The Generation Game
 "Nice to see you, to see you . . . nice"
In
1971 Bruce Forsyth was offered The Generation Game - the
first show where the public got to perform on prime time Saturday
night television. The popularity increased and by the second
series the viewing figures were at 21 million .
The Generation Game was Based on a Dutch game show
called Een Van De Aacht. Contestants had to dress up, bake
cakes, perform magic acts, do impersonations and much much more
during the game.
Brucie's co-presenter was Anthea Redfern (who he met at a Miss
Lovely Legs competition and married on Christmas Eve 1973) who,
with Bruce, became a major part of British popular culture of the
Seventies.
Bruce and Anthea presided over the fun, and the winning
contestant each week was sent to the conveyor belt to test their
memory and win prizes.
Bruce used to give them loads of clues. EG: If a holiday to
Spain was in the offing he'd say something like "Don't forget
the castanets", and no matter how crap the contestant was,
Bruce would end the segment with "Didn't they do well?"
. . .
Eventually Brucie moved on and Larry Grayson took over
(chatting in innuendo-laced monologues about his friends Everard,
Slack Alice and (his postman) Pop-it-in Pete, while constantly
demanding "shut that door!". Larry was joined by Isla St
Clair.
 Larry
Grayson (pictured at left) was a truly loveable and hilarious
bloke and a very underrated comedian. He added his own humour to
the program with his signature catchphrases such as "What a
Gay Day".
He never tried to imitate Bruce, but mothered his contestants
where Forsyth had cajoled them . The ratings proved that Grayson
was a truly great host - He brought the viewing figures up to 18
million and the show was renamed after him.
Larry made an emotional farewell in 1981 having decided to
retire from television.
He continued his work in pantomimes and
still appeared in occasional Christmas Specials on television. His
last performance was in November 1994 when he appeared in the Royal
Variety Performance in front of the Prince of Wales at the
Dominion Theatre.
Sadly Larry Grayson died on 7 January 1995, aged 71.
 The
Generation Game returned to TV in 1990, once more with Brucie
at the helm (rudder?). Rosemarie Ford starred this time as Bruce's
co-presenter until Bruce left again in 1995.
She decided not to co-present the show when Jim Davidson took
over and went on to work as the presenter of Come Dancing
and Rolf's Amazing World of Animals.
The Generation Game lived on with Davidson (a largely
worthless, arrogant and unlikable British "comedian").
But such great memories: The twirl, the memory test (the conveyor
belt), the cuddly toy (the crap prizes!) and wasn't Anthea Redfern
a real dollybird?
Long live the British variety show royalty of The Generation
Game. (Settle down Davidson, you talentless oik. I'm not
talking about you!).
Life is the name of the game
And I wanna play the game with you
Life can be terribly tame
If you don't play the game with two
Yeah life is a go-as-you-please
And I need some place to go with you
Life can be oh-such-a-tease
If you don't play the game with two
Remember life's a gamble
When choosing partners
you should take good care
To go on nature's ramble
And grab yourself a fair share
Wo-oh there's so much there
Because the name of the game is life
And you may find out some trouble and strife
And you can end up taking all the blame
Cos the name of the game is life
Yeah the name of the game is life
The name of the game is life!
And I wanna play the game with you
"Didn't he do well?"
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