First viewed : 1 September 1984
The autumn schedule began with this new Saturday night quiz show. I remember this with particular affection as it formed part of my Saturday schedule when Dale were playing at home. I'd go to the game then come back for tea, watch this and the following Juliet Bravo , then make my way back to Leeds.
Bob Monkhouse had been poached from ITV and got his name in the title which was fair enough as he was still at the top of his game as a quiz show host with his ad libbing skills and complete control of the floor. Not all his jokes were great but he crammed so many gags in there was always likely to be a good one just round the corner.
Bob's Full House was based on Bingo ( with Bob and some of the contestants using mildly annoying Bingo lingo - "two little ducks" etc ) with four contestants trying to complete their "card" by answering general knowledge questions which were set at quite a high standard compared to shows like Sale of the Century . Contestants could win Generation Game -standard prizes by getting their "Lucky Number" right and the first to a full house got a chance to win a holiday in a solo spot with Bob.
The show ran for 6 seasons until 1990 . It's a measure of Bob's dominance that despite its popularity it's never been revived with anyone else.
My nan was a huge bingo nut (like many women of her age, I expect) and I can clearly remember watching this with her on the Saturday nights my brother and I were dumped with her so my parents could enjoy a night out.
ReplyDeleteI expect the fond memories are a big part of why I always had plenty of respect for Monkhouse - as you say, he knew how to work the format.
'In bingo lingo clickety clicks it's time to take your pick of the six!'
ReplyDeleteWhen UK Gold re-ran Juliet Bravo's weekday afternoons back in the late 90s they would follow it up at teatime with Bob's Full House