You Bet!
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| You Bet! | |
|---|---|
| Format | Game show |
| Created by | Frank Elstner |
| Presented by | Bruce Forsyth (1988 - 1990) Matthew Kelly (1991 - 1995) Darren Day (1996 - 1997) |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 10 |
| No. of episodes | 102 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | LWT |
| Running time | 60mins (inc. commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original run | 20 February 1988 – 12 April 1997 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Wetten, dass..? Don't Try This at Home |
| External 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 20 February 1988 to 12 April 1997, initially hosted by Bruce Forsyth from 1988 to 1990, then by Matthew Kelly from 1991 to 1995 and finally by Darren Day from 1996 to 1997. It was produced by LWT for ITV at Shepperton Studios.
Contents |
[edit] Formats
[edit] 1988
The original format was 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. Each week there would be four challenges, some in the studio and some on location done by Ellis Ward. The panellists would each "sponsor" and Bruce Forsyth would also sponsor one. If the challenge sponsored by the panellist, or Bruce Forsyth was not achieved, one of them would have to do a forfeit that they have thought of before the show. (e.g., being a golf caddy or air steward for the day), it was either broadcast in the studio, which will be broadcast on this week's show or broadcast on location, which will be broacast on next week's show. The show dropped the talk show aspects of Wetten, dass...? and concentrated on the challenges, thus reducing the running time from 2 to 3 hours to 1 hour. The original theme tune was composed by Alan Lisk, better known for penning the theme tune to Men Behaving Badly. The show's airing slot was originally on Saturday nights.
[edit] 1989 - 1990
A new theme tune and incidental scores were introduced and it was composed by Jonathan Sorrell.
[edit] Spring 1991
You Bet! made some massive changes due to the depature of Bruce Forsyth. A new logo was introduced with You coloured in red and Bet! coloured in blue. Matthew Kelly stepped up as host to replace Bruce Forsyth, also the challenges rose to five, which meant that Ellis Ward got involved with her sponsoring challenges as well. 6 random forefits were there for the panellists, Ellis Ward or Matthew Kelly to choose from if their challenge sponsor was not achieved, but cryptic clues were written on the 6 forefits to make it more difficult. Matthew Kelly also got involved doing the work on location challenges as well as Ellis Ward.
[edit] Autumn 1991
The show's airing slot was moved from Saturday nights to Friday nights.
[edit] 1992 - 1993
The departure of Ellis Ward as co-host led to the number of celebrity guests being increased from three to four per show and Matthew Kelly doing all the work on location challenges.
[edit] 1994
The show's airing slot was moved back to Saturday nights.
[edit] 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, which will be broadcast for next week's show, 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 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! and concentrate on hosting Stars in Their Eyes after transmission of Series 8. The viewers' phone vote was dropped after Series 8 was shown.
[edit] 1996
You Bet! was returned to the way it was, with 3 celebrity panalists, actor Darren Day took over as host and the return of the co-host for all the work on the location challenges, for this penultimute series it was Diane Youdale, better known as Jet from the UK series of Gladiators, the forfeits also returned to the show but they were not chosen by the celebrity guests, they were automatically chosen by the crew at the end of each show for the celebrity who got the lowest score throughout the show.
[edit] 1997
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. The celebrity challenge returned to the show and the exciting part of this series is the audience got to choose which challenge they would choose for the lowest scoring celebrity at the end of the show, the only problem is...that there will only be two choices with cryptic clue titles (e.g - Ooh! That's better! or, Dangling Down. etc.) Sarah Matravers replaced Diane Youdale as co-host for this final series, who is well known as a gong girl from Take Your Pick. The new theme tune was composed by Simon Webb.
[edit] Celebrity Guests
[edit] Series 1 - (1988)
Show 1 (20/02/1988) - Dickie Davies, Richard Digance, Kate Robbins
Show 2 (27/02/1988) - Martin Francis, ?, ?
Show 3 (05/03/1988) - ?, ?, ?
Show 4 (12/03/1988) - ?, ?, ?
Show 5 (19/03/1988) - Lynsey De Paul, Nick Martin ?
Show 6 (26/03/1988) - Sandra Dickinson, John Fashanu, Gloria Hunniford
[edit] Series 2 - (1989)
Show 1 (28/01/1989) - Debbie Greenwood, Adrian Moorhouse, ?
Show 2 (04/02/1989) - Michael Barry, Steve Redgrave, Timmy Mallett
Show 3 (11/02/1989) - Roy Castle, Wendy Richard, David Wilkie
Show 4 (18/02/1989) - Henry Cooper, Nino Firetto, Thora Hird
Show 5 (25/02/1989) - David Steel (MP), Janice Long, Dave Beasant,
Show 6 (04/03/1989) - Nicky Campbell, Jill Gascoigne, Simon Williams
Show 7 (11/03/1989) - Paul Gascoigne, Claire Rayner, Melvyn Hayes
Show 8 (18/03/1989) - Bob Holness, John McCririck, Suzi Quatro
Show 9 (25/03/1989) - Jayne Irving, Nicholas Parsons, Mark Walker
Show 10 (01/04/1989) - Bruno Brookes, Geoff Capes, Helen Shapiro
[edit] Series 3 - (1990)
Show 1 (17/02/1990) - Duncan Goodhew, Sally James, Kriss Akabusi
Show 2 (24/02/1990) - Keith Chegwin, Lawrie McMenemy, Annabel Croft
Show 3 (03/03/1990) - Gary Stretch, Fern Britton, Sylvester McCoy
Show 4 (10/03/1990) - ?, ?, ?
Show 5 (17/03/1990) - Bill Tidy, Graeme Garden, Floella Benjamin
Show 6 (24/03/1990) - Letitia Dean, Barry McGuigan, Bobby Davro
Show 7 (31/03/1990) - Alan Freeman, Jan Leeming, Bob Champion
Show 8 (07/04/1990) - Leslie Crowther, Tessa Sanderson, Chris Serle
Show 9 (14/04/1990) - Peter Alliss, Linda Lusardi, James Marcus
Show 10 (21/04/1990) - Carmen Silvera, Sean Kerly, Trevor Brooking
[edit] Series 4 - (Spring 1991)
Show 1 (16/02/1991) - Nick Skelton, Vicki Michelle, Brian Glover
Show 2 (23/02/1991) - Gemma Craven, ?, ?
Show 3 (02/03/1991) - Johnny Briggs, Andrew O'Connor, Annabel Giles
Show 4 (09/03/1991) - Dame Hilda Bracket, Cliff Thorburn, Michaela Strachan
Show 5 (16/03/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 6 (23/03/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 7 (30/03/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 8 (06/04/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 9 (13/04/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 10 (20/04/1991) - Colonel John Blashford Snell, Sheila Ferguson, ?
[edit] Series 5 - (Autumn 1991)
Show 1 (06/09/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 2 (13/09/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 3 (20/09/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 4 (27/09/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 5 (11/10/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 6 (18/10/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 7 (25/10/1991) - Trevor Brooking, Bella Emberg, Lesley Joseph
Show 8 (01/11/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 9 (08/11/1991) - ?, ?, ?
Show 10 (15/11/1991) - ?, ?, ?
[edit] Series 6 - (1992)
Show 1 (04/09/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 2 (11/09/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 3 (18/09/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 4 (25/09/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 5 (02/10/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 6 (10/10/1992) - ?, ?, ?, Floella Benjamin
Show 7 (16/10/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 8 (23/10/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 9 (30/10/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
Show 10 (06/11/1992) - ?, ?, ?, ?
[edit] Series 7 (Pt. 1) - (1993)
Show 1 (10/09/1993) - Keith Barron, Michael Carruth, Ross King, Les Hill
Show 2 (17/09/1993) - Wendy Richard, Ben Clarke, Vinnie Jones, DJ Normski
Show 3 (24/09/1993) - Suzanne Dando, Eamonn Holmes, Geoff Capes, Nicola Stapleton
Show 4 (01/10/1993) - Paul Ross, Bryan Murray, Ted Robbins, Andrew Sachs
Show 5 (08/10/1993) - Sharon Duce, Annabel Croft, Anne Charleston, Barry McGuigan
Show 6 (15/10/1993) - Gareth Hunt, Ruth Madoc, David Jensen, Fern Britton
Show 7 (22/10/1993) - John Regis, Bruno Brookes, Emma Forbes, Linda Lusardi (Celebrity Special)
[edit] Series 7 (Pt. 2) - (1994)
Show 8 (05/03/1994) - Paula Hamilton, Alan Titchmarsh, Bobby Davro, James Whale
Show 9 (12/03/1994) - Adam Woodyatt, Michaela Strachan, David Yip, Sally Gunnell
Show 10 (19/03/1994) - Gary Mason, Carol Thatcher, Jayne Irving, David Hamilton
Show 11 (26/03/1994) - Lucinda Green, Jeremy Guscott, Daniella Westbrook, John Inman
Show 12 (02/04/1994) - Andrew Mackintosh, Gareth Chilcott, Liz McColgan, Gloria Hunniford
Show 13 (09/04/1994) - Mark Blundell, Valerie Singleton, Victoria Wicks, Pat Sharp
Show 14 (16/04/1994) - Bob Carolgees, Anna Walker, Melvyn Hayes, Louise Jameson
Show 15 (23/04/1994) - Tony Jarrett, Mike Gatting, Mo Moreland, Michael Fish
Show 16 (30/04/1994) - Annabel Giles, Chris Boardman, Nanette Newman, Gareth Hunt
[edit] Series 8 - (1995)
Show 1 (25/02/1995) - Pat Sharp, Jean Boht, Allan Lamb, Sharon Duce
Show 2 (04/03/1995) - Bob Carolgees, Carol Smillie, Mark Blundell, Sarah Greene
Show 3 (11/03/1995) - Geoff Capes, Alan Titchmarsh, Willie Thorne, Bobby Davro
Show 4 (18/03/1995) - Jim Bowen, Gemma Craven, Gordon Burns John Altman
Show 5 (25/03/1995) - James Whale, Michaela Strachan, Tony Jarrett, David Yip
Show 6 (01/04/1995) - Bernard Cribbins, Nick Gillingham, Mr Motivator, Ross King
Show 7 (08/04/1995) - Jilly Goolden, Gareth Chilcott, Dale Winton, Elizabeth Dawn
Show 8 (15/04/1995) - Bruno Brookes, Kate Copstick, Oliver Skeete, Robert Llewellyn
Show 9 (22/04/1995) - John Regis, Jessica Martin, Bobby George, Billy Pearce
Show 10 (29/04/1995) - Richard Vranch, Judi Spiers, Tony Hawks, Annabel Giles
[edit] Series 9 - (1996)
(Correct for Westcountry TV region - some episodes were re-arranged)
Show 1 (01/06/1996) - Joe Pasquale, Sonia Evans, Sally Meen
Show 2 (08/06/1996) - Caron Keating, Vinnie Jones, Anthea Turner
Show 3 (29/06/1996) - Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, Michelle Collins
Show 4 (06/07/1996) - Ian St John, Carol Smillie, Kriss Akabusi
Show 5 (13/07/1996) - Terry Christian, Samantha Fox, Tim Vincent
Show 6 (20/07/1996) - Garry Bushell, Dale Winton, Wendy Richard
Show 7 (27/07/1996) - Lee Hurst, Louise Nurding, Paul Ross
Show 8 (03/08/1996) - Billy Pearce, Jenny Powell, Toby Anstis
Show 9 (10/08/1996) - Johnny Herbert, Vanessa Feltz, Pat Sharp
Show 10 (17/08/1996) - Carol Vorderman, Andrew O'Connor, Carolyn Marshall
[edit] Series 10 - (1997)
Show 1 (08/02/1997) - Jonathan Coleman, Jenny Powell, Ian Wright
Show 2 (15/02/1997) - Teddy Sheringham, Wendy Richard, Paul Zerdin and Sam
Show 3 (22/02/1997) - Kevin Day, Gaynor Faye, Tim Vincent
Show 4 (01/03/1997) - Gary Bushell, Malandra Burrows, Paul Ross
Show 5 (08/03/1997) - Sonia Evans, John Regis, Michelle Collins
Show 6 (15/03/1997) - Ainsley Harriot, Kim Williams, Trevor Brooking
Show 7 (22/03/1997) - Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, Davina McCall
Show 8 (29/03/1997) - John Parrott, Carol Smillie, Duncan Goodhew
Show 9 (05/04/1997) - Rowland Rivron, Dale Winton, Clare Buckfield
Show 10 (12/04/1997) - 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 1991 on the seventh show, the third challenge was to name 25 steam locomotives, the museum they are preserved at today, and the railway company originally used for. 98% of the audience voted yes, and all three celebrities, including sponsor Trevor Brooking, who confessed to being a "bus spotter" as a child. Matthew Kelly emerged after the break in a miniature sized steam locomotive model complete with puffing smoke. The original challenge was scheduled to be completed in two minutes, however during rehearsal this was increased to three minutes, due to the excess of information to be relayed and the challenger to announce this clearly on television. In event the challenge was completed in 2 minutes during the live performance.
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.
In 1997, Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly and Davina McCall all appeared on Episode 7 in the last ever series. Little did they know that 10 years later, all three were, and still are, the most sought after and highly regarded TV presenters on British TV, who at some point since in their careers have presented prime time Saturday night television on ITV. Ant & Dec also went on to present an American version of the show in 2008 on ABC.[1]
[edit] Cancellation
At the end of Series 10, Darren Day promised viewers "we'll be back". But it never happened. Just over a year later, 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.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- You Bet! at UKGameshows.com
