Well, yes, we could blame Carlton for ITV's death, but don't forget the Broadcasting Act of 1990.

This program to me was actually one of the better programs to come out of Carlton Television.

Christ i miss Thames Television and Southern.

Today (1 January 2023) marks exactly 30 years since Carlton Television's first day on air

Carlton - started off alright, but little did we know it would be downhill from there on

The three musical notes at 0:09 of this clip are familiar to radio listeners in Boston, USA. Radio Station WBZ uses that very recording of those notes, followed by a pulsating sound effect, to introduce news flashes.

How just HOW could Thames become this load of tripe! SHOCKING :(

@jaychristie909alt Yes you are right, they did actually produce a live show. I am pleased you agree with my views on the line to the Director!.

@TrueGameShowNetwork That is why I adore and upload these progs. Many things we had forgotten, or simply did not know are realised when wathcing them. Thanks for your comments.

@altfactor How interesting, Thanks for sharing that. GLF

@thepod96 Sorry to disagree! I believe Chris was talking to the Director about the background noise of the crowd, in other words the mic levels were too high - and thus distorted in his earpiece! We beg to differ....

Well no actually! The programme was all live. Chris was in the studio too. Did you notice at the beginning of the VT, just before going to the title sequence, Chris turned around and said something to his producer etc, along the lines of " I told you not to have it at that level" before the director had time to cut to the titles! Great..

Carlton and Granada merged in 2004, creating a single ITV plc company, after merging with Central and Westcountry 5 years before. Had Carlton lost the 1991 franchise round and Thames continues to air beyond that date, I wonder if we'll still get local/regional ITV network today?

Right.....end of all fighting from now on, I'll have the last word thank you (LOL). He is joking.....he's basically telling a few thousand revelers behind him to shut up!! It's his style of comedy, we already know that. We've watched him for years. And yes......this is the end of ITV as we knew it. Carlton started destroying the ITV map just months later, when it took over the Central and Westcountry regions. Central for it's cheap franchise and library of programming, but why buy Westcountry?

So I'm guessing the in-studio bits were pre-recorded whilst Tarrant continued to party outside with 100-or so women no doubt!

IIRC this was followed by a Mike Hammer film.

@DANWOODHOUSE Dan It seems tyou are far from alone in bla,ming Carlton for the demise of ITV. In many ways you are correct, although they were joined by Granada and Central in the monopoly struggle. As far as programmes are concerned - the opening show was enough to see the poor quality of it's future efforts. Not all are bad, just most of their output. RIP Thames, LWT, Southern, Westward,Tyne Tees and Yorkshire..

Late to the argument, but it is definitely a joke at 0:59. Tarrant is far too professional to unintentionally talk to his director without leaving long enough for the mic to be cut; what's more he turns to look at the crowd, not the director (who would have been behind the camera, if present at all), and his words are "I told you not to talk so loud, I had a link to do then" - it follows on from his earlier remark that it's a "low-key" crowd...

carlton tv could of never replace thames tv very sad year for itv when carlton took over and i was very glad when carlton was gone in 2002

Absoloutely - look at itv now - it is a shambles, not just because of falling ad revenues..

@alphabetaxenonzzzcat Yes, It's been said before and it's so true.....

0:09

Ahhh God! Why Carlton? It is a piece of trash!!!! Bring back Thames! This was the start of the end of ITV!