The Football Association were counting nothing out in their attempt to spice up the FA Cup draw...

ToePoke's newest celebrity columnist, Juice FM's Guy Lloyd, thinks the FA Cup draw needs a radical overhaul. Apparently, it's not just about how the balls are lifted, it's also about who fingers the balls...

It was good to see Frank Skinner picking the balls out for the FA Cup Fourth round draw last weekend. I can’t remember the dullard next to him but it was some ex-footballer droning on, as they do. Skinner might have been a tad bored, a bit like the viewers tend to be. Usually it’s some suit from the FA, looking pale and uninteresting, so hiring the comedian was a step in the right direction.

Skinner has his obvious football connections. As he keeps reminding us, he was behind a well known football song from ’96, along with Baddiel and, who I think was his twin brother, from the Lightning Seeds. Skinner is also a massive West Brom fan and is often seen at The Hawthorns with another bloke off the telly -  the equally devastatingly handsome -  Adrian Chiles.

My point is this; why can’t we have more random folk picking out the all-important balls? The draw for the 2010 World Cup pulled out all the stops by recruiting David Beckham (who saw that coming?) but surprised us all by forking out a few bob for the actress, Charlize Theron. OK, she's South African, yes but still a random choice. She’s more American and probably calls the beautiful game ‘soccer.’ But this was a positive step and something I’d like to see more of.

Why not take it further? The fifth round isn’t too far away. Maybe we can have an 80s theme. Have Cannon and Ball finished panto yet? Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee? Paul could make the balls disappear! That’s TV gold, right there.

We’ve got an election coming up this year too. The third bloke hasn’t got a chance (who is the leader of the Lib Dems?) but instead of Brown and Cameron doing a live TV political debate, lets get them to pick the balls out for the next round (and maybe some jelly wrestling if you push the red button?). You could then vote for the politician who gave your team a favourable draw. I can see it now:

"Brown got us a home draw against Peterborough. He’s bloody brilliant that bloke. I think it’s great what he’s done for Afghanistan!" exclaimed the over-excited Tottenham fan.

The possibilities are endless. What about some has-been soap stars? Imagine Curly Watts and Dr. Legg scrambling for their balls. In the earlier rounds - I’m thinking the first round live on ITV 4 -  we could drag out some reality TV stars who are desperate to re-launch their ‘careers.’ Like Craig or ‘Nasty’ Nick from when Big Brother used to be good. What about those freak-twins Jedward? Imagine the boys deciding the fate of the last 16, whilst dancing to the Ghostbusters theme? Now that’s a prime-time Saturday Show. Even Steve Rider would get excited by that.

Anyway, you get the picture. If the FA Cup really is dying on its arse, let’s change the format. Get rid of the suits and bring on the Krankies!

Catch Guy on the Juice FM Breakfast Show, Mon-Fri (7-11am) on 107.2 fm
www.juicebrighton.com