Gameshows of yesteryear

Well unless you're content with yet another Who Wants To Be A Millionaire or Weakest Link then we're seriously lacking a good old fashioned gameshow.

Be they primetime or just cheesy daytime - we need them back!

But what do you miss? Here are some of my particular favourites...

All Clued Up - Diddy David Hamilton's giant keyboard and stinger effect surely can't fail to amuse?

Blockbusters - Tried to be brought back many times of course but just didn't have the feel of the original - bring back Bob Holness and his slightly worrying authoritarian tone.

Bullseye - What can I say? You can't beat a bit of bully.

Chain Letters - Come on I'm sure EVERYONE sung along at home to # Here's Beadle #

Cluedo - How fantastic was this? Sorely missed.

Crosswits - Classic crossword quiz that TESTS your wits. And remember never a cross word.

Every Second Count - The show everyone pretended they didn't like because Paul Daniels presented it, but his dry wit often made it rather amusing. I remember willing the contestants on to light all 10 triangles.

The Krypton Factor - Good all round entertainment from Gordon Burns just sternly saying "WRONG" to questions such as "35 minutes before twenty two minutes past three".

The Price Is Right - Leslie Crowther still reigns supreme with his Nottingham audience full of coach loads of drunk people warmed up by the ever favourite William G Stewart - but Brucie brought it back to be a great show. Surely Cliffhanger was the best game?


There are MANY more I'm sure, but they escape me at this point in time.

I would love to see The Krypton Factor bought back to Mondays at 7.00pm, Gordon Burns was fantastic and it had a mix of everything, one of the best programmes that Granada has ever produced. The problem was the last series killed it thanks to all that futuristic crap and Penny Smith, she wasn't a bad host, but it was better with Gordon on his own. May God bless Challenge TV for repeating it.

Another would have to be Catchphrase with Roy Walker and his 1980's set! It was a simple, yet fantastic game show, the format is superb, it's just that Roy was the only person to do it. Nick Weir didn't quite have it and Mark Curry was a new low.

I'm also glad that ITV have pinned Bullseye tp make a one-off comeback in September. It was as said by Peter Kay, it were shiit yet it were good. It didn't require much, just a dartboard and a Speeboat. Jim Bowen was fantastic, patronising and near-racist*, but it had something

Another one would have to be All Clued Up , it was very 80's and had that odd giant keyboard, that required one person to push one button!

Final couple, Crosswits , a simple idea, like Countdown , though the latter is still going strong, I'd never seen anything mentioned about the days when it was Richard Whiteley, Carol Vorderman, Beverley something and another person!

**There was an episode from 1984 on Challenge TV where he picked on the black man in the audience and asked how far he travelled tonight!

It was definally a good one, especially when Brucie used to yodel along with it.

The problem with all these is that in most cases the original hosts are too old and with a different host they would always be compared negatively to the original

I definally think they should bring back The Krypton Factor though, I'm sure Gordon Burns would jump at the chance to escape the boredom of North West Tonight

Daytime gameshows....

Going For Gold - Who can forget skinny Henry Kelly bouncing onto our screens with a European gameshow straight after Neighbours!....(You want to forget it don't you? sorry )

Also Turnabout - with Rob Curling floating in water.....or the set was..!

Wipeout - Originally on Friday nights with Paul Daniels. Not revived since the death of Bob Monkhouse. Due a return... perhaps with Marc Curry or someone else who's not doing anything at that time.

Through the Keyhole - is this still going? I would like to see this revived anyway...Keep Sir David Frost and bring back Lloyd Grossman - as much I as detest the maaaaaan, is catchphrase won't survive without him....er . anyway..

Evening Gameshows.....

Celebrity Squares - something celebrity related that isn't under the 'reality' brand!

Ask the Family - hosted by Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.. .well...its a compromise to Dick and Dom at least..!

Blankety Blank - there must be a huge number of Z list celebrities who would adore to be on this! Bring back Terry and his long microphone!!

Agree with all the comments about The Price is Right. It was best in the early days though, with Leslie Crowther, when it was on for about an hour at a time....."but how would you like to win.....THIS???!"

tu tu tu TURNABOUT.

with the small pond in the studio. Fab.

I'm sure there was a thread about this not too long ago (honestly, these moderators!! ), but i'll repeat here what I said back then.

These were some great gameshows that hold fond memories for me.

- Big Break
- Blockbusters (Bob Holness era)
- Bullseye
- Catchphrase (Roy Walker era)
- Chain Letters
- Family Fortunes (Les Dennis era)
- Going For Gold
- Keynotes (i'm sure most people will mock me for this one)
- Knightmare
- The Krypton Factor
- Play Your Cards Right
- The Price Is Right
- Runway
- Strike It Lucky (not 'Strike It Rich')
- Wheel Of Fortune (Nicky Campbell/John Leslie era)

Strange to think that ITV went and screwed up the one area where it was always far superior to the BBC.

Anyway, I think a re-emergence of gameshows would be awesome, just so long as they don't glitz them up too much, and maintain their original appeal.

The Crystal maze, obviously with Richard O Brien as host. "Will you start the fans please!"
http://uk.geocities.com/evilpixiekazza/sounds/piano.wav
http://uk.geocities.com/evilpixiekazza/sounds/welcome.wav

Turnabout also gets my vote; the whole thing was a work of genius, from the theme music to the pond in the centre of the set. When I was younger, I remember thinking that the contestants and Rob had to be taken to their seats by a small boat! If I remember correctly, the computer graphics were pretty impressive too.

More about Turnabout here about... http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/Turnabout

A few more...

Yes Wheel of Fortune - hosted by Nicky Campbell or Bradley Walsh! With Jenny Powell and that guy in the Simon Cowell trousers who used to demonstrate the prizes!

Give Us A Clue - hosted by Michael Parkinson.

Bullseye - I think its about time someone should definately think about commissioning a new series of this!


Also, this isn't really 'gameshow' but bring back the old fashioned prank shows like Beadles About! And the return of Jeremy Beadle to ITV!

What about those quiz shows that weren't so successful? Lose A Million had moderate success - ironic considering Tarrant presented it and went on to present Millionaire itself.

Another one I remember was The Midas Touch with Bradley Walsh - I don't remember much about the concept apart from the contestants slowed moved up what seemed to be a pyramid and something at the top exploded if they won.

EDIT: What do you know...a bit of looking goes a long way. !Clicky


Surely it's about time You Bet came back!? But no Darren Day...pleas

Gameshows! I can bore you all witless reminiscing about gameshows

When I were a lad I was enthralled by Chain Letters' theme tune, All Clued Up with it's *huge* keyboard, the puzzle section of The Krypton Factor, the graphics and sound effects of Going for Gold, the show with the set as a huge crossword puzzle which i've forgot the name, watching Blockbusters when CITV had finished, Catchword with Paul Coia on BBC2. Cor, wizard!

Best of all is something I don't remember seeing back then - Celebrity Squares is currently getting an airing on everybodys favourite Challenge TV - with what must be the best formula for a game show ever - Bob Monkhouse, 4 prize cars teetering nearly on top of each other including the obigatory Rover Fastback, 9 huge squares in a 3x3 setup filled with obscure stars from 1991 about 10 people have heard of, including resident 90's show stand-in Joe Pasquale, worth a watch for Bob's jokes alone!

It hasn't always been this good - let's not forget the depressant of an 80's ITV evening, Sporting Triangles!

Beverley Isherwood (who was also apparently on something called Where In The World? with Ray Alan) and Doctor - yes, Doctor Linda Barratt.