The Lily Savage version was pretty good, but was too knowing. With Les's version, there's a feeling that it was all done on the cheap and Les resented it. The prizes were cheap and low-budget, even "bizarre" sometimes, but I think there was a limit on the value of gameshow prizes on the Beeb at the time. While Jim Bowen was giving away a speedboat every week (or not), Les wasn't able to. Lily's version tried carrying on in the same vein, and the only reason for that was that it was trying to copy Les's "arch" approach.
A new version would work fine ... maybe Terry again as host?! (His 70s/80s version is a bit slow and staid though).
Lily's failed because the questions were deliberately made to be more rude than the previous versions to get the viewer tittering which just made you roll your eyes instead of laugh.
They relied too much on Coronation St and Emmerdale people and anyone idiot who appears on itv2.
I don't know whether the showing earlier in the afternoon was similarly affected.
The afternoon episodes have now been shunted forward to 12.30, and don't appear to be billed as New on the EPG, so it looks like this week's episodes are all going to be repeats of last week's, for some reason. Yesterday afternoon was the Cuddly Ken one again. Don't know what today's was, I'm recording it.
The afternoon episodes have now been shunted forward to 12.30, and don't appear to be billed as New on the EPG, so it looks like this week's episodes are all going to be repeats of last week's, for some reason.
Ooh no, I do beg your pardon, today's was another episode that hadn't been on before. But as I mentioned, the 2.30 showings have now been moved to 12.30, and they finish next Monday. Maybe the idea was only to show selected episodes anyway. It's not like there's a running plotline which means they have to start at Series 1 Episode 1 and show them all, in order.
It's not just selected episodes it's the whole series they aquired but, EP 1 and 10 are missing and all the rest because of the current situation with Jimmy Tarbuck are not been shown.
It's not just selected episodes it's the whole series they aquired but, EP 1 and 10 are missing and all the rest because of the current situation with Jimmy Tarbuck are not been shown.
Watched another Paul Daniels episode last night. Really, what a rancid little twerp he is. Pawing all over Alexandra Bastedo, I thought she was going to ounch him. Her teeth are definitely gritetd as she "jokingly" fights him off. Ugh.
In other nws, Dilys Watling (sister of Debbie) was on last night. I've never really noticed her before. All of the answers that she gave werethe same as the answers that I gave. I'd happily have tried to double a sewing machine into a colour TV in the Head To Head with Dilys Watling on my side.
So the whole week gets bumped off just because of some allegation today about some celeb.
What about people who want to watch them.
It's always the way though, Davey. Allegations of nastiness mean that some things are off limits. William Roache and Michael Le Vell dropped from Corrie when charges were laid against them. Top of the Pops reruns on BBC4 edited to remove Jimmy Savile. Etc etc.
In other news ... Patrick Moore is a natural at Blankety Blank, and a pleasure to watch.
It's always the way though, Davey. Allegations of nastiness mean that some things are off limits. William Roache and Michael Le Vell dropped from Corrie when charges were laid against them. Top of the Pops reruns on BBC4 edited to remove Jimmy Savile. Etc etc.
In other news ... Patrick Moore is a natural at Blankety Blank, and a pleasure to watch.
It has to be Anita Harris in the head-to-head! Two consecutive episodes, she's been the winner.
Now into series 3, and the show is feeling a bit more like the BB we know and love. The rotating board referred to as "Eugene", in hornour of the stagehand locked up inside it. A great moment the other night when the answers nearly fell out and Eugene was see scrabbling around trying to hold them in place. There are now jokes about the chequebook-and-pen. The questions are more lighthearted and refer to "The Vicar of Saint Wogan's". Contestants now have more of a chance to make a decent score, rather than just getting one or two points as they did in the first couple of series, as the questions are easier.
Thanks to the link above I found the links to the BBC series with Lily, and the episodes are full and uncut without editing or beeping, so it takes ages to do most of the show and Lily has a very blue mouth on her. Love it!
They showed 3 of the previously withheld Jimmy Tarbuck episodes this weekend:
15/10/81 Pat Coombs, Sandra Dickinson, Carol Drinkwater, Patrick Moore, Jimmy Tarbuck, Jack Douglas
29/10/81 Anita Harris, Lenny Henry, Fred Housego, Maureen Lipman, Dinah Sheridan, Jimmy Tarbuck
03/12/81 Judith Chalmers, Leslie Crowther, Carol Drinkwater, David Hamilton, Rula Lenska, Jimmy Tarbuck
They showed 3 of the previously withheld Jimmy Tarbuck episodes this weekend:
15/10/81 Pat Coombs, Sandra Dickinson, Carol Drinkwater, Patrick Moore, Jimmy Tarbuck, Jack Douglas
29/10/81 Anita Harris, Lenny Henry, Fred Housego, Maureen Lipman, Dinah Sheridan, Jimmy Tarbuck
03/12/81 Judith Chalmers, Leslie Crowther, Carol Drinkwater, David Hamilton, Rula Lenska, Jimmy Tarbuck
Did they? Why do they always do this. Typical right when I dont know they are on.
They are now a few episodes into series 4 (1981) again. Not sure how Challenge acquire these series, as they only seem to have series 1, 4 and the first Les Dawson one. Seems rather random. The Tarbuck ones are on again. The comedic delivery and timing on the Lenny Henry / Jimmy Tarbuck episode was excellent.... from Graham Spital the contestant
Comments
Lily's failed because the questions were deliberately made to be more rude than the previous versions to get the viewer tittering which just made you roll your eyes instead of laugh.
They relied too much on Coronation St and Emmerdale people and anyone idiot who appears on itv2.
The prizes were too good.
05/11/81 Janet Brown, Frank Carson, Windsor Davies, Shirley Anne Field, Liza Goddard, Pete Murray
But instead it was 'another chance to see' the episode that they had shown the previous Monday:
10/09/81 Kenny Everett, Sally James, Derek Nimmo, Wendy Richard, June Whitfield, David Hamilton
I don't know whether the showing earlier in the afternoon was similarly affected.
The afternoon episodes have now been shunted forward to 12.30, and don't appear to be billed as New on the EPG, so it looks like this week's episodes are all going to be repeats of last week's, for some reason. Yesterday afternoon was the Cuddly Ken one again. Don't know what today's was, I'm recording it.
Ooh no, I do beg your pardon, today's was another episode that hadn't been on before. But as I mentioned, the 2.30 showings have now been moved to 12.30, and they finish next Monday. Maybe the idea was only to show selected episodes anyway. It's not like there's a running plotline which means they have to start at Series 1 Episode 1 and show them all, in order.
Bastards! How dare they!
In other nws, Dilys Watling (sister of Debbie) was on last night. I've never really noticed her before. All of the answers that she gave werethe same as the answers that I gave. I'd happily have tried to double a sewing machine into a colour TV in the Head To Head with Dilys Watling on my side.
What about people who want to watch them.
It's always the way though, Davey. Allegations of nastiness mean that some things are off limits. William Roache and Michael Le Vell dropped from Corrie when charges were laid against them. Top of the Pops reruns on BBC4 edited to remove Jimmy Savile. Etc etc.
In other news ... Patrick Moore is a natural at Blankety Blank, and a pleasure to watch.
Well thank god youtube isnt policed!
Just a shame they dont have the episodes.
Now into series 3, and the show is feeling a bit more like the BB we know and love. The rotating board referred to as "Eugene", in hornour of the stagehand locked up inside it. A great moment the other night when the answers nearly fell out and Eugene was see scrabbling around trying to hold them in place. There are now jokes about the chequebook-and-pen. The questions are more lighthearted and refer to "The Vicar of Saint Wogan's". Contestants now have more of a chance to make a decent score, rather than just getting one or two points as they did in the first couple of series, as the questions are easier.
Oh, and I am a bit in love with Beryl Reid.
Slightly surprised to see Elaine Stritch was on the show. And Diane Langton, who I saw a few hours earlier tonight as Nana McQueen on Hollyoaks!
15/10/81 Pat Coombs, Sandra Dickinson, Carol Drinkwater, Patrick Moore, Jimmy Tarbuck, Jack Douglas
29/10/81 Anita Harris, Lenny Henry, Fred Housego, Maureen Lipman, Dinah Sheridan, Jimmy Tarbuck
03/12/81 Judith Chalmers, Leslie Crowther, Carol Drinkwater, David Hamilton, Rula Lenska, Jimmy Tarbuck
26/12/81 Lorraine Chase, Liza Goddard, Larry Grayson, Lenny Henry, Beryl Reid, Jimmy Tarbuck
It's a disgrace they missed them out when Tarbuck was not even charged just questionned.
Did they? Why do they always do this. Typical right when I dont know they are on.
I recognise most of the panellists but every once in a while someone crops up who I don't know and I have to google them
Tuesdays to Saturdays at any time between 2 and 3am
Also showing Mon-Fri afternoons around 1.10pm.