Blockbusters

I haven't seen any if the new Blockbusters, but I have been watching 1992 editions on Challenge over the last two weeks. I am not sure how long it takes Challenge to show all series, but I remember seeing one or two of the same editions in January.

Did the Simon Mayo version of Blockbusters have students, or was it more like the Michael Aspel version? I have often wondered why the classic Bob Holness version was axed.

Typically, a contestant said "can I have a P please, Bob?" in one episode I watched this week

They don't show all editions, they have around half the episodes from that particular series and that's it. Sucks.

It was more like the Aspel version. It was cancelled as there was no longer a network-demand for something [cheap] to fill that slot.

You're right, that is typical and not notable,

I didn't realise that Challenge only had half the episodes - I expected that they had every episode of the original series.

It is interesting to hear why the original version of Blockbusters was axed. I know the programme went to Sky One in 1994 and was still produced by Central, although it only lasted one series - I am not sure why, as I would have expected Blockbusters to be popular on Sky.

Central & Anglia that broadcast the 180eps made for Sky, REALLY was a 180 - bob said it him self on an interview: Late Edition E4 Series 2; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xNf19XV2BI&feature=BFa&list=ELh3ZN_4yRrzM ( STV should be ashame of themselves asking as there moved it to 1.30pm from 1990.) UK gameshow still don't believe it.

There were a number of issues surrounding the series:

* ITV network centre
* Umpteen companies were running behide on broadcasting the series.
* Lack of space in the schedule.

Remember back in 1994 Sky never had a lot of viewers, and it was going out at 19pm slot before getting moved to 18.30 slot with I think E street or smiler getting 7pm. It was never suited to that timeslot. There might have more luck at 18pm. Alas sky only broadcast 120 then it disappeared. the remaining 60 eps were shown else where mornings etc.

The franchise changes did them no favours either, with the likes of Carlton, Meridian, Westcountry and a number of others promising an hour long news programme/regional slot at teatime, and with only 5.10, 6.00 and 6.30pm slots to work around it was more likely for Blockbusters to be dropped than Home & Away, like Neighbours at the time getting rather decent ratings. Carlton rather notably putting Blockbusters on at 3.20pm because they had H&A at 5.10 and then the hour long London Tonight at 6.00, but as you said others being behind on the series did it no favours.

It is interesting to hear this. I didn't realise so many ITV companies were behind in the early 90s - I didn't think regional variations were still an issue by then. I am very surprised about how STV moved Blockbusters to a 1.30pm slot!

Sky was of course very different back then - it would be interesting to know when more people started to receive Sky. I know in around 1991-92 Sky One's programme choices were quite limited and relied on so many US shows (one or two of of them not well-known in this country). It is said that the remaining 60 episodes were moved to morning slots.

I might have known the three new franchises had an involvement. 3.20pm wasn't a good time to show Blockbusters.

Meridian never had 5 days of hourly news at 6pm. Med kept blockbuster's at 6.30 on tues / weds / thurs.

Worse Still Westcountry & HTV showed it at 1.30, during 1993.

1.30 was not a good time to show Blockbusters of course. When were the final episodes (the series Sky abandoned) eventually shown, as it was mentioned on the forum (I can't remember which member) that they were shown in the early morning.

That would be me, Im sure there were shown early morning in 1995 on sky. Just to point out the Central and Anglia Broadcasts of this sky series finished on 24 May 1995. I do believe the last 60 ep by broadcast by sky before this point.

Early mornings were not a good slot for Blockbusters of course. Sky One had a habit of showing all different kinds of programmes in the mornings, they used to show 70s US sitcoms at 10.30 in the early 90s (the Bea Arthur series Maude springs to mind)

Just to point out a small errors,

Meridian Television, broadcast, Tuesday and Wednesday at 18.30, completing the series by December 1993. ( not Thursday as well as previously stated

Sky one did have 180ep of Blockbusters back in 1994/1995. Im not sure if its was 2 series or just one slipt into two runs

* 18 April 1994 - 30 September 1994; 120ep
* 28 November 1994 - 17 February 1995: 60ep

After that it went on to morning repeats at 08.30. If your wonder what was broadcast in the gap, well it was 50ep of Spellbound.

Did we ever find out if Challenge were planning to make more? or if there was a full version of the theme?