Blind Date (UK TV series)

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Blind Date (UK)
Format	Dating
Starring	Cilla Black Graham Skidmore (voiceover) Tommy Sandhu (voiceover)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	18
No. of episodes	356
Production
Producer(s)	London Weekend Television
Running time	60mins (inc. comms)
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV
Picture format	4:3 (1985 - 2000) 16:9 (2001 - 2003)
Original run	30 November 1985 – 12 April 2003
Chronology
Related shows	Blind Date (US version)

Blind Date is a British dating game show produced by ITV contractor London Weekend Television. Although an unscreened pilot was made with comic Duncan Norvelle as presenter,^[1] it was eventually hosted by Cilla Black, who already hosted the successful LWT series Surprise, Surprise, and ran from 30 November 1985 to 12 April 2003.

Contents 1 Format 2 Production 3 Popularity 4 Cancellation 5 Famous contestants 6 Transmissions 6.1 Original series 6.2 Specials 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Format

The show had a format similar to the TV show known in Australia as Perfect Match or as The Dating Game. Three singles of the same sex were introduced to the audience. They were then asked questions by a single of the opposite sex, who could hear but not see them, in order to choose which one he or she would prefer to go on a date with. Before making a final decision the mysterious 'Graham' (replaced on the final series of the show by Tommy Sandhu), who was never seen, would give an amusing reminder of each of the contestants. When he or she made a choice, and been introduced, the couple would then get to randomly choose where they would go on the date (though in fact the "random choice" was fixed, as all of the envelopes offered to the contestants contained the same destination). The following episode then showed the film of the couple as they went on their date, and interviews with them about the date and about each other. This version was aimed at a family audience. The locations for the date ranged greatly, from Bognor Regis, or a date in an ice cream factory as a typical example, to exotic locations such as Anguila or the Maldives. Part of the process was watching the anticipation and reaction of the contestants when their date was announced.

[edit] Production

A first pilot was shot in early 1985 fronted by gay comedian Duncan Norvelle. It was reported that both John Birt, LWT's Director of Programmes and the IBA regulatory body had reservations about Norvelle's camp style in a dating show. Meanwhile, Cilla Black had seen The Dating Game in the US and enthused about it to LWT's Alan Boyd, who produced her Surprise, Surprise series and who had made the Norvelle pilot. After two more pilots starring Cilla, the series was commissioned.^[1]

[edit] Popularity

At its height of popularity in the 1980s, 14 million viewers tuned in on a Saturday night. Cilla's Scouse accent and her variety of catchphrases soon became familiar throughout the UK.

[edit] Cancellation

The series ended in 2003 when, during the first episode of the series - the first in the show's history to be broadcast live - Cilla Black announced she was quitting the show. The production crew had not even been told this prior to the show themselves. Production of the show was halted after the series ended; Trisha Goddard, Dale Winton, Paul O'Grady, Ant and Dec, Claire Sweeney and Jerry Springer were all rumoured to be in line for her replacement, but subsequently, the show was cancelled, as it was felt that Cilla was irreplaceable as the show's host, having hosted it from its inception and having made it her own. However, the station then briefly aired a similar show hosted by Davina McCall, called Love on a Saturday Night.

[edit] Famous contestants

Blind Date has featured a number of celebrities who appeared on the show before they became well-known. These include actress Amanda Holden (appeared in 1990), children's TV presenter Ortis Deley (1995) and breakfast television presenter Jenni Falconer (1994). There was also a Comic Relief special in 1993 where Mr. Bean goes on the show. This episode featured Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean, Barbara Durkin as Tracy, Mr. Bean's date and Cilla herself.

[edit] Transmissions

[edit] Original series

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	30 November 1985	11 January 1986	7
2	30 August 1986	6 December 1986	15
3	5 September 1987	26 December 1987	17
4	3 September 1988	24 December 1988	17
5	16 September 1989	27 January 1990	20
6	29 September 1990	2 February 1991	19
7	7 September 1991	11 January 1992	19
8	10 October 1992	27 February 1993	21
9	18 September 1993	15 January 1994	18
10	1 October 1994	25 February 1995	22
11	16 September 1995	24 February 1996	24
12	28 September 1996	8 March 1997	24
13	20 September 1997	14 March 1998	26
14	21 November 1998	15 May 1999	24
15	20 November 1999	13 May 2000	24
16	18 November 2000	12 May 2001	24
17	10 November 2001	30 March 2002	21
18	12 October 2002	12 April 2003	26

[edit] Specials

Date	Entitle
29 July 1989	Best of Blind Date 1
22 September 1990	Best of Blind Date 2
9 February 1991	Best of Blind Date 3
20 October 1991	Blind Date Wedding
18 July 1992	Blind Date Telethon Special
12 February 1994	Blind Date Wedding & best of the rest
31 December 1994	Tenth Anniversary Show
6 September 1997	Blind Date Exclusive
21 March 1998	Blind Date Classics
20 June 1999	Blind Date Wedding 1998

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• "Blind Date". http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/index.php?title=Blind_Date.  at UKGameshows.com
• Blind Date (UK) at the Internet Movie Database
• Blind Date (UK TV series) at the BFI's Screenonline