There is one thing that fascinates me about improv and that is how it is portrayed in Television and Film. This is becoming more and more apparent in recent years because the comedy art form is sort of in fashion. There are some interesting topics that we can gain from these ways they are displayed so every so often we are going to look at different scenes from different shows and films.

I always find that it is bizarre when you discover improv makes an appearance on a show that you would not expect it to pop up on. However, I suppose, there are hundreds of episodes of Come Dine With Me that I should of expected it to arise at some point and today we discuss about the particular episode I saw it become a thing.

I tend to watch Come Dine With Me ever so often and one of the episodes I tuned into the other day particularly stuck in my mind. I do not know what season it was so I will have to go by what I wrote a the time that will hopefully give you an insight into the said episode.

The episode took place in Swansea and the nights host was Ryan, you already wondered from the start what the night was going to entail when he mentioned that all the steaks (five of them) for just under £10. Halfway through the meal, Ryan decided for this entertainment for the night he would make the other contestants do improv.

I think I have stated before on this article that I find it fascinating how improv is depicted in everyday media and I can honestly say, sometimes it does not always come across in a great way. The thing about Come Dine With Me is that a lot of the time the entertainment comes across as silly and cringey and unfortunately, this is the case with how improv was introduced.

Each of the dinner members were asked to improvise they were in love with one of the other members of the competition. As you can imagine this came across as very strange, watching this from a perspective as an improviser it also came across as a suggestion you would not give someone who is new to the comedy art form. I can’t remember any time that I have been in a beginners lesson where you are told to act in love with someone. It is a very intimate thing and with improv being a very nerve-wracking situation to be in when you first start you do not put the two together as it makes the whole idea of the ‘safe environment’ feel incredibly edgy.

The improv scenario is only on the screen for a short amount of time but it does not show it in a good light, instead I think in some ways it is used for another sort of comedy entertainment. It makes the night look more ridiculous and makes the audience have a good laugh. It is a fun moment for the Come Dine With Me catalogue but not a great look for improv.