To be irritated.

I could not agree more- why?

I agree, it's like watching trained sealions sometimes! The contestants even clap themselves when they're introduced at the beginning of the show!

I know it's been going on for years, but don't any of them actually think about what they're clapping for?

It is an odd thing to do. Maybe they just need something to do with their hands?

I just shout "Don't be so stupid you morons!" and I feel much better then ?

Soooo agree about quiz contestants, H gets fed up of me muttering 'Oh, applaud yourself why don't. you !'
H and I can't watch Flog It due to the very irritating Paul Martin

Of course they can't really clap with sound because of their .microphones. I expect they are told to do it, daft.

Yes, applauding oneself is ridiculous.

I'm sorry, but Paul Martin gets on my nerves. Excited whispering is how I would describe it. As for applauding oneself, well that's just silly. I expect that they are told to applaud by the producer.

I thought it was just me! People applauding themselves has been infuriating me for years.

I do quite like Paul Martin though.

I love Paul Martin I think he comes across as a really kind and gentle bloke and he looks good too
Everyone applauds nowadays it started a good few years back I felt irritated at first but not now it just seems normal and a bit staid not to

I like Paul Martin.

Just don't ask him to do any glassblowing!

That's the thing though, someone starts to do something such as clapping for themselves and it becomes the thing to do. I notice it all the time and it drives me crazy. Years ago, in Australia, nearly everyone (except me and other non sheep like people) said absolutely instead of yes. It irritated the life out of me. "Would you like a cup of tea?" "Absolutely." Then someone being interviewed on tv said something felt surreal, from then on every person interviewed was having a surreal moment. And..yes they do the self congratulatory clapping here too.

Grumpy old woman, that's me.

I don't get this, if it infuriates you so much turn it off! I think there is so much rubbish on TV so I don't watch it, ever so no problem

The OP said 'irritates' not 'infuriates' Shanna

Rather a waste of a licence fee to have a TV and not watch it

I like Paul Martin but I agree he can be a bit gushy. Sometimes his delivery doesn't match the amount of money an item has sold for. By all means get gushy and excited if something the owner thought was worth very little turns out to be worth a substantial amount of money but not when it makes £20 or £30.

I'm glad it's not just me that is irritated by the seal impressions.

Well if you find, after turning off the TV, you have spare time, you could go and look after some horses.

WTF

Who's Paul Martin? Have I asked that before? Don't tellies have off switches nowadays?

I'm with the previous poster and "WTF"?

How about getting irritated, or even active, about something that actually matters?

Nobody has to watch irritating TV. It's a choice. So choose.

As I said in the OP I was visiting a friend and she watches Pointless, I do not normally watch it.
Nor do I watch Flog it as Paul Martin also irritates me.Obviously I have watched it a couple of times or I would not know he irritates me.
I had a feeling when I posted what was quite a lighthearted post that some posters would take the chance to make a personal attack.
I really wish these people would bother to read the OPs' properly.
I do lots of things to try to help things which irritate me in real life.

Of course,TV and radio presenters go into 'performance' mode when in front of a camera.

I remember reading an article written by a man who owns a rare breeds smallholding that was featured on Countryfile. He was interviewed by Adam Henson who was talking quite normally until the camera was involved then suddenly started waving his hands about and changed his voice so abruptly it made the smallholder jump out of his skin.

They all got the giggles so had to do another take.

Paul Martin's attempts at glass blowing did not go to plan. He was quite miffed when his effort collapsed at the last minute and couldn't hide his irritation as the cameraman was obviously relishing the moment. PM stormed out shouting something like, 'If you can do any better, I suggest you give it a try.'

When I tracked down the clip it was 'No longer available'

Good grief, why turn off your TV if you are enjoying a programme but there is a little something in it that drives you barmy. You can't stop watching something just because of that.
I do lots of things (sewing, reading, walking, looking after grand-children, DIY) but I do like to relax and watch my favourite shows. If I turned the programme off because of one little thing then I would be cutting my nose off to spite my face.
I don't mind people clapping because they are probably told to but I hate:-
Eastenders --- everyone says things like "I'll see you later -yea?" or "Why don't we have a cup of tea -yea?"
EVERY quiz or talent show - "and the winner is.............." pause of about 10 minutes
MOST shows these days "and coming up............" I don't WANT to see whats coming up, I'll take my chances thanks.

I could go on, but I wouldn't stop watching any of them/

I absolutely agree. I think it started with American game shows when contestants were told to give themselves a clap.

Tbh I think they are applauding to convey that they have enjoyed being on it and that they dont mind losing to other contestants