James Graham is making a name as a great modern playwright by taking events from recent British history, adding his own personal take and creating entertaining dramas for the West End which play on our collective nostalgic recall. In this latest play, he takes us back to a time before Apple phones and Facebook when the main five terrestrial channels were chasing huge audiences and producers were coming up with formats that started the genre of "constructed reality". A form of TV that is based in reality but the audiences view is manipulated by careful casting and editing to generate a reaction.
I have to declare an interest as I was working in TV at this time: watched Des O'Connor record "Take your pick" in our Studios, acquired the company that owned the format rights to "The Price is right" and came close to a deal to merge our company with Endemol, who created Big Brother. All three make cameo appearances in this show. Game shows were in popular decline and a reboot was needed which "Who wants to be a Millionaire" delivered. As a result the play has a special nostalgic resonance for me but is also brilliantly entertaining.
