Blockbusters (UK game show)
| Blockbusters | |
|---|---|
Title screen for original version of show (1986–93)
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| Also known as | 'All New Blockbusters (2012) |
| Genre | Quiz show |
| Created by |
Steve Ryan Mark Goodson |
| Presented by |
Bob Holness (1983–95) Michael Aspel (1997) Liza Tarbuck (2000–01) Simon Mayo (2012) |
| Theme music composer |
Ed Welch (1983–95, 2000–01) Paul Boross (1997) Rage Music (2012) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 11 (Bob Holness) 1 (Michael Aspel) 1 (Liza Tarbuck) 1 (Simon Mayo) |
| No. of episodes | 1340 (Bob Holness) 60 (Michael Aspel) 100 (Liza Tarbuck) 41 (Simon Mayo) 1541 (Total) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Hector Stewart |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Central in association with Talbot Television and Goodson-Todman Productions (1983–95) Fremantle (UK) (1997) Grundy (2000–01) Thames (2012) |
| Distributor |
ITV Studios FremantleMedia |
| Release | |
| Original network |
ITV (29 August 1983 – 19 May 1993) Sky One (18 April 1994 – 17 February 1995) BBC Two (31 March – 28 August 1997) Sky One (30 October 2000 – 23 March 2001) Challenge (14 May – 3 August 2012) |
| Picture format |
4:3 (1983–2001) 16:9 (2012) |
| Original release | 29 August 1983 – 3 August 2012 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Blockbusters (US version) |
Blockbusters is a British television game show based upon an American game show of the same name in which contestants answer trivia questions to complete a path across or down a game board of hexagons. The programme premiered on 29 August 1983 on ITV and ran for ten series, ending on the ITV network on 19 May 1993. Blockbusters was revived for four additional series, the most recent of which aired on Challenge in 2012.
Blockbusters was created by Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions and originated as an American series in 1980. The UK version was created after Central Independent Television producer Graham C. Williams spotted the show in 1981 and produced a pilot in 1982. The difference was that instead of adults, who appeared on the American edition, the UK edition was produced for sixth formers.
Bob Holness was the original presenter, staying on for the first ten series of the first incarnation and a 1994 revival on Sky One. A 1997 edition featuring adults was produced for one series on BBC Two with Michael Aspel presenting. Sky One brought Blockbusters back under its original rules in 2001 with Liza Tarbuck at the helm, and the Challenge series was presented by Simon Mayo.
The show's first series, in 1983, was recorded at the ATV Elstree Centre (which was still owned by Central until 1984 when it was sold to the BBC). Subsequent series were produced at Central's Lenton Lane Studios in Nottingham; however, at least one season (1989–90) was taped at Central's Birmingham studios. The series was filmed in the summer months over a 6–8 week period, with five episodes being made each day.
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