W1A is way ahead of the (perfect) curve again thanks to writer John Morton’s knack of predicting the televisual future. In the forthcoming new series of the BBC mockumentary, entertainment format producer David Wilkes pitches a celebrity pet show called Heavy Petting, in which: “Kylie swaps her Rhodesian Ridgeback with Alan Carr’s Maine Coon”. Head of output Anna Rampton rejects his idea, plus another family talent show format called Britain’s Top Family, saying: “The fact is the future of the BBC is not old people playing tunes on their heads with spoons, the fact is that is what ITV is for”. And lo! It has come to pass. ITV already has Britain’s Got Talent but has nailed the celebrity pet format puppy to the floor, debuting a new show this week called Give a Pet a Home. Episode one contains Coleen Nolan hosting a speed-dating event for rabbits. In the next episode, Kimberley Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls throws a birthday party for a pony. Monkey Tennis can surely only be a short commission away.
