World News – UK – Gary Barlow’s Night at the Museum Recap: Why Wasn’t That Funny Festive Knee Saved for Christmas?

Gary Barlow welcomed Ronan Keating, Jason Donovan, Alesha Dixon, Alfie Boe, and many others to a party at the Natural History Museum

Something told me that Gary Barlow’s Night at the Museum (ITV) should air over Christmas week. Suspicions began with the sponsor – Bailey’s, a festive drop if there was ever one – and swelled when the script mentioned mince pies. When it came to an end and Barlow cleared the Merry Christmas, I was pretty sure my guess was correct.

If there was ever a show that begged to be seen on Boxing Day after drinking several cherries and an eggnog hunter, this was it. Why was Gary Barlow performing at the Natural History Museum, breaking into chant in front of traffic on Cromwell Road, and then introducing us to some animatronic dinosaurs? I don’t know, but pour me another one.

Unfortunately, the party atmosphere hasn’t changed completely two and a half weeks before Christmas. Barlow did his best and yelled, « Let’s see those hands! » with the audience and with an audience in the museum made up of the television crew. Nothing kills the spontaneous fun like having a moderator say, “Everyone here will be socially distant and will follow government guidelines to keep everyone as safe as possible. ”

Barlow is an old-fashioned entertainer who, in his opinion, has dominated the television presentation. He carried the entire show, did comedy skits with Jack Whitehall, interviewed his celebrity guests, and kept the energy going. If only he’d given us more Take That hits. He’s got a new album to plug in – big band numbers and stuff that could grace the soundtrack of a West End musical – so we’ve got too much of it.

But the show came to life with the arrival of Alfie Boe to equip Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. He was great and was followed by Rick Astley, Alesha Dixon, Jason Donovan and Ronan Keating, who all appeared on Facebook with Barlow during the lockdown for his « crooner sessions » (look it up, they’re a delight). Had it been Christmas this would have been the point where I would have danced in the living room.

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Gary Barlow, Dawn Andrews, Take That, ITV