The Generation Game
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| The Generation Game | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Starring | Bruce Forsyth (1971-1977, 1990-1994) Larry Grayson (1978-1981) Jim Davidson (1995-2002) |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 413 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50/60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Original run | 1971 – 1981, 1990-2002 |
The Generation Game was a British game show produced by the BBC in which four teams of two (people from the same family, but different generations, hence the title of the show) compete to win prizes.
Based on the Dutch TV show Een van de acht ("One of the Eight", the format devised by a Dutch housewife) it was first broadcast in 1971 under the title Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game and ran until 1981 and again from 1990 until 2002.
Contents |
[edit] Hosts
The show has been hosted by Bruce Forsyth (1971-1977,1990-1994), Larry Grayson (1978-1981) and Jim Davidson (1995-2002). Anthea Redfern, Forsyth's then wife, was Bruce's assistant in his 1970s series. Dancer Rosemarie Ford assisted Bruce in his 1990s series. Isla St Clair was Larry Grayson's assistant and Sally Meen, Melanie Stace and Lea Kristensen assisted Jim Davidson.
The show reached it popular peak under the stewardship of Grayson, with audiences of up to over 18 million tuning in Saturday night. (It should be pointed out, in fairness, that viewing figures during its 1979 peak were due to a protracted strike that blacked out the ITV network at the time, effectively meaning the two BBC channels were the only ones the public could watch). The combination of Grayson's camp, characteristically limp-wristed behaviour to Isla St Clair's fresh-faced innocence proved irresistible and became the central plank of the BBC1 Saturday evening schedule. Grayson was loved by the audience for his apparent incompetence and inability to remember what was going on - all of which was carefully contrived by Grayson.
[edit] The Game
There were always eight competitors; hence the catchphrase "Let's meet the eight who are going to generate", used in earlier series by Bruce Forsyth. In the first two rounds, two couples would compete against each other in two games. One of the games usually involved first seeing a skilled professional construct or perform something, such as a potter or a dancer. The contestants would then attempt to do the same thing, and a score would be given by the professional afterwards. The other game usually involved more of a quiz element, such as identifying mystery guests or pieces of music. At the end of each of the first two rounds, the lowest-scoring couple was eliminated.
The two highest scoring couples then competed against each other in the final (or 'End Game' as Larry Grayson called it). This was often a big set-piece performance of some kind; in the series presented by Bruce Forsyth it was usually a drama or farce, in later series usually a musical or dance performance. The couple that scored the highest went through to the final 'conveyor belt'.
At the end of the show, one member (or in later series both members) of the victorious team watched prizes pass by on a conveyor belt, and then won as many of them as could be recalled in a set time. A trademark of the show was that a cuddly toy was always included among the prizes. This led to an affectionate British joke - "Dinner service...fondue set...Cuddly toy! Cuddly toy!", which is often quoted whenever the show is mentioned.
[edit] Catchphrases
The show also introduced a number of catchphrases into British culture, famously Bruce Forsyth's "Didn't he/she do well?", "Let's have a look at the jolly old scoreboard" (later, when the show was revived, Forsyth's assistant was Rosemarie Ford, thus the catchphrase was amended to "What's on the board, Miss Ford?") and, most famously, "Nice to see you, to see you ...", to which the audience would respond with a shout of "Nice!", a catchphrase that Forsyth retains to this day. Grayson supplied his own catchphrases from his act, notably "Shut that Door!", "What a Gay Day!" and "Seems Like a Nice Boy!". Scores were preceded by "What Are the Scores on the Doors?" to which St Clair would reply "The Names on the Frames say..." before giving the scores. Grayson and St Clair apparently had a strong bond; Grayson always referred to her, when introducing her at the start of the show, as "my lovely Isla". Whenever St Clair speaks of the late Grayson - he died in 1995 - it is always with great love and affection. She once referred to them both as being "like a couple of naughty sisters."
[edit] Cancellation
By the early 1980s The Generation Game was being beaten in the ratings by ITV's Game for a Laugh, which had the same producer who had defected. The decision was taken in 1981 not to let the show return in the Autumn 1982 schedule. The producer in question once commented that he had killed his own baby.[citation needed] In his autobiography Bruce, Bruce Forsyth claims that his friend Jimmy Tarbuck was offered the role of host but turned it down as he had already been approached by LWT to host Live From Her Majesty's.
It returned in 1990 with original host Bruce Forsyth, who after moving to ITV was replaced by Jim Davidson. This incarnation was axed in 2002 after again being beaten by ITV in the ratings, this time by Pop Idol.
[edit] Trivia
- Roy Castle once stood in for Bruce in 1975 when he hosted one show while Forsyth was ill. The same thing happened in 1994 when Jim Davidson stood in for Bruce, the year before he became permanent host.
- Paul O'Grady made a pilot edition in 2004/05 which never got aired. O'Grady has said on his show, that he did not like the strenuous tasks it involved, and was "covered in bruises", and told the producers that he did not want to make a series.
- A special version called 'Generation Fame', hosted by Graham Norton and played by celebrity guests, was shown on 31 December 2005. Guests included Davina McCall and Rupert Grint. This was presumably a forerunner of a new series although so far Graham Norton and Paul O'Grady have turned down the show after unsuccessful pilots.
- Before personal problems, Michael Barrymore was rumoured to be taking over the show. According to the "Off the Telly" website, Jim Davidson's competed with Matthew Kelly for the show, with Kelly's response to him "Congratulations, you've got the f***ing Generation Game" next time they met.
