Noel's House Party

I didn't mind that theme, it was the era after that with 'house of fun' and then the dancers which was when it had run its course.

It's interesting how when a show has been going a long time they either talk over the titles previewing the show, or drop the titles altogether. Same has happened with TXF and BGT in the last few years.

Regarding the set, when they moved the front door to the physically impossible upstairs position was also when it started going down hill, used to annoy me every week when I was growing up.

I'd completely forgotten that theme. Not a bad theme, but in hindsight they should have just updated the original.

I hate the last studio set aswell. I get the feeling, Oh there a problem with the show, I know we need a bigger shinny studio and set that will solve all our troubles.

On the Late Late Breakfast Show, Noel didn't use an earpiece (on the Christmas morning BT Tower show that's on YouTube he remarks that he is, unusually, using one but doesn't on a Saturday). I don't know whether he did use one for the Roadshow or House Party.

And of course he could read the jokes off a script which was hidden in the paper

I have fond memories of watching the first 5 series as a child, but i dont think that it should be brought back. Not even for a TFI style one-off.

The one thing that has disappointed me is that House Party has never been repeated on one of the UKTV channels, but i suspect that is probably due to royalties for the many celebrity guest appearances.

I know a lot of people say how Television Centre was underused once dramas stopped being made in the studio, but the heyday of the House Party was when I started at the BBC and it was an absolutely fantastic place on Saturdays. Live and Kicking would be in TC7, often with some very big bands indeed (along with the hordes of fans outside). Some of those bands would also be booked for either the House Party (TC1) or the Lottery (TC3?) and would hang around the centre all day while Grandstand (TC5) was on. Grandstand would use almost every VT facility in the building it would seem, so Post Production in Stage V was a real hive of activity and blaring talkbacks. Plus on Saturday evenings they would often record a lot of audience shows in TCs4, 6 and SitCom heaven TC8.

Still seems madness to me that they've decided only to keep one medium sized production studio, but hey ho.

He didn't wear an earpiece for House Party as I've seen him mention the fact in interviews.

How the hell is that possible in a live show. Especially with OB elements

Entirely possible, floor manager and idiot boards... Meant the presenters had to be able to think on their feet a bit more as they couldn't be spoon-fed lines by gallery producers.

Wogan used to do his chat show without talkback or autocue too.

Mark of an absolute genius.