| Blankety Blank | |
|---|---|
 Title card from 1985-1987. |
|
| Format | Game Show |
| Starring | Terry Wogan (1979 - 1983) Les Dawson (1984 - 1990) Lily Savage (1997 - 2002) Chris Tarrant (2008 - present) |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 Minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC1 (18 January, 1979 - 28 December, 1999) ITV (2001 - present) |
| Picture format | 4:3 (1979 - 1999) 16:9 (2001 - present) |
| Original run | 18 January 1979 – present |
Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the American game show Match Game. Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE DL (born August 3 1938 more commonly known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish Radio and Television Les Dawson (born 2 February 1931 in Collyhurst, Manchester, Lancashire, England died 10 June 1993 was a popular English Paul James O'Grady MBE (born 14 June 1955 Christopher John Tarrant OBE (born 10 October 1946, Reading Berkshire) is an English Radio Broadcaster The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent The aspect ratio of an Image is its width divided by its height The aspect ratio of an Image is its width divided by its height Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Match Game also called The Match Game was an American Television Game show that celebrities and contestants answering It ran from 18 January 1979 to 12 March 1990 with 218 episodes on the BBC, hosted first by Terry Wogan and then by Les Dawson. Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE DL (born August 3 1938 more commonly known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish Radio and Television Les Dawson (born 2 February 1931 in Collyhurst, Manchester, Lancashire, England died 10 June 1993 was a popular English In the late 90s a revived version fronted by Lily Savage (played by Paul O'Grady) was produced by the BBC from 26 December 1997 to 28 December 1999 with 27 episodes, and then in 2001 the Lily Savage version migrated to ITV, produced by Grundy then Thames Television. Paul James O'Grady MBE (born 14 June 1955 Paul James O'Grady MBE (born 14 June 1955 Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Thames Television was a licencee of the British ITV television network covering London and parts of the surrounding counties It is set to be revived on ITV with Chris Tarrant as the host. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Christopher John Tarrant OBE (born 10 October 1946, Reading Berkshire) is an English Radio Broadcaster
Contents |
Format
Main game
Two contestants competed. The contestants were always a man and a woman or two women; at no point did two men compete head-to-head. The object was to match the answers as many of the six celebrity panelists as possible on fill-in-the-blank statements.
The main game was played in two rounds. The challenger was given a choice of two statements labeled either "A" or "B. " The host then read the statement.
Frequently, the statements were written with comedic, double-entendre answers in mind. A classic example: "Did you catch a glimpse of that girl on the corner? She has the world's biggest _________. "
While the contestant pondered his/her answer, the six celebrities wrote their answers on index cards. An index card is heavy Paper stock cut to a standard size Index cards are often used for recording individual items of information that can then be easily rearranged and filed After they finished, the contestant was polled for his/her answer. Frequently, the audience responded appropriately as the host critiqued the contestant's answer (for the "world's biggest" question, the host might compliment an answer such as "boobs" or "rear end", while expressing disdain to an answer such as "fingers" or "bag").
The host then asked each celebrity – one at a time, beginning with #1 in the upper left hand corner – to give his/her response. The contestant earned one point for each celebrity who wrote down the same answer (or reasonably similar as determined by the judges) up to a maximum of six points for matching everyone.
After play was completed on the contestant's question, the host read the statement on the other card for the challenger and play was identical.
The challenger again began Round 2, with two new questions, unless he/she matched everyone in the first round. Only celebrities that a contestant didn't match could play this round.
Tiebreaker rounds: If the players had the same score at the end of "regulation", a tiebreaker was used that reversed the game play. The contestants would write their answers first on a card in secret, then the celebrities were canvassed to give their answers. The first celebrity response to match a contestant's answer gave that contestant the victory; if there were still no match (which was rare), the round was replayed with a new question.
Supermatch
A fill-in-the-blank phrase was given, and it was up to the contestant to choose the most common response based on a studio audience survey. After consulting with three celebrities on the panel for help the contestant had to choose an answer. The answers were revealed after that; the most popular answer in the survey was worth 150 Blanks, the second-most popular 100 Blanks, and the third most popular 50. If a contestant failed to match any of the three answers, the bonus round ended.
Another game was played with two new players, and the one who amassed the most from the Supermatch won the game (and if the two winners got the same it would go to sudden death). Here, they could win a better prize (doubling their blanks or a holiday). The player chose one of the celebrities who would write down their answer to a "word BLANK" phrase. The player would then give their answer, if they matched, they won and if not they didn't.
Regular members of the celebrity panel on the original BBC show included Kenny Everett, Lorraine Chase, Gareth Hunt, Gary Davies and Cheryl Baker. Kenny Everett (born Maurice Cole in Seaforth Lancashire; 25 December 1944 – 4 April 1995 was an English radio DJ and television entertainer Lorraine Chase (born July 16, 1951) is an English Actress and model. Alan Leonard Hunt (7 February 1942 &ndash 14 March 2007 was an English Actor, known as Gareth Hunt, best remembered for playing the footman Gary Davies (born in Manchester on 13 December 1957) was one of the UK's most popular Disc jockeys of the 1980s Cheryl Baker (born Rita Maria Crudgington, on 8 March 1954, in Bethnal Green, London) is an English Television presenter It was notable for making a running joke out of the poor quality of prizes on offer, particularly once Les Dawson had taken over as host. Dawson affectionately ridiculed the show, producing dialogue such as "And for the benefit of anyone who hasn't got an Argos Catalogue, here's some of the rubbish you might be saddled with tonight. Argos is the largest general-goods Retailer in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland with over 700 stores " On one memorable occasion, the 300 Blanks question was actually a good prize - a trip on Concorde. As the audience, expecting the usual poor prizes, clapped and cheered appreciatively, Les waved them down - "Don't get excited - it goes to the end of the runway and back. " Most famously was the consolation prize, the Blankety Blank chequebook and pen, which Les would often deliberately mis-quote as "The Blankety Blank cheque pen and book. " This consisted of a cheap-looking silver trophy in the shape of a cheque book. When one contestant had won nothing, Les rolled his eyes and asked her "I bet you wish you'd've stopped at home and watched Crossroads - do you want me to lend you your bus fare home?" Les's brand of humour - lugubrious, world-weary, cutting but never cruel or offensive - was ideally suited to the style of Blankety Blank. Crossroads is a British Television Soap opera set in a Motel near Birmingham, England. Prizes on British game shows of the 1980s seem very poor by modern standards; the Independent Broadcasting Authority restricted the prize values on ITV shows, and prizes on BBC shows were worth even less because the Corporation felt it inappropriate to spend licence payers' money on such things. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The Independent Broadcasting Authority ( IBA) was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial Television ( ITV and Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Television licences around the world The Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago notes that two-thirds of the countries in Europe and half Dawson was loved by the public partially because he drew attention to the fact, not pretending that the show had "fabulous prizes" as other shows did, but making a joke of it.
A spoof of the game show was shown in 2003 as part of Comic Relief. It took the form of a "lost" episode and starred Peter Serafinowicz as Terry Wogan. Peter Serafinowicz (sɛrəˈfɪnəwiʧ (born 10 July 1972) is a British comic actor Voice artist and Composer of Belarussian Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE DL (born August 3 1938 more commonly known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish Radio and Television The celebrities were Willie Rushton, Su Pollard, Johnny Rotten, Ruth Madoc, Freddie Starr and Liza Goddard, played by Nick Frost, Matt Lucas, Martin Freeman, David Walliams, Simon Pegg and Sarah Alexander respectively. William George Rushton, commonly known as Willie Rushton ( 18 August, 1937 in Chelsea London – 11 December, 1996 Cromwell Susan Georgina Pollard (born 7 November 1949 is an English Comedy actress, most famous for her roles in the sitcoms Hi-de-Hi! John Joseph Lydon (born 31 January 1956 in London England also known as Johnny Rotten, is a British Rock musician best known as lead vocalist for the Punk Ruth Madoc (born 16 April 1943 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, brought up in Llansamlet in south Wales) is Freddie Starr (born Frederick Leslie Fowell in Huyton, Liverpool on 9 January 1943) is an English Comedian Liza Goddard (born 20 January 1950, in Smethwick, West Midlands, England) is a television and stage Actress best known Nicholas John Frost (born 28 March, 1972) is an award-winning English Actor, Comedian and movie script-writer He is best known Matthew Richard Lucas (born 5 March 1974) is an English Comedian and Actor. Martin Freeman ( September 8 1971) is an English Actor. He is most famous for his roles as Tim Canterbury in the BBC 's David Walliams (born David Williams, August 20, 1971) is an English Comedian and Actor, best known for his partnership Simon Pegg (born Simon John Beckingham; 14 February 1970) is an award-winning English Actor, Comedian, Writer Sarah Alexander ( née Smith, born 3 January 1971) is an English actress, known for her roles in various British comedy Morwenna Banks and Kevin Eldon played the two contestants, while Paul Putner was the star prize of a chauffeur. Morwenna Banks (born 1964 is a British Actress and Comedian. Banks is best known in the UK as a cast member of the British Channel 4 Kevin Eldon ( b 1960 Chatham, Kent, England) is an English Stand-up comic and Actor. Paul Putner (born March 1966 is an English comedian and Actor.
The Australian version had the very similar title Blankety Blanks. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Blankety Blanks was a popular Australian Game show hosted by Graham Kennedy on Network Ten.
Home Versions
Trivia
Despite Les Dawson's constant gibing of the consolation prize, The Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pen ("Never mind love, you might have lost, but you'll never be short of something to prop your door open with now. Blankety Blank is a Board game based on the television show Blankety Blank, first published by Milton Bradley Games in 1983 . . ") they are now worth a great deal, as they were never commercially available and only a limited number were made.
When he was host, Terry Wogan had an unusual stick-like microphone (the Sony ECM-51, Gene Rayburn's microphone from the original US format) which he always referred to as "Wogan's Wand". Gene Rayburn ( December 22, 1917 &ndash November 29, 1999) was an American Radio and Television personality Match Game also called The Match Game was an American Television Game show that celebrities and contestants answering On one memorable occasion Kenny Everett bent it in half (with Wogan, obviously not expecting this, carrying on valiantly through the show with the wand at a 45 degree angle). Kenny Everett (born Maurice Cole in Seaforth Lancashire; 25 December 1944 – 4 April 1995 was an English radio DJ and television entertainer This led to a running gag on Everett's subsequent appearances on the show, when he would come up with new ways of damaging the wand, such as attempting to cut it in half with shears. (This instance at least was visibly planned, as Wogan deliberately bends forward for him to grab it, and when the wand refuses to break, Everett quips "It worked in rehearsals". ) In his very first show when he took over from Wogan, Les Dawson broke Wogan's Wand in half across his knee, muttering "Been wanting to do that for years. "
In a 1987 edition, Les Dawson's old friend Roy Barraclough made an appearance on the panel. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Les had for many years played opposite Roy when they played a couple of grotesque old ladies, Ada and Cissie. On first seeing Roy, Les looked him up and down, looked puzzled and said, in his "Ada" voice, "I must say you look familiar have you got a sister?" Without even looking up, Roy replied he had no idea what he was talking about.
From 1993 until 1995 satellite channel UK Gold repeated all the series of Blankety Blank except for series 10 (1987). Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar)
Return
Blankety Blank returned to our screens as a one off edition as part of the BBC's annual Children in Need telethon in which Terry Wogan reprised his role as the host of the show accompanied by his wand microphone. The contestants were impressionists Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens from Dead Ringers.
In 2006, the show was brought back this time as an interactive version on a DVD disc with Terry once again reprising his role of host and once again being accompanied by his magic wand type of microphone. Note that theme tune to the interactive DVD version of Blankety Blank is not the original theme, but a version that was used for the ITV series which was called Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.
A one-off edition of Blankety Blank was shown on 21 April 2007 as part of the present series of Gameshow Marathon hosted by Vernon Kay. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Gameshow Marathon is a British game show broadcasted from 17 September, 2005 to 26 May, 2007 on ITV. Vernon Charles Kay (born 28 April 1974 is a British television presenter DJ and former model from Bolton, Greater Manchester, England
It was recently announced that Chris Tarrant is to host the revival. Christopher John Tarrant OBE (born 10 October 1946, Reading Berkshire) is an English Radio Broadcaster
External links
Blankety Blank at UKgameshows. com
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