Family Fortunes
| Family Fortunes | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Presented by |
Bob Monkhouse (1980–3) Max Bygraves (1983–5) Les Dennis (1987–2001) Andy Collins (2002) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 22 |
| No. of episodes | 539 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| Production company(s) |
ATV in association with Talbot Television and Goodson-Todman Productions (1980–2) Central in association with Talbot Television and Goodson-Todman Productions (1982–98) Carlton in association with Pearson Television (1999–2002) |
| Distributor | ITV Studios |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format |
4:3 (1980–2002) 16:9 (2002) |
| Original release | 6 January 1980 – 30 December 2004 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows |
Family Feud All Star Family Fortunes |
Family Fortunes is a British television game show based on the American game show Family Feud. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 30 December 2004, before being revived by the same channel in 2006 under the title of All Star Family Fortunes. The game involves two families providing answers to 'everyday questions' that were surveyed by 100 members of the British public before the show (e.g. 'Name something usually done in the dark') to win cash prizes (and sometimes mystery prizes for giving a correct answer). The top answers to the surveys are displayed on a large electronic board, originally known as "Mr. Babbage", which famously sounds a wrong answer "Eh-uhh" sound effect and its accompanying X to signal the strike, as well as a "ding" for a right answer).
Family Fortunes was first hosted by comedian Bob Monkhouse (1980–83) then by singer and entertainer Max Bygraves (1983–85). After being rested for the whole of 1986, the show returned on 27 June 1987 with Les Dennis as presenter, and had a consistently successful run for the next 15 years. It was then moved out of peak time and became a daily daytime show, hosted by Andy Collins, but it only had a short run in this format before being axed.
In 2006, the series was revived with Vernon Kay as host, and was renamed All Star Family Fortunes, as each team consisted of a celebrity and four family members. The show was also transmitted back to peak time. Prize money goes to a charity of the celebrity's choice, and contestants being either celebrity families, or a group of actors famous for playing a fictional family. Several Christmas specials of All Star Family Fortunes have aired as well.
The most iconic aspects of the show are the large computer screen, named "Mr Babbage" by original host Bob Monkhouse and the famous computerised "Eh-uhh" sound used when wrong answers are given. Both were originally designed to appear high-tech but have since become fondly regarded for being quite the opposite (as compared to the original US Feud, which has used a video board since its 1999 revival). The computer screen name "Mr Babbage" was in recognition to the English mathematician, philosopher, inventor, and mechanical engineer who originated the concept of a programmable computer, Charles Babbage.
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