BL
They only recorded one Blind Date a week under Cilla's tenure. If you think about it, if you record several weeks in advance of TX the logistics of getting dates back for the 'after date' bit isn't too difficult.
I've just caught up on Blind Date. I found Paul to be very natural in the role of host adding little bits of added humour, and it was a nice touch to add an opening monologue referencing Cilla.
I'm not a fan of the set, as has been said it does feel very dark. I like the circle design but more colour is needed around them bar black. I wonder if it was used to try and make it feel bigger. The worst part of the set is the sofa area which just feels like an after thought and doesn't fit with the rest of the design at all.
I agree about the dates being cheap in comparison to the old version, though as said it could be due to timing restraints, plus it's more realistic for a first date than a holiday. It'll be interesting to see the first proper films of the series.
How did the old blind date do it? Surely they recorded more than one per week. Did they film the picks and then return to film the returners later matching Cilla's outfits?
I'm not a fan of the set, as has been said it does feel very dark. I like the circle design but more colour is needed around them bar black. I wonder if it was used to try and make it feel bigger. The worst part of the set is the sofa area which just feels like an after thought and doesn't fit with the rest of the design at all.
I agree about the dates being cheap in comparison to the old version, though as said it could be due to timing restraints, plus it's more realistic for a first date than a holiday. It'll be interesting to see the first proper films of the series.
How did the old blind date do it? Surely they recorded more than one per week. Did they film the picks and then return to film the returners later matching Cilla's outfits?
They only recorded one Blind Date a week under Cilla's tenure. If you think about it, if you record several weeks in advance of TX the logistics of getting dates back for the 'after date' bit isn't too difficult.
JA
I remember in the mid-late 90s they had a period where they had a Blind Date Gold type of show, where they showed bits from past episodes and it was quite interesting that in the early series they just showed photos from the date rather than an actual film.
WH
That was The Best of Blind Date which was actually from the late 80's-early 90s.
In the late 90s there was this made-for-video special which has lots of bloopers and behind the scenes stuff, along with clips of the pilot.
Whataday
Founding member
I remember in the mid-late 90s they had a period where they had a Blind Date Gold type of show, where they showed bits from past episodes and it was quite interesting that in the early series they just showed photos from the date rather than an actual film.
That was The Best of Blind Date which was actually from the late 80's-early 90s.
In the late 90s there was this made-for-video special which has lots of bloopers and behind the scenes stuff, along with clips of the pilot.
JA
There's no way it was that early, as it was something I used to watch when I had to go to my dad's on Saturdays. My parents didn't separate till 1996, so it can't be any earlier than that (and that clip you posted is from 1989- I was 3 years old then, so no way was it anywhere near that far back!). I'm think around 1997/98 time, they definately showed clips from up to the mid-90s. The opening titles were a montage of all the titles up to that point, and they had the year the particular bit from was in the corner throughout.
That was The Best of Blind Date which was actually from the late 80's-early 90s.
There's no way it was that early, as it was something I used to watch when I had to go to my dad's on Saturdays. My parents didn't separate till 1996, so it can't be any earlier than that (and that clip you posted is from 1989- I was 3 years old then, so no way was it anywhere near that far back!). I'm think around 1997/98 time, they definately showed clips from up to the mid-90s. The opening titles were a montage of all the titles up to that point, and they had the year the particular bit from was in the corner throughout.
:-(
A former member
All The Specials
Date Entitle
* 29 July 1989 The Best of Blind Date
* 22 September 1990 The Best of Blind Date
* 9 February 1991 The Best of Blind Date
* 20 October 1991 Blind Date Wedding of the Year
* 18 & 19 July 1992 Telethon Special
* 1 January 1994 The Best of Blind Date
* 12 February 1994 Wedding & Best of the Rest
* 31 December 1994 10th Anniversary Show
* 13 September 1997 Blind Date Exclusive
* 20 June 1999 Blind Date Wedding 1998
Date Entitle
* 29 July 1989 The Best of Blind Date
* 22 September 1990 The Best of Blind Date
* 9 February 1991 The Best of Blind Date
* 20 October 1991 Blind Date Wedding of the Year
* 18 & 19 July 1992 Telethon Special
* 1 January 1994 The Best of Blind Date
* 12 February 1994 Wedding & Best of the Rest
* 31 December 1994 10th Anniversary Show
* 13 September 1997 Blind Date Exclusive
* 20 June 1999 Blind Date Wedding 1998
JA
It definately wasn't a one-off, it was a series that ran over several weeks. I'm sure if you can find TV listings from the time you'll find mention of it.
SW
Yes! After the current series ended in 1998, they did about six weeks of a series called Blind Date Classics, where Cilla introduced bits of business from the archive. The first one they did included a sizeable chunk of the first ever episode, where the most interesting thing was that they didn't script the answers in advance and the contestants made them up on the spot, so they weren't the innunedo-filled answers we came to know and "love". The others were a bit more recent, but I found it absolutely fascinating at the time. And as you say, the date was initially illustrated only by photographs.
There were loads of compilations while the series was running, anyway, most series would end with a best of, and appearances from the popular contestants like Paul "vision technician" Nolan and Claudia and the others who were all famous for five minutes.
I'm think around 1997/98 time, they definately showed clips from up to the mid-90s. The opening titles were a montage of all the titles up to that point, and they had the year the particular bit from was in the corner throughout.
Yes! After the current series ended in 1998, they did about six weeks of a series called Blind Date Classics, where Cilla introduced bits of business from the archive. The first one they did included a sizeable chunk of the first ever episode, where the most interesting thing was that they didn't script the answers in advance and the contestants made them up on the spot, so they weren't the innunedo-filled answers we came to know and "love". The others were a bit more recent, but I found it absolutely fascinating at the time. And as you say, the date was initially illustrated only by photographs.
There were loads of compilations while the series was running, anyway, most series would end with a best of, and appearances from the popular contestants like Paul "vision technician" Nolan and Claudia and the others who were all famous for five minutes.
:-(
A former member
Saturday, 21 March until 18 April 1998. Over the course of its run it was moved back to 6pm.
SW
Well, 1998 was quite a pivotal year for ITV light entertainment, because a lot of their shows were playing to declining and ageing audiences, and there was certainly a drive to find new formats, which for the previous year or so had been massively unsuccessful, with things like The Shane Richie Experience which had all flopped. They were desperately trying to curb their reliance on Blind Date, I think, and Moment of Truth was the most blatant attempt yet to find a replacement, because normally Blind Date began in September, but in 1998 they held it back until November and ran Moment of Truth in its place, seemingly with the plan being to gradually replace it, not that it was ever much of a success. So maybe they ran it to make up for the fact there'd be a longer gap between series than usual. Or maybe some other series fell through at the last minute and they needed a filler (indeed, I think the first one was billed as a one-off in the Radio Times, and I was surprised when it turned up again the following week).
It always felt like it wasn't the done thing to axe Cilla, so even when Surprise Surprise was axed as a regular series, they were really quick to point out that they'd still be doing specials, which they did for many years, and even though Moment of Truth was a pretty big flop, they kept on bringing it back in the hope it would come good, rather than having to axe Cilla. Even in The Fight For Saturday Night, Paul Jackson suggests they told Cilla's people it might be nicer for her to jump from Blind Date before she was pushed. She was so important to ITV at the time, they could never bring themselves to see "CILLA AXED" headlines.
1998 was the first year not to have a series of Surprise Surprise, so I wonder if Blind Date Classics was created to make up Cilla's programming hours?
Edit: Just remembered Moment of Truth started in 98.
Edit: Just remembered Moment of Truth started in 98.
Well, 1998 was quite a pivotal year for ITV light entertainment, because a lot of their shows were playing to declining and ageing audiences, and there was certainly a drive to find new formats, which for the previous year or so had been massively unsuccessful, with things like The Shane Richie Experience which had all flopped. They were desperately trying to curb their reliance on Blind Date, I think, and Moment of Truth was the most blatant attempt yet to find a replacement, because normally Blind Date began in September, but in 1998 they held it back until November and ran Moment of Truth in its place, seemingly with the plan being to gradually replace it, not that it was ever much of a success. So maybe they ran it to make up for the fact there'd be a longer gap between series than usual. Or maybe some other series fell through at the last minute and they needed a filler (indeed, I think the first one was billed as a one-off in the Radio Times, and I was surprised when it turned up again the following week).
It always felt like it wasn't the done thing to axe Cilla, so even when Surprise Surprise was axed as a regular series, they were really quick to point out that they'd still be doing specials, which they did for many years, and even though Moment of Truth was a pretty big flop, they kept on bringing it back in the hope it would come good, rather than having to axe Cilla. Even in The Fight For Saturday Night, Paul Jackson suggests they told Cilla's people it might be nicer for her to jump from Blind Date before she was pushed. She was so important to ITV at the time, they could never bring themselves to see "CILLA AXED" headlines.
:-(
A former member
Why did there drop Surprise Surprise series? Moment of Truth really wasn't a done thing for Cillia to present, have kids crying if there lost. Awful awful show for her. What is stranger is come back again with out cillia but this time there had Celebs doing the stupid stunts