Tag Archives: Channel 4

The Jump Season 4 – Is it as good

The Jump returned for its 4th season on Channel 4 this weekend but is it as good?

We are not convinced. Something seems to be missing. It could be that this is the first year that I haven’t live blogged the Jump therefore allowing myself more time to watch it but to me it seems to have lost its edge. It doesn’t feel as anarchic as is it once did it. It feels a bit like that seasonnaire who want’s to carry on living in the mountains but knows a lifestyle change is in order to make it sustainable.

At the end of the last season there was much written about it being the most dangerous reality show on TV after many participants were injured, including Tina Hobley who dislocated her elbow and Beth Tweddle who still sufferers from a back injury. Combined that with plummeting ratings and there were talks that it could be axed. But it wasn’t.

The return feels like it has taken seriously the safety issues that have been raised over the years, but that doesn’t mean that it is any safer. Vogue Williams, was the first person to injure herself and has not be able to compete in the show. Her knee injury happened while she was receiving some ski cross training. Last year 50% of the entrants when home with injuries, can you imagine if that was a sport wide statistic, skiing wouldn’t be as popular as it is.Image result for the jump channel 4 2017

There could argued that it doesn’t seem as good because the contestants aren’t that famous. Getting to know 14 new people in 90 minutes is a tough ask especially when several of them come from privileged backgrounds that make it hard to identify with and get behind. The rest of the cast are mainly athletes who essentially aren’t Phil Tufnell. The biggest star is Sir Bradley Wiggins, who looks like a man that has ended up at a Hen Do and can’t escape but  knows the only way to survive is to join in as half hearted as possible while saying how much fun he is having.

One of the biggest innovations of this years event was the celebrities being introduced and appearing from behind a screen and then paraded through a crowd of unexcited crew members. This could have been dramatically improved if done in ski boots on icy steps with a handicap system that matched number of day skiing to the number of additional children skis they had to carry.Related image

Of course we will still be watching every week and soon it will be time to confess that Spenser is our favourite, but not just yet. Let’s just hope the action gets a bit more exciting as this week’s just seemed like a beginner slope highlight package and the racing was about as tense as a snapped hamstring.

Join in the chat during the show with our twitter account @alpineactionski.


The Jump 2015 Preview

5e27275d-5ef3-4048-b707-87933dde53e2The Jump 2015 Preview

Here at Alpine Action we were big fans of Channel 4’s The Jump in 2014. So we were very excited to learn that is was returning in 2015. It still has yet to have a confirmed transmission date, but we do know it will be very soon as there has been teasers released and the participants, or celebrities if you prefer, have been in training for a month or two.

The Premise

If you didn’t watch it last year here is a quick summary of the show. A group of celebrities take part in a selection of snow sports, that range from slalom to bobsled over the period of a week. The show goes out daily, making it a very tough week for our live blogger, Jim. Each day the worst performing pair of Celebrities are offered up to a public vote and have to go of a ski jump on live TV for a chance to injure themselves, or stay in the show. Oh and it is hosted by Davina Mccall and has every big name winter sport competitor the UK has produced, from the new snow queen Jenny Jones to the old guard of Eddie the Eagle, with the obligatory Graham Bell appearance too. We did suggest that the show could be improved by moving to Meribel but clearly no one listens to us.

What can you expect

Based on last year and this year so far, you can expect lots of injured Celebrities. Last year the competition was won by Joe McElderry who was the Stand-in’s, Stand-in. This year so far the show has claimed the knee of Ola Jordan and the ribs of Sally Bercow. You can also expect the desire to want to take part in most of the shows apart from the ski jumping as well as a feeling of jealousy as everyone taking part look like they are have a great time.

Who is in it

Prepare to be underwhelmed, confused and disappointed at the star quality of the Celebrity participants. Which is understandable as based on the risk involved and the injury rate last year you need to be pretty certain that you have a clear schedule for the next few months. Here are the names, which I have divided up into two categories those that I have heard of and those that I haven’t. Have – Heather Mills, Jodie Kidd, Steve-O, Stacey Solomon, Phil Tufnell. Haven’t – Louise Thompson,Mike Tindall,Ashley Roberts, Jack Ass star Steve-O, socialite Lady Victoria Hervey, JB Gill, Jon-Allan Butterworth, Chloe Madeley, Louie Spence, Dom Parker, Louise Hazel and Joey Essex. Ok so when I say I haven’t heard of Louie Spence I mean pretending I haven’t for my own sanity. For now shall not pass on any further judgment of the contestants as I will save that for our Live Blog of the series.

When is it on

As we said we don’t really know but it will happen soon, maybe they are waiting for that next big dump of snow like the rest of us.