Game for a Laugh
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| Game For A Laugh | |
|---|---|
| Format | Prank Show |
| Presented by | Jeremy Beadle |
| Starring | Henry Kelly Matthew Kelly (no relation) Sarah Kennedy (1981–1984) Martin Daniels Rustie Lee Lee Peck Debbie Rix (1985) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 56 (inc 4 specials) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | LWT |
| Running time | 60mins (inc. commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original run | 26 September 1981 – 23 November 1985 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Beadle's About Surprise, Surprise |
Game For A Laugh was a popular British TV light entertainment show which ran for 56 editions and 4 specials between 26 September 1981 and 23 November 1985, made by London Weekend Television for the ITV network.
Contents |
[edit] Origins
It has been said that the original format was called Gotcha and was designed as a BBC TV series[1] to be presented by Paul Daniels, David Copperfield (the British comedian) and Pamela Stephenson.[2] The pilot show was rejected, allegedly, for being 'too vulgar'. Jeremy Beadle then rewrote the format - with producer Michael Hill in the United States.
According to the show's original producer, Brian Wesley, in his 1982 book on the series, "The Game for a Laugh birthplace was the Hollywood office of producer Michael Hill." Jeremy Beadle and Hill's Los Angeles-based TV production company Hill-Eubanks Group envisaged a show in which "the people were the stars". Hill developed the eventual show with Beadle and with Jeremy Fox, then head of London-based Action Time, and the son of BBC TV executive Sir Paul Fox. Fox then presented the format to LWT. Jeremy Fox also brought to the show a wealth of stunts from Truth or Consequences, a show created by Ralph Edwards Productions in Hollywood from whom LWT bought the rights.[3] At LWT, Head of Light Entertainment Alan Boyd put the finishing touches to it.
[edit] Production
The hosts for its first few series were Beadle, Matthew Kelly, Henry Kelly (no kin) and Sarah Kennedy. When both Kellys and Kennedy left, the hosts were Jeremy Beadle, Martin Daniels (the son of Paul Daniels), Rustie Lee and Lee Peck. The final series was hosted by Beadle, Daniels and Debbie Rix. The show revolved around a variety of practical jokes, either in game-type formats played out within the studio or as often elaborate set-ups on unsuspecting members of the public, either studio-based or shot on location. Each segment would end with the victim being made aware of the joke by a presenter, who would then announce that the person had proved to be "game for a laugh".
The production team for the series overlapped with the later Surprise, Surprise, which was originally a spin-off format from Game For a Laugh, designed by Alan Boyd to comprise the 'surprising', bizarre and humorous 'real people' elements from Game For a Laugh.
[edit] Catchphrase
The series' (rather incomprehensible) catchphrase was spoken by the four presenters at the end of the show - "Join us again next week when we very much hope you'll be..." then each of the four would intone, one by one:
Henry - "Watching us..." Sarah - "Watching you..." Matthew - "Watching us..." Jeremy - "Watching you...." (all) - "GOODNIGHT!"
[edit] Presenters
Although the other presenters went on to other different types of show, Jeremy Beadle went on to present several more practical-joke type shows, including Beadle's About! and became strongly identified with the genre in the UK.
Sarah Kennedy had started her career as a newsreader for BBC Radio 1. She now presents The Dawn Patrol on BBC Radio 2.
Henry Kelly went on to present the BBC TV pan-European quiz Going for Gold. In 2001 it was voted as one of the worst programmes of all time.[4] Kelly is now a Sunday morning presenter on the British radio station Classic FM.
Matthew Kelly started his career as a stooge to Hylda Baker. Dressed in drag, he played Cynthia, whom Hylda was always telling to "be soon".
[edit] Parody
Game for a Laugh was spoofed in Not the Nine O'Clock News, in a sketch showing a man (Rowan Atkinson) returning home from work to find his wife brutally beheaded. He runs out into the street screaming before being approached by the crew who then shout "Game for a Laugh", whereupon they all share the joke, despite the fact that the man's wife is dead.
[edit] Transmissions
[edit] Original series
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 September 1981 | 19 December 1981 | 13 |
| 2 | 11 September 1982 | 4 December 1982 | 13 |
| 3 | 10 September 1983 | 26 November 1983 | 12 |
| 4 | 20 January 1985 | 7 April 1985 | 11 |
| 5 | 12 October 1985 | 23 November 1985 | 7 |
[edit] Specials
| Date | Entitle |
|---|---|
| 25 December 1981 | Christmas Special |
| 11 April 1982 | Easter Special |
| 25 December 1982 | Christmas Special |
| 25 August 1984 | The Best Of Game For A Laugh |
[edit] References
- ^ Hodgson, Martin (31 January 2008). "Jeremy Beadle obituary in Guardian, 31 January 2008". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/31/itv.television. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Game_for_a_Laugh
- ^ Wesley, Brian: "Game for a Laugh" (pub Arrow Books, 1982), page 6
- ^ Deans, Jason (21 August 2006). "The 50 worst ever UK TV shows?". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2006/aug/21/the50worsteveruktvshows.
