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Blankety Blank

British TV comedy game show (since 1979) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show which first aired in 1979. The show is based on the American game show Match Game, with contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity panellists to fill-in-the-blank questions.[1]

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The original series ran from 18 January 1979 to 12 March 1990 on BBC1, hosted first by Terry Wogan from 1979 until 1983, then by Les Dawson from 1984 until 1990. A revival hosted by Paul O'Grady (under his drag alter-ego Lily Savage) was produced by Pearson Television's UK subsidiary Fremantle (UK) Productions for BBC One from 26 December 1997 to 28 December 1999, followed with ITV from 7 January 2001 to 10 August 2002 as Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.

David Walliams hosted a one-off Christmas special for ITV on 24 December 2016,[2] with Bradley Walsh hosting a 2020 Christmas special of the show for the BBC,[3][4][5] which in turn led to a second revival series that premiered on 2 October 2021.

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Format

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Main game

Two contestants compete, each attempting to match as many of the six celebrity panellists as possible in a series of fill-in-the-blank statements.

The main game is played in two rounds. The contestant with initial control in each round is given a blind choice of two statements, "A" or "B", and the host reads the chosen one aloud, with one word missing that is indicated by the word "blank". Statements are frequently 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 blank".

While the contestant thinks of an answer, the celebrities write their responses on cards, without conferring. Once all six have done so, usually indicated by the celebrities lighting up their name card, the contestant states their answer. The host then asks the celebrities to reveal theirs, one at a time.[6] The contestant scores one point for each celebrity whose answer is either an exact match or reasonably close, as determined by a panel of off-screen judges. The opposing contestant then takes a turn with the unused statement.

Initial control of the first round is determined by coin toss,[6] while the trailing contestant after the first round starts the second. Only the celebrities that a contestant fails to match in the first round participate on that turn in the second, so there is only ever a maximum of six points possible. This also increases the chance of a tie-break. If a contestant makes all six matches in the first round, they sit out for the second and the opponent is given one chance to tie the score. Should the trailing contestant fail to at least tie the score, the game ends immediately without the leader having to take a turn.

The high scorer after two rounds wins the game and advances to the Supermatch. Ties are broken with one final question in which both contestants write down their responses and the celebrities then give their answers, one at a time. The first contestant to raise their matching answer wins; if the tiebreaker ends with no winner, a new question is played.

The "A"/"B" choice was eliminated when Les Dawson became the host, and reinstated once Lily Savage succeeded him.[citation needed]

Supermatch

The contestant is presented with a fill-in-the-blank phrase and must attempt to choose the most common response based on a studio audience survey. They may ask any three celebrities for help, then use one of those responses or offer one of their own. The contestant earns 150, 100 or 50 Blanks for matching the first, second, or third most popular answers, respectively. Failing to match any of these answers ends the round immediately.[6]

A second main game is then played with two new contestants, and the winner plays the Supermatch as above. The winner who scores higher in the Supermatch becomes the day's champion; any ties are broken as in the main game. The champion then chooses one celebrity to match against on a short phrase, and an exact match doubles the number of Blanks earned in the Supermatch. Regardless of the outcome, the champion receives a prize whose value depends on the final total of Blanks. Each episode offers a star prize for 300 Blanks, requiring a contestant to match the most popular answer in their own Supermatch and win the head-to-head final.[6]

On Lily Savage's Blankety Blank, the contestant with the highest Supermatch score or winner of a tiebreaker played the head-to-head round for an additional prize. In the current revival, both players play the tiebreaker even without a tie.

Supermatch prizes

Prizes on British game shows prior to 1990 were poor by modern standards. The Independent Broadcasting Authority restricted the value of prizes on ITV shows, and BBC-programme prizes were also of a modest value. [citation needed] Channels regulated by the Independent Broadcasting Authority were limited to the giving away prizes with the maximum value usually being £1,750.[7] The poor-quality prizes on Blankety Blank became a running joke throughout the show's various runs, particularly during the Dawson era. Dawson drew attention to the fact that the prizes were less-than-mediocre, not pretending that the show had "fabulous prizes" as others did, but making a joke of it, such as referring to them as "fire salvaged" prizes.

The consolation prize was the Blankety Blank chequebook and pen, which Dawson would often call "The Blankety Blank chequepen and book!" In 1993, the IBA prize limits had been lifted, and the star prize on the 1990s revival was generally a holiday.

In the 2021 series, the Supermatch prizes consist of £500, £750, and something worth more than £750.

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Celebrity panellists

Unaired pilots (1978)

Series 1 (1979)

Series 2 (1979)

Series 3 (1980)

Series 4 (1981)

  • Show 1 (3 September 1981) – Lenny Henry, David Jacobs, Roy Kinnear, Beryl Reid, Madeline Smith, Tracey Ullman[43]
  • Show 2 (10 September 1981) – Kenny Everett, David Hamilton, Sally James, Derek Nimmo, Wendy Richard, June Whitfield[44]
  • Show 3 (17 September 1981) – Katie Boyle, Lorraine Chase, Liza Goddard, Russell Harty, Roy Hudd, Jimmy Tarbuck[45]
  • Show 4 (24 September 1981) – Sandra Dickinson, Arthur English, John Junkin, Spike Milligan, Beryl Reid, Dilys Watling[46]
  • Show 5 (1 October 1981) – Frank Carson, Norman Collier, Anita Harris, Ruth Madoc, Patrick Moore, Madeline Smith[47]
  • Show 6 (8 October 1981) – Barry Cryer, Noele Gordon, Larry Grayson, Roz Hanby, Anita Harris, Alfred Marks[48]
  • Show 7 (15 October 1981) – Pat Coombs, Sandra Dickinson, Jack Douglas, Carol Drinkwater, Patrick Moore, Jimmy Tarbuck[49]
  • Show 8 (22 October 1981) – Lorraine Chase, Henry Cooper, Cyril Fletcher, Karen Kay, Beryl Reid, Bernie Winters[50]
  • Show 9 (29 October 1981) – Anita Harris, Lenny Henry, Fred Housego, Maureen Lipman, Dinah Sheridan, Jimmy Tarbuck[51]
  • Show 10 (5 November 1981) – Janet Brown, Frank Carson, Windsor Davies, Shirley Anne Field, Liza Goddard, Pete Murray[52]
  • Show 11 (12 November 1981) – Tony Blackburn, Lorraine Chase, Leslie Crowther, Carol Drinkwater, Mike Reid, Dinah Sheridan[53]
  • Show 12 (19 November 1981) – Patricia Brake, Billy Dainty, Shirley Anne Field, Fred Housego, Roy Hudd, Beryl Reid[54]
  • Show 13 (26 November 1981) – Barry Cryer, Anna Dawson, Sandra Dickinson, Michele Dotrice, Kenny Everett, Patrick Moore[55]
  • Show 14 (3 December 1981) – Judith Chalmers, Leslie Crowther, Carol Drinkwater, David Hamilton, Rula Lenska, Jimmy Tarbuck[56]
  • Show 15 (10 December 1981) – Dawn Addams, Bernie Clifton, Julia McKenzie, Brian Murphy, Derek Nimmo, Tessa Wyatt[57]
  • Show 16 (17 December 1981) – Janet Brown, Billy Dainty, Paul Daniels, Cyril Fletcher, Rula Lenska, Tessa Wyatt[58]

Series 5 (1982)

  • Show 1 (4 September 1982) – Patricia Brake, Carol Drinkwater, Larry Grayson, David Hamilton, Vincent Price, Beryl Reid[59]
  • Show 2 (11 September 1982) – Pat Coombs, Jack Douglas, Kenny Everett, Anita Harris, Patrick Moore, Wendy Richard[60]
  • Show 3 (18 September 1982) – Lorraine Chase, Henry Cooper, Roy Hudd, Nerys Hughes, Gloria Hunniford, Jimmy Tarbuck[61]
  • Show 4 (25 September 1982) – Judith Chalmers, Leslie Crowther, Sandra Dickinson, Ken Dodd, Liza Goddard, Jonathan King[62]
  • Show 5 (2 October 1982) – Tony Blackburn, Sarah Greene, Cyril Fletcher, Anita Harris, Spike Milligan, Beryl Reid[63]
  • Show 6 (9 October 1982) – Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lorraine Chase, Lynsey de Paul, Fred Housego, Ruth Madoc, Bernie Winters[64]
  • Show 7 (16 October 1982) – Tom O'Connor, Dana, Jim Davidson, David Hamilton, Susan Hanson, Gloria Hunniford[65]
  • Show 8 (23 October 1982) – Lynsey De Paul, Fenella Fielding, Clement Freud, John Junkin, Wendy Richard, Ted Rogers[66]
  • Show 9 (30 October 1982) – Barry Cryer, Dana, Kenny Everett, Noele Gordon, Danny La Rue, Maggie Philbin[67]
  • Show 10 (6 November 1982) – Katie Boyle, Frank Carson, Bonnie Langford, Henry McGee, Patrick Moore, Tessa Wyatt[68]
  • Show 11 (13 November 1982) – Floella Benjamin, Lorraine Chase, Norman Collier, Kenny Everett, Patrick Moore, Beryl Reid[69]
  • Show 12 (20 November 1982) – Janet Brown, Suzanne Dando, Sandra Dickinson, Larry Grayson, Lenny Henry, Henry McGee[70]
  • Show 13 (27 November 1982) – Pat Coombs, Ken Dodd, Stu Francis, Nerys Hughes, Roy Kinnear, Tessa Wyatt[71]

Series 6 (1983)

  • Show 1 (3 September 1983) – Windsor Davies, Sandra Dickinson, Kenny Everett, Larry Grayson, Beryl Reid, Anneka Rice[72]
  • Show 2 (10 September 1983) – Russell Grant, Anita Harris, Gloria Hunniford, Roy Kinnear, Wendy Richard, Ted Rogers[73]
  • Show 3 (17 September 1983) – Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lynsey de Paul, Ruth Madoc, Nicholas Parsons, Kathy Staff, Freddie Starr[74]
  • Show 4 (24 September 1983) – Leslie Ash, Dana, Cyril Fletcher, Mike Read, Beryl Reid, Bernie Winters[75]
  • Show 5 (1 October 1983) – Tony Blackburn, Janet Brown, Annabel Etkind, Henry McGee, Ted Rogers, Sheila White[76]
  • Show 6 (8 October 1983) – Lynda Baron, Lorraine Chase, Janet Ellis, Kenny Everett, Russell Grant, Patrick Moore[77]
  • Show 7 (15 October 1983) – Sandra Dickinson, Larry Grayson, Patricia Hayes, Roy Kinnear, Jan Leeming, Bernie Winters[78]
  • Show 8 (22 October 1983) – Joe Brown, Norman Collier, Lynsey De Paul, Gloria Hunniford, Danny La Rue, Wendy Richard[79]
  • Show 9 (29 October 1983) – Floella Benjamin, Barry Cryer, Sabina Franklyn, Patricia Hayes, Roger Kitter, Patrick Moore[80]
  • Show 10 (5 November 1983) – Lorraine Chase, Pat Coombs, Sandra Dickinson, Roy Hudd, John Inman, Derek Nimmo[81]
  • Show 11 (12 November 1983) – Cilla Black, Henry Cooper, Sabina Franklyn, Keith Harris (with Orville the Duck), Lenny Henry, June Whitfield[82]
  • Show 12 (19 November 1983) – Nerys Hughes, Jonathan King, Anneka Rice, Ted Rogers, Wayne Sleep, Sheila Steafel[83]
  • Show 13 (26 November 1983) – Judith Chalmers, Henry Cooper, Sabina Franklyn, Roy Hudd, Diana Moran, Freddie Starr[84]
  • Show 14 (3 December 1983) – Lorraine Chase, Kenny Everett, Noele Gordon, Patrick Moore, Cleo Rocos, Paul Shane

Series 7 (1984)

Series 8 (1985)

Series 9 (1985–86)

Series 10 (1986–87)

Series 11 (1987–88)

Series 12 (1988)

  • Show 1 (9 September 1988) – John Dunn, Henry Kelly, Vicki Michelle, Hilary O'Neil, Wendy Richard, Freddie Trueman[169]
  • Show 2 (16 September 1988) – Lynda Baron, Joe Brown, Eddie the Eagle, Bonnie Langford, Greg Rogers, Rose-Marie[170]
  • Show 3 (7 October 1988) – Floella Benjamin, Nerys Hughes, Ellie Laine, Chris Serle, Paul Shane, Roy Walker[171]
  • Show 4 (14 October 1988) – Christopher Biggins, Gavin Campbell, Su Ingle, Sandy Ratcliff, Claire Rayner, Steve Wright[172]
  • Show 5 (21 October 1988) – Simon Dee, Linda Nolan, Bill Oddie, Judi Spiers, Kathy Staff, Mark Walker[173]
  • Show 6 (28 October 1988) – Rachel Bell, Frank Carson, Suzanne Dando, William Gaunt, Tom Pepper, Sheila Steafel[174]
  • Show 7 (4 November 1988) – Henry Cooper, Debbie Greenwood, Jan Leeming, Phillip Schofield, Dave Lee Travis, June Whitfield[175]
  • Show 8 (11 November 1988) – Brian Blessed, Paul Coia, Doc Cox, Louise Jameson, Rustie Lee, Carmen Silvera[176]
  • Show 9 (25 November 1988) – Vince Hill, Caron Keating, Linda Lusardi, Claire Rayner, Mike Reid, Bill Wiggins[177]
  • Show 10 (2 December 1988) – Geoff Capes, Bernie Clifton, Barry Cryer, Bella Emberg, Debbie McGee, Adrienne Posta[178]
  • Show 11 (9 December 1988) – Lionel Blair, Mark Curry, Lisa Maxwell, Mollie Sugden, Gillian Taylforth, Frankie Vaughan[179]
  • Show 12 (16 December 1988) – Stan Boardman, Jean Boht, John Craven, Peter Goodwright, Aimi MacDonald, Jane Marie Osborne[180]

Series 13 (1989–90)

  • Show 1 (7 September 1989) – Terence Alexander, Cheryl Baker, Gary Davies, Frances Edmonds, Vicki Michelle, Duncan Norvelle[181]
  • Show 2 (14 September 1989) – Rachel Bell, Gyles Brandreth, Buster Merryfield, Maggie Moone, Rose-Marie, Steve Wright[182]
  • Show 3 (21 September 1989) – Trevor Brooking, Joe Brown, Dana, Jimmy Hill, Rustie Lee, Judi Spiers[183]
  • Show 4 (28 September 1989) – Pamela Armstrong, Colin Berry, Rodney Bewes, Paul Shane, Joan Sims, Gillian Taylforth[184]
  • Show 5 (5 October 1989) – Bill Buckley, Jilly Goolden, Henry Kelly, Tom O'Connor, Bertice Reading, Kathy Tayler[185]
  • Show 6 (12 October 1989) – Stan Boardman, Bella Emberg, Diana Moran, Linda Nolan, Dave Lee Travis, John Virgo[186]
  • Show 7 (30 November 1989) – Jill Gascoine, Anne Gregg, Roy Hudd, Ted Robbins, Barbara Shelley, Gary Wilmot[187]
  • Show 8 (7 December 1989) – Jean Alexander, Roy Barraclough, John Conteh, Andy Crane, Louise Jameson, Tessa Sanderson[188]
  • Show 9 (14 December 1989) – Christopher Biggins, Lorraine Chase, Bernard Cribbins, Phillip Schofield, Vivien Stuart, Barbara Windsor[189]
  • Show 10 (21 December 1989) – Ray Clemence, Pat Coombs, Barry Cryer, Derek Hatton, Aimi Macdonald, Lisa Maxwell[190]
  • Show 11 (1 January 1990) – Lynda Baron, William Gaunt, Bonnie Langford, Adrian Mills, Mike Reid, Carmen Silvera[191]
  • Show 12 (8 January 1990) – Frank Carson, Doc Cox, Sharron Davies, Jenny Hanley, Mo Moreland, Kevin Woodford[192]
  • Show 13 (15 January 1990) – Joe Brown, Bernie Clifton, The Krankies, Janice Long, Anthea Turner[193]
  • Show 14 (22 January 1990) – Tina Baker, Bruno Brookes, Pamela Power, Wendy Richard, Frankie Vaughan, Bernie Winters[194]
  • Show 15 (29 January 1990) – Floella Benjamin, Michael Groth, Vince Hill, Sue Lloyd, Gail McKenna, Charlie Williams[195]
  • Show 16 (5 February 1990) – Henry Cooper, Caron Keating, Ellie Laine, Dave Lee Travis, Jeff Stevenson, Mollie Sugden[196]
  • Show 17 (12 February 1990) – Aiden J. Harvey, Nerys Hughes, Debbie McGee, Vicki Michelle, Billy Pearce, Roy Walker[197]
  • Show 18 (26 February 1990) – Lynsey de Paul, Karen Kay, Patrick Macnee, Barry McGuigan, Mick Miller, Linda Thorson[198]
  • Show 19 (5 March 1990) – Gavin Campbell, Julian Clary, Polly James, Danny La Rue, Jane Marie Osborne, Rose-Marie[199]
  • Show 20 (12 March 1990) – John Craven, Mark Curry, Thora Hird, Matthew Kelly, Linda Lewis, Cleo Rocos[200]

Series 14 (1998)

Series 15 (1999)

Series 16 (2001)

Series 17 (2002)

Series 18 (2021)

Series 19 (2022)

Series 20 (2023)

Series 21 (2025)

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Revivals and special editions

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Blankety Blank returned to British screens in November 2004 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. Panelists included David Coulthard, Simon Cowell, Jamie Cullum, Maureen Lipman, Donny Osmond and Barbara Windsor.[citation needed]

In 2006, the show was released as an interactive DVD game, featuring Wogan.[citation needed]

Another one-off edition was shown on 21 April 2007 as part of ITV's Gameshow Marathon hosted by Vernon Kay. Panelists included Fern Britton, Andrew Castle, Lorraine Chase, Joe Pasquale, Vic Reeves and Holly Willoughby.[citation needed]

A one-off edition of the programme was recorded in aid of Comic Relief's 24 Hour Panel People, on 6 March 2011. The recording was broadcast live on the Red Nose Day website and, in an edited version, on BBC Three on 14 March. Paul O'Grady returned as host, this time as himself. Panelists included Keith Harris (with Orville the Duck), George Lamb, Stacey Solomon, David Tennant, David Walliams and Barbara Windsor.[288][289]

On 22 August 2016, it was announced that David Walliams would front a Christmas special on ITV.[2] The episode aired on Christmas Eve from 6.30–7.30pm and had seven panellists instead of the usual six, with the Chuckle Brothers playing together at one position.[290]

On 14 December 2020, it was announced that Bradley Walsh would host a Christmas special on BBC One and the episode aired on Christmas Day from 7.00-7.40pm.[291] At 5.26 million viewers, it was the third most watched Christmas Day programme in the overnight ratings.[292][293][294] This special was so successful that the BBC announced on 30 April 2021 that it had been commissioned for a full series to air on Saturday nights later in the year on BBC One.[295] A further series of 10 episodes (including a Christmas special) had been commissioned for transmission in 2022.[296]

Transmissions

Series

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Christmas specials

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Notes

  1. This depiction of Fremantle although sharing the same ownership, has no connection to their future parent company that would undergo the same name brand in 2018. This depiction of Fremantle was formerly known as Talbot Television before being renamed "Fremantle (UK) Productions Ltd." in 1995, shortened to simply Fremantle when the first Lilly Savage series began.

References

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