You Bet!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| You Bet!
|
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Creator(s) | Frank Elstner |
| Starring | Bruce Forsyth (1988-1990), Matthew Kelly (1991-1995), Darren Day (1996-1997) |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 10 |
| No. of episodes | 106 (itnsource.com) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | LWT |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV |
| Picture format | PAL 625, 4:3 |
| Original run | 1988 – 1997 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Wetten, dass..? |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
You Bet! was a British game show based around the format of the German show Wetten, dass..? developed by Frank Elstner. You Bet! ran from 1988 to 1997, initially hosted by Bruce Forsyth from 1988 until 1990, then by Matthew Kelly from 1991 until 1995 and finally by Darren Day until the series ended in 1997. It was produced by LWT for ITV and usually aired on Saturday evenings.
Contents |
[edit] Co-Hosts
The first Co-Host from the early series with Bruce Forsyth was Ellis Ward. She stayed on with Matthew Kelly but left after Series 5.
Then in 1996 to 1997 Darren Day had two co-hosts; in 1996 it was Diane Youdale Mayhew a.k.a 'Jet', originally a favourite from the ITV sports hit series Gladiators but then she went on to Channel 4 to be in the final series as the 'Gamesmistress' in Gamesmaster in 1997 to 1998. The final Co-Host in 1997 was Sarah Matravers.
[edit] Format
A panel of celebrities would bet on the ability of members of the public to achieve unlikely challenges and stunts, which they had usually planned and rehearsed many times, within a limited amount of time. The panellists would receive points for each outcome they predicted correctly, and the studio audience would also bet on the outcomes.
The accumulated total of points achieved by the celebrities would be added to the points totalled by the studio audience, increased several times over, converted into pounds and donated to a charity chosen by the celebrity panellist who had achieved the highest score.
[edit] Original Format
Each week there would be four such challenges (rising to five from Series 4). The panellists would each "sponsor" a challenge and the host, then eventually the co-host would also sponsor one. If the challenge sponsored by the panellist was not achieved, the panellist would have to do a forfeit (e.g., being a golf caddy or air steward for the day). The celebrity introductions were introduced one at a time by the host.
[edit] 1989 Series Changes
A new theme tune and music package was introduced, composed by Jonathan Sorrell. This remained with You Bet! until 1996.
[edit] 1992 Series Changes
The departure of Ellis Ward as co-host led to the number of celebrity guests being increased to from three to four, allowing there to still be five challenges per show.
All challengers now got a You Bet! medal, whether they won or lost.
[edit] 1995 Series Changes
At the start of the new series in 1995, You Bet! decided there will be no more forfeits, Instead they introduced the celebrity challenge, where the lowest celebrity scorer would do a challenge for next week, Then the public got to vote in at home to donate a charity of their choice for £1000 if the celebrity succeeded or failed a challenge. The celebrity introductions were now all in one.
The set, which had been more or less the same since You Bet! began, was replaced by a new "arena" which allowed much more floor space for the challenges. Matthew Kelly announced his intention to leave You Bet! after transmission of Series 8.
[edit] 1996 Series Changes
In 1996 You Bet! had a new host, Darren Day. The celebrity panelists were shortened down to just three, the forfeit remained at the end of the show for the lowest scoring celebrity, but the viewers' phone vote was dropped.
[edit] 1997 Series Changes
1997 was the last series of You Bet!, although this wasn't known until after the series had aired.
Another new set and format was introduced; the celebrities could play their You Bet! bonus card, which meant their points would be doubled if they successfully guessed the outcome of a challenge. But the best of all the audience got to choose which celebrity challenge the lowest scoring celebrity would do at the end of the show, the only problem is...that there will only be two choices with clue titles (e.g - Ooh! That's better! or, Dangling Down. etc.)
New titles and music, composed by Simon Webb, were introduced and gimmicky interactive elements bolted on. As a result the show lost its identity and gasped its last breath.
[edit] Celebrity Guests
[edit] Series 1 - (1988)
Show 1 - Dickie Davies, Richard Digance, Kate Robbins
Show 2 - ?, ?, ?
Show 3 - ?, ?, ?
Show 4 - ?, ?, ?
Show 5 - ?, ?, ?
Show 6 - Sandra Dickinson, John Fashanu, Gloria Hunniford
[edit] Series 2 - (1989)
Show 1 - Debbie Greenwood, Adrian Moorhouse, ?
Show 2 - Michael Barry, Steve Redgrave, Timmy Mallett
Show 3 - Roy Castle, Wendy Richard, David Wilkie
Show 4 - Henry Cooper, Nino Firetto, Thora Hird
Show 5 - David Steel (MP), Janice Long, Dave Beasant,
Show 6 - Nicky Campbell, Jill Gascoigne, Simon Williams
Show 7 - Paul Gascoigne, Claire Rayner, Melvyn Hayes
Show 8 - Bob Holness, John McCririck, Suzi Quatro
Show 9 - Jayne Irving, Nicholas Parsons, Mark Walker
Show 10 - Bruno Brookes, Geoff Capes, Helen Shapiro
[edit] Series 3 - (1990)
Show 1 - Duncan Goodhew, Sally James, Kriss Akabusi
Show 2 - Keith Chegwin, Lawrie McMenemy, Annabel Croft
Show 3 - Fern Britton, Sylvester McCoy, Gary Stretch
Show 4 - ?, ?, ?
Show 5 - Bill Tidy, Graeme Garden, Floella Benjamin
Show 6 - Letitia Dean, Barry McGuigan, Bobby Davro
Show 7 - Alan Freeman, Jan Leeming, Bob Champion
Show 8 - Leslie Crowther Tessa Sanderson, Chris Serle
Show 9 - Peter Alliss, Linda Lusardi, James Marcus
Show 10 - Carmen Silvera, Sean Kerly, Trevor Brooking
[edit] Series 4 - (Early 1991)
Show 1 - Nick Skelton, Vicki Michelle, Brian Glover
Show 2 - ?, ?, ?
Show 3 - Johnny Briggs, Andrew O'Connor, Annabel Giles
Show 4 - ?, ?, ?
Show 5 - ?, ?, ?
Show 6 - ?, ?, ?
Show 7 - ?, ?, ?
Show 8 - ?, ?, ?
Show 9 - ?, ?, ?
Show 10 - ?, ?, ?
[edit] Series 5 - (Autumn 1991)
Show 1 - ?, ?, ?
Show 2 - ?, ?, ?
Show 3 - ?, ?, ?
Show 4 - ?, ?, ?
Show 5 - ?, ?, ?
Show 6 - ?, ?, ?
Show 7 - ?, ?, ?
Show 8 - ?, ?, ?
Show 9 - ?, ?, ?
Show 10 - ?, ?, ?
[edit] Series 6 - (1992)
Show 1 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 2 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 3 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 4 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 5 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 6 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 7 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 8 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 9 - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 10 - ?, ?, ?, ?
[edit] Series 7 - (1993/1994)
Show 1 - Keith Barron, Michael Carruth, Ross King, Les Hill
Show 2 - Wendy Richard, Ben Clarke, Vinnie Jones, Normski
Show 3 - Suzanne Dando, Eamonn Holmes, Geoff Capes, Nicola Stapleton
Show 4 - Paul Ross, Bryan Murray, Ted Robbins, Andrew Sachs
Show 5 - Sharon Duce, Annabel Croft, Anne Charleston, Barry McGuigan
Show 6 - Gareth Hunt, Ruth Madoc, David Jensen, Fern Britton
Show 7 - Paula Hamilton Alan Titchmarsh, Bobby Davro, James Whale
Show 8 - John Regis, Bruno Brookes, Emma Forbes, Linda Lusardi (Celebrity Special)
Show 9 - Adam Woodyatt, Michaela Strachan, David Yip, Sally Gunnell
Show 10 - Gary Mason, Carol Thatcher, Jayne Irving, David Hamilton
Show 11 - Lucinda Green, Jeremy Guscott, Daniella Westbrook, John Inman
Show 12 - Andrew Mackintosh, Gareth Chilcott, Liz McColgan, Gloria Hunniford
Show 13 - Mark Blundell, Valerie Singleton, Victoria Wicks, Pat Sharp
Show 14 - Bob Carolgees, Anna Walker, Melvyn Hayes, Louise Jameson
Show 15 - Tony Jarrett, Mike Gatting, Mo Moreland, Michael Fish
Show 16 - Annabel Giles, Chris Boardman, Nanette Newman, Gareth Hunt
[edit] Series 8 - (1995)
Show 1 - Pat Sharp, Jean Boht, Allan Lamb, Sharon Duce
Show 2 - Bob Carolgees, Carol Smillie, Mark Blundell, Sarah Greene
Show 3 - Geoff Capes, Alan Titchmarsh, Willie Thorne, Bobby Davro
Show 4 - Jim Bowen, Gemma Craven, Gordon Burns John Altman
Show 5 - James Whale, Michaela Strachan, Tony Jarrett, David Yip
Show 6 - Bernard Cribbins, Nick Gillingham, Mr Motivator, Ross King
Show 7 - Jilly Goolden, Gareth Chilcott, Dale Winton, Elizabeth Dawn
Show 8 - Bruno Brookes, Kate Copstick, Oliver Skeete, Robert Llewellyn
Show 9 - John Regis, Jessica Martin, Bobby George, Billy Pearce
Show 10 - Richard Vranch, Judi Spiers, Tony Hawks, Annabel Giles
[edit] Series 9 - (1996)
(Correct for Westcountry TV region - some episodes were re-arranged)
Show 1 - Joe Pasquale, Sonia Evans, Sally Meen
Show 2 - Caron Keating, Vinnie Jones, Anthea Turner
Show 3 - Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, Michelle Collins
Show 4 - Ian St John, Carol Smillie, Kriss Akabusi
Show 5 - Terry Christian, Samantha Fox, Tim Vincent
Show 6 - Garry Bushell, Dale Winton, Wendy Richard
Show 7 - Lee Hurst, Louise Nurding, Paul Ross
Show 8 - Billy Pearce, Jenny Powell, Toby Anstis
Show 9 - Johnny Herbert, Vanessa Feltz, Pat Sharp
Show 10 - Carol Vorderman, Andrew O'Connor, Carolyn Marshall
[edit] Series 10 - (1997)
Show 1 - Jonathan Coleman, Jenny Powell, Ian Wright
Show 2 - Teddy Sheringham, Wendy Richard, Paul Zerdin and Sam
Show 3 - Kevin Day, Gaynor Faye, Tim Vincent
Show 4 - Gary Bushell, Malandra Burrows, Paul Ross
Show 5 - Sonia Evans, John Regis, Michelle Collins
Show 6 - Ainsley Harriot, Kim Williams, Trevor Brooking
Show 7 - Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, Davina McCall
Show 8 - John Parrott, Carol Smillie, Duncan Goodhew
Show 9 - Rowland Rivron, Dale Winton, Clare Buckfield
Show 10 - James Crossley, Andrea Boardman, Ian Walker
[edit] Trivia
Matthew Kelly was involved at every level of the programme, not just studio presenting but going on location to introduce outdoor challenges. He would also escort losing celebrities on their forfeits. This is in marked contrast to Bruce Forsyth, who never left the studio unless he had a forfeit, likewise with Darren Day, who stayed in the studio leaving his two female assistants to do location work.
In 1995 on the first show the second challenge was to name five of Prince's songs, the title of the album, and the year which was released, All four celebrities on the panel predicted 'YES' he'll succeed the challenge, The audience predicted 96% 'YES' and 4% 'NO', Unfortunately the challenger got the final song wrong. Sadly no points were added on the celebrity panel except for the 4% of the audience who had predicted the challenge right to say 'NO'.
Carmen Silvera was the only celebrity to escape her forfeit. She was to have spent a day as a hairdresser's assistant following the failure of the hairdressing challenge she sponsored, but we never saw it, possibly due to Bruce Forsyth's departure.
[edit] Cancellation
At the end of Series 10, Darren Day promised viewers "we'll be back". But it never happened. Thirteen months on, in 1998, new series called Don't Try This At Home appeared.
This programme was more extreme and stunt-based than You Bet!, but two vital clues hinted the new show was an evolution of its forerunner. Darren Day co-hosted with Davina McCall, and the studio floor was remarkably similar to that of You Bet!. Only at this point did LWT admit You Bet! was no more.
