Does anyone remember the days of the draws being simulcast on Radio 1/5 Live? That was dropped fairly quickly.
It carried on for a long time, actually - if you watch the draw with Lord Bob when the machine breaks down (still one of my favourite telly moments), Deadly makes reference to it being on Radio 1, and that was in November 1996, two years in. That was during Danny Rampling's show, I'm not sure it ever really fitted in. I remember it moved to 5 Live when the midweek draws began, because for the next few years they had to take a break from football commentaries to broadcast the draw. I think it carried on until about 2001.
The breakdown clip illustrates all the rigmarole that used to go around the lottery in those days, John Willain heading off to somewhere to get someone to pick the machine and balls, and that shown to us (with "3.27pm TODAY" caption).
Yeah, didn't they flash up the numbers during Blind Date that first Saturday, then regular short bulletins during an advert break after that? Feels like a lifetime ago. The days when Sky One and News 24 would get in on the act. Strangely does feel a bit like an end of an era.
On the night of the first draw, ITV showed Gladiators and Blind Date as usual, followed by a documentary about Princess Diana, but with Cilla linking all the programmes. Would be fascinated to see those links, presumably they were all pre-recorded, can't imagine Cilla wanting to spend all of Saturday night in a broom cupboard at LWT. For the first few weeks ITV showed a load of high profile programmes opposite the lottery, including An Audience with Ken Dodd and Alright on the Night.
Amazing at how far we have come with the lottery since 1994, it is simply not cared for by any broadcaster really.
From an Irish perspective, it does seem that Ireland actually cares and enjoys playing their lottery, ever since it started in 1988, whereas the British had found the novelty of the lottery wearing away as each year passed.
The novelty has worn off. I still play it, but the main reason is because I picked six numbers in 1994 and can therefore never stop because it's guaranteed the moment I do they'll all come up. I play it with no enthusiasm whatsoever and find it about as much fun as paying my council tax. Well done to Camelot for achieving the impossible and making the chance to win millions of pounds so incredibly boring.