The Generation Game

1 9 7 1 - 2 0 0 2 (UK)

"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 Één van de Acht ('One out of eight').  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 he/she/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 was a truly loveable and hilarious bloke and a very underrated comedian. He added his own humor 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 January 7 1995, aged 71.

The Gen 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 has since worked as the presenter of Come Dancing and Rolf's Amazing World of Animals. And so The Generation Game lived on a little longer 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 dolly bird?

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