This Falkirk viewer is enjoying TV programmes without audiences

If you had asked me a few weeks ago then I would have said that I wasn’t an avid TV viewer. Yes, there’s a few programmes that I watch and occasionally I get into a drama series but these days I view little television and certainly never watch the soaps.

I’m the one who is usually looking at a newspaper the day after some TV awards event going “Who’s that”, “What are they in” and “Do they normally appear on TV in so little clothes”.

However, due to the current circumstances I find myself with more time on my hands – in other words, no travelling to and from work and I’ve done what little housework I need to do in my so-called ‘‘lunch break’’ from the laptop at the kitchen table, so in the evenings I’ve found myself watching a few different programmes.

Now I’ve always hated those shows with ‘‘canned’’ laughter – although it doesn’t appear to happen very often nowadays, more something from my dark and distant past.

But what has surprised me is the shows that are going ahead without an audience when previously you thought they definitely needed one and, whisper it, they might be actually better.

This is the point when I have to admit that I strongly dislike hecklers. Don’t think they bring anything to the argument and usually all they do is annoy the person who is constantly being interrupted so much that they loose their cool.

I’m sure that’s exactly why certain people use the tactic. And I’m talking about interviewers just as much as audience members here.

Therefore it’s been good to watch Question Time where, instead of having a studio audience, the panel members take their cue from viewers at home who pose their question.

Firstly, the person isn’t interrupted, secondly they get to give their answer in full and thirdly, they don’t play to the audience for laughs or applause.

Must make Fiona Bruce’s job a piece of cake!

However, lighter hearted programmes really need an audience for the presenter and guests to feed off.

Although that last episode of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway which had them each in their own homes achieved it’s highest ever audience – although I’m convinced because half the people were waiting for them to trip up, while the other half wanted to see what their houses were like.

Then there’s all this talk about playing football matches behind closed doors.

I’ve gone along to a few games with Emma because Jack is a big football fan and it’s great to see him enjoy the 90 minutes. But I don’t think it would be quite the same without a few thousand fans and an empty stadium.

However, how they resolve that one is still up for debate.

In fact, how they get us out of this entire lockdown is becoming no clearer.

But fingers crossed we will soon have a modicum of freedom again to go about our daily lives. It’s just that I’m not sure if it will ever be the same again.

Yet one thing is for sure, we will appreciate all the more being able to spend time with family and friends – that’s the day I’m certainly looking forward to.