You Bet!

You Bet!
Genre Game show
Created by Frank Elstner
Presented by Bruce Forsyth (1988–90)
Matthew Kelly (1991–5)
Darren Day (1996–7)
Starring Ellis Ward (1988–91)
Diane Youdale (1996)
Sarah Matravers (1997)
Voices of Bobby Bragg (1996–7)
Composer(s) Alan Lisk (1988)
Jonathan Sorrell (1989–96)
Simon Webb (1997)
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 10
No. of episodes 101 (inc. 5 specials)
Production
Running time 60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production company(s) LWT
Distributor ITV Studios
Release
Original network ITV
Picture format 4:3
Audio format Mono (1988–1991)
Stereo (1991–97)
Original release 20 February 1988 (1988-02-20) – 12 April 1997 (1997-04-12)
Chronology
Related shows Wetten, dass..?
Wanna Bet?

You Bet! was a British game show based around the format of the German show Wetten, dass..? developed by Frank Elstner. You Bet! ran on ITV, mostly on Saturday nights but sometimes on Fridays, between 20 February 1988 and 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 replaced the following year by Don't Try This at Home!, which emulated the challenges of You Bet!, but were considerably more risky and dangerous. A close successor debuted in 2016 with Go for It!

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 studio audience would also place a bet on the outcomes. The panellists would receive points for each outcome they predicted correctly, based on the percentage of the studio audience that also placed a correct bet. The celebrity sponsoring the challenge (see below) always had to bet that their challenger would be successful. 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.

Timeline

1988

Each week there would be four challenges, some in the studio and some on location presented by Ellis Ward. The panellists would each "sponsor" a challenge, and Bruce Forsyth would also sponsor one. If the challenge sponsored by the panellist or Bruce Forsyth was not achieved, that sponsor would have to do a forfeit. (e.g., being a golf caddy or air steward for the day). (In the case of Forsyth's challenge, the majority vote determined Forsyth's prediction; an incorrect prediction forced Forsyth to do his forfeit. His explanation for this part was usually, "You're now betting for the fate of Forsyth in the form of a forfeit. If you're right, I'm alright; but if you're wrong, I'm right in it!") It was either broadcast in the studio on the same show or broadcast on location on the following 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.

The show closed with Forsyth doing the rap: "Do you wanna bet on it? You bet! Do you wanna bet on it? You bet! Don't fret, get set are you ready? You Bet!"

1989–1990

A new theme tune was introduced, composed by Jonathan Sorrell.

Spring 1991

The show made some massive changes due to the departure of Bruce Forsyth. A new logo was introduced, Matthew Kelly stepped up as host to replace Bruce Forsyth. Also, the challenges went up from four to five, which meant that Ellis Ward got involved, with her sponsoring challenges as well. Matthew Kelly also got involved in doing the work on location challenges, as well as Ellis Ward. Finally, if Matthew Kelly's challenge ended in failure, he had to do his forfeit, regardless of the audience's prediction.

Autumn 1991

The show's airing slot was moved from Saturday nights to Friday nights.

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.

1994

The show's airing slot was moved back to Saturday nights.

1995

The show decided there would be no more forfeits for the celebrities and Matthew Kelly when sponsoring their challenges until 1996 when Darren Day planned to take over. Instead, they introduced the celebrity challenge, where the lowest celebrity scorer would do only one forfeit challenge, which would be broadcast the following week's show. The public then got to vote in at home to donate £1,000 to a charity of their choice if the celebrity succeeded or failed the challenge. The set was replaced by a new "arena" that allowed much more floor space for the challenges. Matthew Kelly announced his intention to leave the show and concentrate on hosting Stars in Their Eyes after transmission of Series 8. The viewers' phone vote was dropped after Series 8 was shown.

1996

Actor Darren Day took over as host, and the co-host was reinstated for all the work on the location challenges. For this penultimate 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 in the show.

1997

The show introduced a new item for the celebrities, they could play their YOU BET! BONUS CARD, which meant their points would be doubled if they successfully guessed the outcome of a challenge (which can only be played once in the entire show). The celebrity challenge returned to the show, and the audience got to choose which challenge they would choose for the lowest scoring celebrity at the end of the show from two choices with cryptic clue titles (e.g., "Ooh! That's better!" or "Dangling Down"). Sarah Matravers, well known as a gong girl from Take Your Pick, replaced Diane Youdale as co-host for this final series. A new theme tune was introduced, composed by Simon Webb.

Episodes

The coloured backgrounds denote the result of each of the shows:

     – indicates the celebrity successfully backed their challenge and avoided their forfeit (Series 1-7).
     – indicates the celebrity failed to back their challenge and received their forfeit (Series 1-7).
BOLD - indicates the celebrity scored the most points and received money for their chosen chairty.
ITALIC - indicates the celebrity scored the least points and received a celebrity challenge/forfeit (Series 8-10).

Series 1 (1988)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
1x01 20 February 1988 Dickie Davies Richard Digance Kate Robbins
? ? ?
1x02 27 February 1988 Cheryl Baker Spike Milligan Kenny Sansom
? ? ?
1x03 5 March 1988 Derek Griffiths Nerys Hughes Kenny Lynch
? ? ?
1x04 12 March 1988 Linford Christie Anneka Rice Windsor Davies
? ? ?
1x05 19 March 1988 Ross Davidson Lynsey De Paul Jimmy Hill
203 143 143
1x06 26 March 1988 Sandra Dickinson John Fashanu Gloria Hunniford
? ? ?

Series 2 (1989)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
2x01 28 January 1989 Debbie Greenwood Adrian Moorhouse Harvey Smith
? ? ?
2x02 4 February 1989 Suzanne Dando Brian Johnston Eddie Kidd
? ? ?
2x03 11 February 1989 Wendy Richard Roy Castle David Wilkie
? ? ?
2x04 18 February 1989 Henry Cooper Thora Hird Nino Firetto
? ? ?
2x05 25 February 1989 David Steel Janice Long Dave Beasant
? ? ?
2x06 4 March 1989 Nicky Campbell Jill Gascoine Simon Williams
? ? ?
2x07 11 March 1989 Paul Gascoigne Melvyn Hayes Claire Rayner
? ? ?
2x08 18 March 1989 Bob Holness Suzi Quatro John McCririck
158 266 63
2x09 25 March 1989 Jayne Irving Nicholas Parsons Mark Walker
? ? ?
2x10 1 April 1989 Bruno Brookes Geoff Capes Helen Shapiro
? ? ?

Series 3 (1990)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
3x01 17 February 1990 Duncan Goodhew Sally James Kriss Akabusi
? ? ?
3x02 24 February 1990 Keith Chegwin Lawrie McMenemy Annabel Croft
? ? ?
3x03 3 March 1990 Gary Stretch Fern Britton Sylvester McCoy
? ? ?
3x04 10 March 1990 Sharron Davies John Iles Bob Carolgees
? ? ?
3x05 17 March 1990 Bill Tidy Graeme Garden Floella Benjamin
? ? ?
3x06 24 March 1990 Letitia Dean Barry McGuigan Bobby Davro
? ? ?
3x07 31 March 1990 Alan Freeman Jan Leeming Bob Champion
165 200 146
3x08 7 April 1990 Tessa Sanderson Leslie Crowther Chris Serle
? ? ?
3x09 14 April 1990 Peter Alliss Linda Lusardi James Marcus
? ? ?
3x10 21 April 1990 Carmen Silvera Sean Kerly Trevor Brooking
? ? ?

Series 4 (Spring 1991)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
4x01 16 February 1991 Nick Skelton Vicki Michelle Brian Glover
224 191 224
4x02 23 February 1991 Eric Bristow Gemma Craven David Jensen
166 163 235
4x03 2 March 1991 Annabel Giles Andrew O'Connor Johnny Briggs
176 136 136
4x04 9 March 1991 Dame Hilda Bracket Cliff Thorburn Michaela Strachan
210 159 168
4x05 16 March 1991 Virginia Leng Roy Walker Frank Bruno
125 149 81
4x06 23 March 1991 Liz Hobbs Roger Black Paul Shane
102 203 122
4x07 30 March 1991 Brian Conley Kim Goody Graham Cole
161 177 183
4x08 6 April 1991 Lynda Baron Tracy Edwards Gareth Jones
144 140 145
4x09 13 April 1991 Geoffrey Durham Trudie Goodwin Ian McCaskill
219 270 290
4x10 20 April 1991 John Blashford-Snell Spike Milligan Sheila Ferguson
226 45 153

Series 5 (Autumn 1991)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
5x01 6 September 1991 Keith Chegwin Judi Spiers Barry McGuigan
109 219 263
5x02 13 September 1991 Tessa Sanderson John Virgo Bob Carolgees
208 150 190
5x03 20 September 1991 Ruth Madoc Bruno Brookes Evadne Hinge
220 225 97
5x04 27 September 1991 Willie Thorne Diane Keen Timmy Mallett
244 132 159
5x05 11 October 1991 Fred Trueman Bobby Davro Geoff Capes
241 44 197
5x06 18 October 1991 Bella Emberg Trevor Brooking Lesley Joseph
242 355 169
5x07 25 October 1991 Richard Noble Anne Charleston Pat Sharp
62 148 159
5x08 1 November 1991 Roy Hudd Michael Melia Nerys Hughes
164 167 204
5x09 8 November 1991 Rosie Barnes Dora Bryan John Sachs
109 179 182
5x10 15 November 1991 Craig Charles Mark Wingett Kriss Akabusi
193 225 0

Series 6 (1992)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
6x01 4 September 1992 Henry Cooper Kim Hartman David Lawrence Geoffrey Durham
139 206 120 249
6x02 11 September 1992 Derek Redmond Sarah Kennedy Brian Johnston Sharron Davies
102 104 188 182
6x03 18 September 1992 Jessica Martin Steve Ovett Jack Tinker Annabel Giles
77 250 69 179
6x04 25 September 1992 Jilly Curry Melvyn Hayes Garry Herbert Sally James
60 91 172 140
6x05 2 October 1992 John Regis John Inman Linda Lusardi Gary Mason
197 120 180 149
6x06 10 October 1992 John Conteh Lizzie Webb Kevin Lloyd Floella Benjamin
311 200 227 241
6x07 16 October 1992 Dame Hilda Bracket Ulrika Jonsson Peter Scudamore Ken Morley
263 169 153 233
6x08 23 October 1992 Sandi Toksvig Andrew O'Connor Meryl Streep* Gareth Marriott
240 141 209 233
6x09 30 October 1992 Brian Moore Cheryl Baker Tom O'Connor Liz Kershaw
237 291 174 150
6x10 6 November 1992 Andi Peters Graham Cole Sheila Ferguson Dennis Taylor
231 272 252 272

Christmas Special (1992)

First broadcast Celebrities
26 December 1992 Kriss Akabusi Judi Spiers Annabel Giles Andrew O'Connor
226 304 332 78

Series 7 (1993-4)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
7x01 10 September 1993 Keith Barron Michael Carruth Ross King Les Hill
154 205 192 258
7x02 17 September 1993 Wendy Richard Ben Clarke Vinnie Jones DJ Normski
150 150 273 190
7x03 24 September 1993 Suzanne Dando Eamonn Holmes Geoff Capes Nicola Stapleton
269 135 179 212
7x04 1 October 1993 Paul Ross Bryan Murray Andrew Sachs Ted Robbins
254 180 255 322
7x05 8 October 1993 Anne Charleston Annabel Croft Barry McGuigan Sharon Duce
148 235 290 203
7x06 15 October 1993 Gareth Hunt Ruth Madoc David Jensen Fern Britton
283 294 236 203
7x07 22 October 1993 Paula Hamilton Alan Titchmarsh Bobby Davro James Whale
246 289 279 112
7x08 12 March 1994 Adam Woodyatt Michaela Strachan David Yip Sally Gunnell
61 232 142 232
7x09 19 March 1994 Gary Mason Carol Thatcher Jayne Irving David Hamilton
220 180 232 164
7x10 26 March 1994 Lucinda Green Jeremy Guscott Danniella Westbrook John Inman
222 309 309 146
7x11 2 April 1994 Andrew Mackintosh Gareth Chilcott Liz McColgan Gloria Hunniford
171 179 324 153
7x12 9 April 1994 Victoria Wicks Mark Blundell Valerie Singleton Pat Sharp
268 214 282 282
7x13 16 April 1994 Bob Carolgees Anna Walker Melvyn Hayes Louise Jameson
181 274 220 173
7x14 23 April 1994 Tony Jarrett Mike Gatting Mo Moreland Michael Fish
174 240 195 230
7x15 30 April 1994 Annabel Giles Chris Boardman Nanette Newman Gareth Hunt
126 204 217 164

Celebrity Special (1994)

First broadcast Celebrities
5 March 1994 John Regis Bruno Brookes Emma Forbes Linda Lusardi
198 294 289 150

Series 8 (1995)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
8x01 25 February 1995 Pat Sharp Jean Boht Allan Lamb Sharon Duce
303 148 81 222
8x02 4 March 1995 Bob Carolgees Carol Smillie Mark Blundell Sarah Greene
162 284 271 191
8x03 11 March 1995 Geoff Capes Alan Titchmarsh Willie Thorne Bobby Davro
191 84 84 8
8x04 18 March 1995 Jim Bowen Gemma Craven Gordon Burns John Altman
0 316 291 316
8x05 25 March 1995 James Whale Michaela Strachan Tony Jarrett David Yip
147 351 351 170
8x06 1 April 1995 Bernard Cribbins Mr Motivator Nick Gillingham Ross King
293 159 302 143
8x07 8 April 1995 Jilly Goolden Gareth Chilcott Dale Winton Elizabeth Dawn
303 357 269 129
8x08 15 April 1995 Bruno Brookes Kate Copstick Oliver Skeete Robert Llewellyn
199 114 54 69
8x09 22 April 1995 John Regis Jessica Martin Bobby George Billy Pearce
154 273 216 168
8x10 29 April 1995 Richard Vranch Judi Spiers Tony Hawks Annabel Giles
201 323 241 204

Series 9 (1996)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
9x01 1 June 1996 Joe Pasquale Sonia Evans Sally Meen
73 206 113
9x02 8 June 1996 Caron Keating Vinnie Jones Anthea Turner
192 280 204
9x03 29 June 1996 Anthony McPartlin Declan Donnelly Michelle Collins
168 169 289
9x04 6 July 1996 Ian St John Carol Smillie Kriss Akabusi
135 189 79
9x05 13 July 1996 Terry Christian Samantha Fox Tim Vincent
204 186 264
9x06 20 July 1996 Garry Bushell Dale Winton Wendy Richard
338 305 96
9x07 27 July 1996 Lee Hurst Louise Nurding Paul Ross
187 240 69
9x08 3 August 1996 Billy Pearce Jenny Powell Toby Anstis
214 27 90
9x09 10 August 1996 Johnny Herbert Vanessa Feltz Pat Sharp
290 34 284
9x10 17 August 1996 Carol Vorderman Andrew O'Connor Carolyn Marshall
268 76 118

Series 10 (1997)

Episode First broadcast Celebrities
10x01 8 February 1997 Jonathan Coleman Jenny Powell Ian Wright
186 347 348
10x02 15 February 1997 Teddy Sheringham Wendy Richard Paul Zerdin
135 310 85
10x03 22 February 1997 Kevin Day Gaynor Faye Tim Vincent
349 168 166
10x04 1 March 1997 Garry Bushell Malandra Burrows Paul Ross
292 401 295
10x05 8 March 1997 Sonia Evans John Regis Michelle Collins
318 314 163
10x06 15 March 1997 John Parrott Carol Smillie Duncan Norvelle
133 157 0
10x07 22 March 1997 Anthony McPartlin Declan Donnelly Davina McCall
288 227 207
10x08 29 March 1997 Ainsley Harriott Kim Williams Trevor Brooking
256 380 266
10x09 5 April 1997 Rowland Rivron Dale Winton Clare Buckfield
119 188 326
10x10 12 April 1997 James Crossley Andrea Boardman Ian Walker
279 354 352

Transmissions

Series

Series Start date End date Episodes Presenter
1 20 February 1988 26 March 1988 6 Bruce Forsyth
2 28 January 1989 1 April 1989 10
3 17 February 1990 21 April 1990 10
4 16 February 1991 20 April 1991 10 Matthew Kelly
5 6 September 1991 15 November 1991 10
6 4 September 1992 6 November 1992 10
7 10 September 1993 30 April 1994 15
8 25 February 1995 29 April 1995 10
9 1 June 1996 17 August 1996 10 Darren Day
10 8 February 1997 12 April 1997 10

Specials

Date Entitle
30 August 1991 Series 4 Compilation
18 & 19 July 1992 Telethon Special
26 December 1992 Christmas Special
5 March 1994 Celebrity Special
6 May 1995 5 Minute Recap

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