BH
There's at least one case of a flop ITV gameshow (early-mid noughties) being pulled after only a couple of episodes, and to my knowledge the remaining episodes have never been aired to this day.
There's also a Deal or No Deal episode that was filmed in 2006 but never aired due to the death of a contestant's family member. It finally aired on Challenge in 2013, unannounced as part of the regular set of repeats.
BillyH
Founding member
I just find it hard to believe that a series could be delayed by that much! A year or two sure, but four years seems a lengthy amount of time to not broadcast a game show of all things.
There's at least one case of a flop ITV gameshow (early-mid noughties) being pulled after only a couple of episodes, and to my knowledge the remaining episodes have never been aired to this day.
There's also a Deal or No Deal episode that was filmed in 2006 but never aired due to the death of a contestant's family member. It finally aired on Challenge in 2013, unannounced as part of the regular set of repeats.
DA
That must have been bad. Even Don't Scare the Hare - eventually - got all of its episodes broadcast.
There's at least one case of a flop ITV gameshow (early-mid noughties) being pulled after only a couple of episodes, and to my knowledge the remaining episodes have never been aired to this day.
That must have been bad. Even Don't Scare the Hare - eventually - got all of its episodes broadcast.
RW
Robert Williams
Founding member
There were eight episodes of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank from 2002 which ITV never got round to airing, and eventually turned up on Challenge nearly a decade later.
SW
You used to get loads of odd episodes of quizzes turning up much later as well, usually at Christmas. I remember ITV showing some leftover episodes of Celebrity Squares in 1997, and after one the announcer had to say "That was recorded before the death of Jon P'twee". Think we could have worked that out for ourselves.
I really vividly remember on Christmas Eve 1992 ITV showing a leftover episode of Take Your Pick that was intended for the series that had ended months before, because I remember it started with Des in vision saying "Hi, just popping up to tell you about the Christmas special of Des O'Connor Tonight", and then he trailed it a bit and then said "Now here's an episode of Take Your Pick that we didn't get chance to show you earlier", presumably Thames added that in case viewers were wondering why it didn't mention Christmas at all.
Because they used to film so many episodes of quizzes in one go, and they were hardly a top priority, the Beeb and ITV would both use them to fill any available slot so it's not surprising some series took ages to complete.
There's also a Deal or No Deal episode that was filmed in 2006 but never aired due to the death of a contestant's family member. It finally aired on Challenge in 2013, unannounced as part of the regular set of repeats.
You used to get loads of odd episodes of quizzes turning up much later as well, usually at Christmas. I remember ITV showing some leftover episodes of Celebrity Squares in 1997, and after one the announcer had to say "That was recorded before the death of Jon P'twee". Think we could have worked that out for ourselves.
I really vividly remember on Christmas Eve 1992 ITV showing a leftover episode of Take Your Pick that was intended for the series that had ended months before, because I remember it started with Des in vision saying "Hi, just popping up to tell you about the Christmas special of Des O'Connor Tonight", and then he trailed it a bit and then said "Now here's an episode of Take Your Pick that we didn't get chance to show you earlier", presumably Thames added that in case viewers were wondering why it didn't mention Christmas at all.
Because they used to film so many episodes of quizzes in one go, and they were hardly a top priority, the Beeb and ITV would both use them to fill any available slot so it's not surprising some series took ages to complete.
DA
Going off-topic slightly, there was one really odd episode of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank that still sticks in my mind.
It began normally enough, with two players against each other. Then came the second pair of players, only when the desks revolved into view, it appeared that one of the first two players was back. Lily went through the motions of acting confused, only for it to be passed off as the new player being the original player's identical twin brother.
Then at the end of the episode, when all the players usually come back on to wave at the camera, they were all there, but one of the "twins" conspicuously had his back to the camera - possibly chatting to one of the celebs, or otherwise apparently engaged in something else that kept his face out of view.
All a bit odd, really. I seem to recall that both "twins" were wearing red jumpers, if that helps. I can only assume there was a no-show and no other way to get the recording done.
There were eight episodes of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank from 2002 which ITV never got round to airing, and eventually turned up on Challenge nearly a decade later.
Going off-topic slightly, there was one really odd episode of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank that still sticks in my mind.
It began normally enough, with two players against each other. Then came the second pair of players, only when the desks revolved into view, it appeared that one of the first two players was back. Lily went through the motions of acting confused, only for it to be passed off as the new player being the original player's identical twin brother.
Then at the end of the episode, when all the players usually come back on to wave at the camera, they were all there, but one of the "twins" conspicuously had his back to the camera - possibly chatting to one of the celebs, or otherwise apparently engaged in something else that kept his face out of view.
All a bit odd, really. I seem to recall that both "twins" were wearing red jumpers, if that helps. I can only assume there was a no-show and no other way to get the recording done.
Last edited by davidhorman on 21 April 2015 8:07pm
MA
It's weird that one - as I have a really strong memory of watching Shafted on ITV after coming in from a Cubs group on a Monday night. Very funny to learn years later that it only ever had four episodes, as I really remember watching it regularly. Must have only been a few times - odd that it stuck in the memory. I quite enjoyed the game theory, aged 10!
Ah yeah, that one presented by Robert Kilroy-Silk -
Shafted
. Actually ran to four episodes in 2001, but should have run for 20.
It's weird that one - as I have a really strong memory of watching Shafted on ITV after coming in from a Cubs group on a Monday night. Very funny to learn years later that it only ever had four episodes, as I really remember watching it regularly. Must have only been a few times - odd that it stuck in the memory. I quite enjoyed the game theory, aged 10!
WH
It's weird that one - as I have a really strong memory of watching Shafted on ITV after coming in from a Cubs group on a Monday night. Very funny to learn years later that it only ever had four episodes, as I really remember watching it regularly. Must have only been a few times - odd that it stuck in the memory. I quite enjoyed the game theory, aged 10!
An excerpt from Shafted was regularly used on Have I Got News For You around the same time.
It was nowhere near as bad a show as everyone made out.
Whataday
Founding member
Ah yeah, that one presented by Robert Kilroy-Silk -
Shafted
. Actually ran to four episodes in 2001, but should have run for 20.
It's weird that one - as I have a really strong memory of watching Shafted on ITV after coming in from a Cubs group on a Monday night. Very funny to learn years later that it only ever had four episodes, as I really remember watching it regularly. Must have only been a few times - odd that it stuck in the memory. I quite enjoyed the game theory, aged 10!
An excerpt from Shafted was regularly used on Have I Got News For You around the same time.
It was nowhere near as bad a show as everyone made out.
JA
That would have to be in late 1996, unless you're referring to the final episode. He died the same week the Paul McGann Doctor Who TV movie aired - it was dedicated to him - in May 1996, and the 90s Celebrity Squares ended on 3 January 1997.
You used to get loads of odd episodes of quizzes turning up much later as well, usually at Christmas. I remember ITV showing some leftover episodes of Celebrity Squares in 1997, and after one the announcer had to say "That was recorded before the death of Jon P'twee". Think we could have worked that out for ourselves.
SW
The last few episodes of the nineties Celebrity Squares were flung all over the place in the various regions and Granada showed the last few in the Tuesday 7.30 opposite 'stEnders slot in the early months of 1997. Other regions will have shown them at other times, well into 1997.
That would have to be in late 1996, unless you're referring to the final episode. He died the same week the Paul McGann Doctor Who TV movie aired - it was dedicated to him - in May 1996, and the 90s Celebrity Squares ended on 3 January 1997.
The last few episodes of the nineties Celebrity Squares were flung all over the place in the various regions and Granada showed the last few in the Tuesday 7.30 opposite 'stEnders slot in the early months of 1997. Other regions will have shown them at other times, well into 1997.