The first edition of game show Blankety Blank was broadcast on 18 January 1979. It was presented by the affable Terry Wogan, working with a strange wand-like microphone.
Although there was a US game show called Blankety Blanks, the British version was in fact closely based on another American programme, The Match Game. However with Wogan's self-deprecating wit sparring with the guests and playing on the cheap nature of Blankety Blank - the grand prize on the first episode was a fridge freezer – a durable British hit was born.
Contestants on Blankety Blank had to fill in the missing word in a phrase, and match them with the answers given by a panel of six celebrities. On the first show the celebrities were George Baker, Wendy Craig, Bill Tidy, Judy Cornwell, Lenny Bennett, and Lorraine Chase. The winning contestant went onto the Supermatch Game - revealed by the revolving set which also took away the losers. The consolation prize was a silver Blankety Blank cheque book and pen.
Les Dawson took over as host of Blankety Blank in 1984 - ceremonially breaking the wand microphone on his first appearance - and gave the programme a fresh lease of life. The show was revived in 1997, fronted by Lily Savage.
January anniversaries
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1 January 1970
The Brains Trust
1 January 1941
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1 January 1951
Z Cars
2 January 1962
