The Host

Worksheet 4: The Host

Aim: To explore the role and impact of the host

Biographies:

Vernon Kay (Born 1974 English television presenter Radio DJ Former model All Star Family Fortunes (2006–present), Beat the Star (2008–2009) Splash! (2013–2014). The Whole 19 Yards - ITV 2010, Home For the Holidays - Channel 4 - 2011 Let's Get Gold - ITV mini-series - 2012 1000 Heartbeats – 2015 – game show He also presented his own BBC Radio 1 show between 2004 and 2012. Kay currently presents his own show on Radio X.

Richard  Hammond (born 1969) British presenter, writer, and journalist, Co-hosted Top Gear - motoring programme BBC Two - from 2002 until 2015 Brainiac: Science Abuse (2003–2006), Total Wipeout (2009–2012) Planet Earth Live (2012). In 2016, Hammond was scheduled to be presenting The Grand Tour television series to be produced by W. Chump & Sons. The show will be co-presented with his former Top Gear co-hosts, Clarkson and May, as an exclusive distributed via Amazon Video to Amazon Prime customers.

Phillip Schofield (born April 1962) Co-hosts This Morning -ITV lifestyle programme -, s since 2002. Dancing on Ice (2006–2014). He currently presents these ITV game shows: The Cube (2009–present), All Star Mr & Mrs (2008–present) You're Back in the Room (2015–present).

Ben Shephard (born 1974) English television presenter journalist Presenter on the now defunct breakfast programme GMTV, The Krypton Factor (2009–2010), Tipping Point (2012–present) Ninja Warrior UK (2015–present). Since April 2014, Shephard has co-hosted the ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain, alongside Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway.

•           Have a look at the images of the four presenters: Vernon Kay, Richard Hammond, Philip Schofield and Ben Shephard.  What do they have in common? What do some of them have in common? Is there an odd one out?

•           Have a look at the biographies.  Are there any more similarities you can point out from this information? Any other patterns emerging?

•           Fill in the grid – what is the role of the host, i.e. what does the host actually have to do; what do you think are the qualities of a good host?

Role of the host

Qualities of a good host

The role of a TV game show host is to control the show and to keep it going if it was to start going down hill and people getting bored. They are also needed to be able to talk to the contestants to see how they are feeling and to give the audience an understanding of who they are so they can relate to the contestant and even persuade them to try the show. Also need to read out the questions and tasks to the contestants so they know what they are doing. They are needed to tell the audience what the contestants have to do and introduce the game show to everyone.

Funny- make the audience laugh and feel like they are involved. Friendly- to contestants so they can relax and feel calm to give them a better chance of winning. Intelligent- especially in the category the TV show they are hosting to give the audience a better understanding, an example being Alexander Armstrong on Pointless as at the end he always gets the rest of the board right.  Motivated- they must be able to give the contestant a helping boost of confidence so they feel they have a chance to win by giving them advice.