First viewed : 1989
This Saturday evening game show was hosted by Noel Edmunds stooge Mike Smith. The creators Jeremy Pascall and Phil Swern had the simple but smart idea of putting Screen Test, Telly Addicts and Pop Quiz together under the one umbrella. It was contested by celebrities with team captains Gloria Hunniford and a relatively restrained Kenny Everett. It was largely clip-based and very similar to Pop Quiz in its construction. I liked it for its unpretentious simplicity, perfect back from the match viewing. I struggle to recall any memorable incident though ( which made Smith the perfect host ).
Nearly everything, I've said above applies to the first three seasons only. Everett's rapidly declining health meant he had to call it a day in 1991 and the producers took the opportunity to "dumb down" the show precipitately. Hunniford went too and now instead of answering questions the four guests had to whistle the theme tune, do a charade or other such tomfoolery. It was hardly highbrow stuff before but at least some intelligence was involved. I saw the first programme and never watched it again. It also had the by-product of ending my crush on Emmerdale's Malandra Burrows ( a guest on that first show ), which had survived that terrible single she made but crumbled to dust at this exposure as a noisy, irritating Scouser.
The final season came to an end in 1996.
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