotswalds which involves a 'tunnel of mud' What next? Are they going to be gunged as they cross the finish line? Thirdly - the response round is gone, GONE! Krypton Factor without the Flight simulator is NOT THE KRYPTON FACTOR.

Why can't TV execs come up with new ideas instead of revamping old ones into a show that people watch almost for the kitsch value for a few episodes and then remember it wasn't that good in the first place and the remake is worse.

If a show is successful and people want to watch it, it is less likely to be cancelled (US networks aside). Countdown is been running for almost 60 seasons, 60! They've had a couple of duff presenters since Richard Whitely died and now Carol Vorderman is gone but they've now brought in a very good new team and have stuck with the original, successful format. Countdown always was, and continues to be low budget but that aside everyone likes it. It's one of these shows that if it's on everyone will quite happily sit and watch it.

If a formula remains popular leave it on the air, if it doesn't cancel it and leave it the hell alone. I don't want to see shows like 321 coming back.