Welcome to "Around The Houses!" - the game show in which we literally go around some houses. This week, we'll be going around 52 Westington Road, Cheswick, on a skateboard. So, join us for some exciting fun as we go "Around The Houses!"
That kind of introduction to a TV show was all too common in the eighties, indeed "Around The Houses" was an idea I pitched to ITV at the time. They were markedly impressed with the opening "mission statement" but found the idea of just going around a house on a differing method of transportation every week a tad banal. I persevered, stood firm, and refused to allow any kind of quiz element to invade the show and also would not retract from my concept that the same singular house always be used with no variation, and eventually they agreed to go forward with a pilot.
Of course we were all heart broken when the pilot failed to achieve the kind of viewing figures it actually deserved. I remember the call as though it were yesterday. Gary Frost, the then chief commissioning editor for the network, rang and gave me the news, regretfully informing me that it would not be "going to series". I cried for weeks. Once the pain had subsided I decided I should put the whole incident behind me and forget all about the show. It would forever remain the golden nugget of perfection that was never recognised as such.
However, a few weeks ago I received a call from Gary, who has now moved to the Sky Network - the television front-end for Rupert Murdoch's space-based laser platform system, Astra - informing me that he had just suggested the show be made for Sky One, as a vehicle for Sky-faced presenter Cat Deeley. I jumped at the chance, as you can well imagine, and so I can now confirm "Around The Sky Houses!" will be taking over from the Simpson's in the Autumn. I've not picked the house yet but if you have any suggestions then please drop me a line.
It's very exciting to be moving back to doing the show, and it's also great fun to be catching up with old friends. Gary's changed a lot since last I knew him. He prefixes many more words with "Sky" than he used to, for instance. But it was nice to see him again, and hear all about his "Sky-work", as he calls it.
It's all about the poker, at the moment, for Norman. He's currently presenting The Open on Sky Poker and, in his own words is "hooked on poker". 
When on holiday Michael Radio never expected to be put to work in a salt mine, yet a clerical error, by Thomas Cook, meant his entire holiday was one of menial chores and hard labour.
I was in the post office recently - truth be told it was four years ago - at the back of a very slow moving queue.
