Les Dennis - Biography - IMDb Les Dennis Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (3) | Trivia (10) Overview (3) 5' 9" (1.75 m) Mini Bio (1) Les Dennis was born on October 12, 1954 in Liverpool, England as Leslie Dennis Heseltine. He is an actor, known for Coronation Street (1960), Intimate Relations (1996) and The Laughter Show (1984). He has been married to Claire Nicholson since November 23, 2009. They have one child. He was previously married to Amanda Holden and Lynne Heseltine. Spouse (3) (? - 1990) (divorced) (1 child) Trivia (10) He is the third regular presenter of Family Fortunes (1980) after Bob Monkhouse and the second longest host since Bob Monkhouse . The last two presenters were Bob Monkhouse and Max Bygraves . He entertained with Bobby Davro on An Audience with Cliff Richard (1999).

In May 2000, he split up with his wife Amanda Holden after seeing her spending the vacation with Neil Morrissey in a newspaper. However, after a while, they went back together, but just to see if it can work out between them, too. Was part of a comedy due with the late Dustin Gee He announced in December 2002 that his marriage to actress Amanda Holden had ended after seven years. Speculation had been rife in the UK media that the couple's relationship was in difficulty, following Holden's failure to greet him on his eviction from the Celebrity Big Brother (2001) house. He was a guest call taker for the phone lines of the donations to The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday: Live (2006). His fiancée Claire Nicholson gave birth to their first child together, daughter Eleanor Grace Heseltine on April 24th 2008 in London. She weighed 8 lbs, 11 oz. Played "Mr. Owen", a man overcoming cancer in the 2009 short film Waiting in Rhyme (2009). ITV News called the film a 15 minute masterpiece.

31st January Is the MC (Master of Ceremonies) at the Ultra Blaze Scifi convention (Ipswich, England) [January 2009] [Stage 2011] Les Dennis once again came forward to support UK cancer charities by appearing in the uplifting stage show Survive! A Davey/Price Production at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham, the cast included Hannah Waterman, Sarah Manners, Jean Boht, Guy Henry, Emma Stephens, Vicky Hall and The West End Gospel Choir. See also Les Dennis - TV Celebrities - ShareTV BIOGRAPHY: TRIVIA: He is the third regular presenter of _"Family Fortunes" (1980)_ (qv) after 'Bob Monkhouse' (qv) and the second longest host since 'Bob Monkhouse' (qv). The last two presenters were 'Bob Monkhouse' (qv) and 'Max Bygraves' (qv). His fianc�e Claire Nicholson gave birth to their first child together, daughter Eleanor Grace Heseltine on April 24th 2008 in London. She weighed 8 lbs, 11 oz.

Was part of a comedy due with the late 'Dustin Gee' (qv) Played "Mr. Owen", a man overcoming cancer in the 2009 short film _Waiting in Rhyme (2009) (V)_ (qv). ITV News called the film a 15 minute masterpiece. He was a guest call taker for the phone lines of the donations to _The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday: Live (2006) (TV)_ (qv). He entertained with 'Bobby Davro' (qv) on _An Audience with Cliff Richard (1999) (TV)_ (qv). (December 2002)- He announced that his marriage to actress 'Amanda Holden (I)' (qv) had ended after seven years. Speculation had been rife in the UK media that the couple's relationship was in difficulty, following Holden's failure to greet him on his eviction from the _"Celebrity Big Brother" (2001)_ (qv) house.

In May 2000, he split up with his wife 'Amanda Holden (I)' (qv) after seeing her spending the vacation with 'Neil Morrissey (I)' (qv) in a newspaper. However, after a while, they went back together, but just to see if it can work out between them, too.

Related sites for this celeb Family Fortunes - UKGameshows Family Fortunes Vernon Kay (All Star Family Fortunes, 2006-present) Co-hosts Peter Dickson (2nd time, 2005 special) Lisa I'Anson (2006) Peter Dickson (3rd time, 2007-present) Broadcast ATV for ITV, 6 January 1980 to 4 September 1982 (81 episodes in 3 series) Central for ITV, 31 December 1982 to 18 June 1999 (329 episodes in 15 series) Carlton for ITV, 25 September 1999 to 30 December 2004 (130 episodes in 4 series + 14 unaired) Granada and Thames for ITV1, 29 October 2005 ( Gameshow Marathon one-off) All Star Family Fortunes Carlton for ITV, 1 June to 6 July 2001 (6 episodes in 1 series) TalkbackThames for ITV1, 28 October 2006 to 25 December

 2011 (74 episodes in 6 series) Thames for ITV1, 11 February 2012 to present Synopsis Take two families, a large game board which looked like it was brought from a dodgy salesman at a bargain price, a host who could do an impression of Mavis from Coronation Street and questions supplied by the public in specially commissioned surveys.

Max Bygraves, host of the second incarnation. Then sit back and watch the 'fun' in the peak years of what was one of television's highest rated and longest running game shows, Family Fortunes. Third host Les Dennis with Mr.Babbage As Paul Merton said in Have I Got News for You - "they'll get asked to name something with a motor in it and they'll say something like... 'a cat' " and it was so true! 100 people were polled on a innocuous question such as Name something you do in bed, and a person from each family hit a buzzer and guessed as to what the public might have said. The buzz-off for control of the board If it wasn't the top answer then the opposing team were allowed to guess. Whoever had the most popular answer got to take the question for their team (they could pass it if they wanted, but that was a rare occurrence). The rest of the family then took it in turns to guess answers until they got three incorrect guesses (as represented by a cross and a UH-UHHHHH! sound). The game board If the opposing team then guessed an answer not yet found they won the money (a pound for every person that replied to that answer).

If not, any found money went to the first team. After the break they played for Double Money. You're probably intelligent enough to guess what happened there. The set as seen in 1999 The family who first made £300 went through to the final round where the excitement peaked (apparently) when the family with the most points selected two members of the family to play a fast money game against the clock- yes, it was time for Biiiig Money! (At least, Max Bygraves enjoyed whipping it up in that way, but the other hosts didn't tend to make such a big deal of it, except for reminding the contestants of the money - and possibly car or holiday - they could win). A contestant plays the end game It was a nice gentle show with a lot of humour in it, and there was some evolution of the format near the end - particularly the chance to win a car (and later a holiday) if you found all five top answers in the end game. But as the millennium approached we thought couldn't ITV be a bit braver and try something new for a change instead of cranking out yet another series? Come in number 5, your time is up.

Then, in 2002, the show moved to daytime. Les Dennis left, knowing that this was going to be the final nail in the coffin for the show, and the oh-so-famous Andy Collins became the new host. Ratings were unspectacular, and one of ITV's longest running institutions disappeared with a whimper at the end of the year. Fourth host Andy Collins . Whatever happened to him? All Star Family Fortunes After a successful run out as part of Antandec's Gameshow Marathon , 2006 saw celebrity editions with stars playing with their real-life less glamourous relatives. The changes to the game were subtle but noticeable: Mr Babbage had been given a large shot of Technicolor Botox; the new title sequence is as camp as you like; there's a special reveal for announcing the top answer in Big Money; the game now ends after four rounds (two Single Money, two Double Money) regardless of the scores. Vernon Kay is affable if too shouty as a host. There's a lot to commend this fresh remake but some polishing would not go amiss either. Key moments The famous UK Game Show Page cockups list!

A fairly comprehensive list of the hilarious wrong answers produced by some contestants over the years can be found here! Many were featured on two programmes entitled 'Family Misfortunes', in which Les Dennis showed footage of these answers and spoke to some of the families involved, who were in the audience. Bob Monkhouse and the rather aptly named 'Thicke Family' in 1980: (GAME BEGINS) Family Member 1 (Liam): "Sky" Bob: "Top answer!, play or pass?" Family Member 2 (Liam's Mother): We'll play! Bob: "Name something blue..." Family Member 2: "We've already answered that one!" (PAUSE) Bob explains the rules of the game. Bob: "Name something blue..." Family Member 2: "My cardigan" Bob: (looking gobsmacked) "Let's see if it's up there!" (UH UHH!) Les's catchphrase of "if it's up there, I'll give you the money meself" backfired on at least two memorable occasions. One of the questions was "Name a way of toasting someone"; the contestant buzzed in with the answer "over a fire"!

Cue huge laughs from the audience and Les making his promise... only to find that it was the 6th most popular answer and 12 people had said it - yes, the people surveyed could quite often come up with answers just as bizarre as the contestants did! Once Les had shouted "Oh no!" he looked at the board, shook hands with the contestant and laughed his way through the words "I owe you twelve pounds!". The woman in question appeared in the audience of the retrospective show Family Misfortunes where Les asked her to confirm that he wrote her a cheque for £12 after the recording. She confirmed that Les had indeed done this...but then admitted to losing the cheque a few days later! The second occasion involved a contestant who had faced the question, "Name something that a dog can do that you wish you could?" and she came out with, "Wee in the street". Les once again promised to give her the money himself if it was there - and it was the 4th most popular answer (or "Wee in public", to be more precise). On this occasion, Les claimed that he was like the Queen - he never carried money - so he'd pay up after the show.

In the Bygraves years, one man (the late Bob Johnson) managed to answer "turkey" for the first three answers in the end game, running out of time before he answered the last two. Certainly, eyebrows were raised when he answered "turkey" to the question "Name something people take with them to the beach." Then he said the same thing for "The first thing you buy in a supermarket" and "A food often stuffed". Thinking of "a famous snooker player", he repeated the answer already given (Higgins) and eventually ran out of time, scoring a grand total of 21 for his contributions, all of which came from correctly answering question 3. The story - as given by his family in the documentary Our Survey Said - goes that he overheard 'chicken' as the answer to the third question, and he got it into his head that if 'chicken' had worked, then surely 'turkey' must be one of the answers as well! Give him his due, though: "turkey" and "chicken" actually were two good answers to the same question - the only problem was that he failed to spot which question it was, or more to the point, wasn't.

Another theory (which sounds suspiciously like someone being creative after the fact) goes that Johnson had meant to say 'turkish towel' as his first answer, but got stuck on his nerves and ended up coming out with 'turkey' for those first three answers. Other people seeing the clip out of context (thanks to Denis Norden in the first instance, and YouTube later on) have assumed that "turkey" was the first thing that came into his head because that was the destination of the prize holiday, but actually the reference (after Bob gave his answers) to "two weeks in Turkey" was just Max riffing - holidays were awarded on later series, but not on Bygraves' watch. In any case, it's certainly become one of the show's, and television in general's, most famous (or should we say infamous?) bloopers. The man who talked turkey, literally According to the excellent 'Gameshow Handbook' by David N Mason, there was a further twist to this episode. Mrs Johnson went up to Max after the recording and asked him how much money he'd take not to broadcast the show. Max duly consulted William G. Stewart , the producer, who asked her how much she had in mind.

She said, "£100" and Stewart then had to explain that a single edition of the show cost £38,000 to mount. She wisely decided not to pursue the matter further! Les having great fun with 'the Dicks' in 1998. "So you're the head of the family, that makes you, the, er..." Catchphrases (Monkhouse era) "The question will appear at the bottom of the screen for viewers who are hard of hearing" "Top [six] answers on the board" "Let's see if it's up there!" "Rejoin your family - no conferring - but the (whichever) family, think of some answers in case you get a chance to steal..." (Max Bygraves): "Biiiig Moooney!" (Les Dennis): "If that answer's there, I'll give you the money meself" "The top answer was..." "You said (whatever), our survey said...." "We asked 100 people to name...." (Before the endgame): (Max): "Join me front and centre, please" and (Les): "Join me at the mike".

"Right - (whoever) - you're going to play first - and (whoever), go and put the headset on and we'll call you back when we're ready for you..." "Rejoin your family - we'll clear the board and bring back (whoever)". "...And if you duplicate any of the answers, you'll hear this sound ('oomp') and I'll ask you for another answer..." "Can we remind the viewers at home of the answers that we had from (whoever), and can I have 20 seconds on the clock, please?" Inventor Based on the US Mark Goodson -Bill Todman format Family Feud. Theme Music Jack Parnell and David Lindup composed the original theme tune that was used between 1980 and 1985. Mike Alexander composed a new theme tune that was used between 1987 and 2002. Ash Alexander and Simon Darlow did a new version of the 1987-2002 one that was used for the All Star series. Trivia Veteran light entertainment producer William G.

Stewart (now best known as the host of Fifteen-to-One ) wasn't happy that "only" 10,000 families applied for his series. The computer which runs the electronic board is called Mr. Babbage named after Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first programmable computer. When the show returned in 1987 (with Les Dennis), after a 2-year break, the original Mr. Babbage computer was replaced with a coloured scoreboard for a few episodes. The new scoreboard didn't last long and they quickly reverted to the original. A surprise ending occurred in an early-90's Christmas celebrity edition, when the winning team, who included Brian Conley and the "Allo, Allo" actor Gorden Kaye, failed to win the jackpot (for charity, of course) at the end. Les promised that that they'd double the score that the team had achieved, but then Kaye piped up, "No, it's not the end - I've got a set of questions for you", and sure enough, he asked Les 5 questions in the usual style of the endgame.

The latter did better on some than on others, but nonetheless notched up enough points to push the team's score over 200, thus generating even more money for charity. The American version of the show was entitled 'Family Feud', but Bob Monkhouse didn't want the British version to be called that, on the grounds that it sounded too aggressive. Most series offered a family photograph of the contestants, posing with the host, as a consolation prize. The winning team received a colour photograph, but - possibly the most mean-spirited gesture imaginable - the losers received theirs in black and white! In an interview some years after he'd finished hosting the show, Les Dennis said that he used to fear for his life when a family won the Big Money game, because they'd be going so wild with delight that they'd almost strangle him when trying to hug him - and the fact that he was often doing his final piece to camera at the time can't have helped much. One would imagine that one of Les's former fellow-gameshow hosts, the late Leslie Crowther , would have sympathised, because some of the latter's contestants on The Price is Right tended to do the same.

Oh, and during one of the shows, Les revealed that people used to react to seeing him in the street by calling out, "Uh-uhh!" - very similar to the late Richard Whiteley having the Countdown catch-tune, "Da da da da, da-da-da-da, BOOM!" shouted at him in public places. According to Lostshows.com , many of the Bob Monkhouse episodes have been wiped from the archives. 28 episodes survived, which included Episode 1 from Series 1 (The very first episode), Episode 23 from Series 2, Episodes 2 & 5 from Series 3 and Episodes 1-12 & 15-26 from Series 4. Bob Monkhouse on the other hand saved over 80 episodes in his private collection of video cassettes he recorded off-air. Merchandise Learn and talk about Family Fortunes, 1980 British television programme debuts, 1980s British television series, 1990s British television series, 2000s British television series 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 6 December 2002, 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). Contents 11 External links Hosts and presentation[ edit ] 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 . Format[ edit ] Two family teams, each with five members, are asked to guess the results of surveys, in which 100 people would be asked open ended questions (e.g. "we asked 100 people to name something associated with the country Wales" or "we asked 100 people to name a breed of dog"). Although rarely acknowledged in the show, the 100 people surveyed are invariably audience members who have volunteered before the show. Each round begins with a member of each family (in rotation, meaning all players do this at least once) approaching the podium. As the question is read, the first of the two nominees to hit a buzzer gives an answer. If this is not the most popular answer, the other nominee is asked.

The family with the more popular answer then chooses whether to "play" the question, or "pass" control to the other family. The host then passes down the line of the controlling team, asking for an answer from each. After each answer, the board reveals whether this answer featured. If not, the family is assessed a strike, and the family loses control of the board after accumulating three strikes (also referred as striking out) in the round. If a family manages to come up with all the survey answers (most commonly six in the early part of the show, reduced in number after the commercial break) before striking out, they win the amount in pounds of the total number of people who had given the answers. A strike is marked similar to tenpin bowling with an X on the board, accompanied by a buzzer (the buzzer used in the UK and Australia is different from the Atlanta version). In later versions with a colour screen, the strike is marked with a strike chip on another FremantleMedia game show in the United States ( The Price Is Right , from the pricing game 3 Strikes ), with a red disc featuring the black X.

If a family strikes out, the opponent is given the chance to "steal" by coming up with an answer that may be among those missing. Only the head family member (the first family member, the designated captain) may give the answer after consultation. If this answer is present, this family wins the round and is said to have "stolen" the money; otherwise, the family which played the board keeps the money. Often the hosts do not refer to the strikes as "strikes;" rather they will say that a "life is lost," and the family has "two lives left" or "one life left." Double Money[ edit ] Following three rounds before the commercial break (two rounds in series 1), "Double Money" is played. Gameplay is the same as the first rounds, but each answer is worth £2 for each person who said it, and there are generally fewer possible answers. The family who passes £300 (£200 in series 1) first go on to play "Big Money" (known in some overseas versions as "Fast Money") for the jackpot.

In the revived 2006 version, there were three rounds of the main game and two rounds of double money and then the family who had the most money after this went on to play Big Money, whether or not they had reached £300. Big Money[ edit ] This involves two contestants (out of the five in the family team, in the 2006 revival including the celebrity as the second) answering five questions that fit with those given by the "100 people surveyed", with the questions asked within a narrow time limit. The first contestant answers the five questions within 15 seconds; then the second contestant (who has been out of earshot) answers within 20 seconds (the extra time is available in case the contestant repeats an answer already given). If they get 200 points or more from the ten answers they win the top cash prize. From 1994 onwards, a bonus star prize was available if all five "top" (most popular) answers were found and they had reached 200 or more points. If the family did not earn 200 points, they won £2 per point, up to £398.

In the revived 2006 version, a loss earned £10 times the points earned in both front and end games, up to £1,990. Cash and prizes[ edit ] The top cash prize in "Big Money" in the first series (1980) was £1,000. From the second series (1981), the prize started at £1,000 then rose by £500 weekly if no one won, to a limit of £2,500 (£3,000 from 1982, which it could stay at for more than one week if it still was not won). Once won, it reverted to £1,000 for the next edition. In the 1987 series, it started at £1,000, and if not won rose by £1,000 per week to a maximum of £3,000. From the 1988 series, the prize was stabilised at £3,000.

After the abolition of the IBA 's prize limits, the top prize rose to £5,000 from 1996.[ citation needed ] It should be remembered, though, that the money had to be shared out between five people; by the end of its run even the top cash prize seemed relatively small compared to those available on other game shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? . The bonus star prize was always a car between 1994 and 1998. From 1998 to 2002, contestants had the choice of either a car or a holiday. The car suppliers were Honda in 1994, SEAT in 1995, and then Daewoo between 1996 and 2002. However, this often led the show to an anti-climax , as having won the cash prize with one or more questions unrevealed, the game had to continue to see whether the bonus prize had also been won. If not, the show ended on a low point, despite the family having won the main prize. During the programme's brief daytime run in 2002, the prize values shrunk significantly.

If the contestants scored over 200 points they won £1,000 and if they found 5 top answers on top, then it was increased to £3,000. (As with the previous prizes, the £3,000 could only be won on top of the 200+ points) From the second series in 1981 onwards, spot prizes were available in the main game, turning up seemingly at random when certain answers were found. Typically, these were music centres, televisions or video recorders (or in the later years, DVD players ). Some were more unorthodox, such as a year's supply of beer, while the same short breaks away – an Agatha Christie Murder Weekend, a stay at a health spa or a canal holiday – were won on the show for many years. The current actors showing the spot prizes are Neil Hurst and Louise Cole. [1] The 2006 series features a top prize of £30,000. The celebrity contestants can win £10,000 for getting over 200 points in "Big Money", increased to £30,000 for getting all five top answers.

The spot prizes remained but were won rarely and were now more action-based such as paragliding lessons. These are won by other members of the family, instead of the celebrity. Theme tune[ edit ] The original theme music was used from 1980 to 1985, and was composed by Jack Parnell and David Lindup . [2] This was during the Bob Monkhouse and Max Bygraves eras. In 1987 when Les Dennis became the host, a new theme tune was written by Mike Alexander. Although the arrangements have changed over the years, it is still the same theme.[ citation needed ] The first version was used from 1987 to 1992, the second (credited as Michael Alexander) from 1993 to 1999, and the third one from 2000 to 2002 was arranged by Mike Woolmans. The current theme first used in 2006 when Vernon Kay took over as host of a celebrity version, was arranged by Ash Alexander and Simon Darlow.[ citation needed ] Announcers[ edit ] Over the years on Family Fortunes voice over announcers have been used on the show.

For the Bob Monkhouse, Max Bygraves and Les Dennis' first series, the announcer was Andrew Lodge, while Stephen Rhodes announced for most of Les Dennis' era until 2000. From 2000–2002, it was Peter Dickson , while for the 70-episode daytime 2002 series, it was University Challenge voiceover Roger Tilling .[ citation needed ] Lisa I'Anson was the announcer for the first series of All Star Family Fortunes in 2006,[ citation needed ] making her the first woman in this role, before Peter Dickson returned from 2007 onwards. TV Specials[ edit ] Two special programmes, presented by Les Dennis, featuring hilarious clips from the Bob Monkhouse, Max Bygraves and Les Dennis eras of the programme, were shown on ITV. The first special was called Family Misfortunes in 2000 followed by More Family Misfortunes in 2001. In 2002, a third special programme, presented by Andy Collins, called Family Misfortunes 3 featured clips only from the Les Dennis and Andy Collins eras of the programme.

Main article: Gameshow Marathon (UK game show) On 29 October 2005, Family Fortunes returned as the "grand final" of Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon , a series of revivals of former popular ITV game shows shown to mark the channel's 50th anniversary, and hosted by its most ubiquitous presenters of recent years. This show had Carol Vorderman and Vernon Kay playing for charity along with their own families, with Vorderman eventually winning. Ironically, Kay would be chosen as the host of the new All Star Family Fortunes (see below), one episode of which again featured Vorderman and her family playing for the same charity as before. All Star Family Fortunes[ edit ] Main article: All Star Family Fortunes Subsequently, Family Fortunes returned (as All Star Family Fortunes ) for a full series that started on 28 October 2006, with Kay as its host, and celebrities and their families playing the game, hoping to win up to £30,000 for a charity of their choice.

A significant change from the old series was the use of a multi-coloured computerised scoreboard in place of the classic yellow-and-black LED version – the only other time a colour scoreboard was used was briefly in 1987 and 1988. The strike indicator is similar to that of the US The Price Is Right pricing game's 3 Strikes, using a strike chip that is red with a black X. Another significant (and rather odd) change is that whilst there are still five family members for each team, only four are assured of participating in a face-off, similar to the rule in the United States since 2003 (where only three are assured a face-off, and the fifth player only participates in a golden answer face-off if neither family reaches 300), despite the programme being a 45-minute production now instead of the original 30-minute slot. Questions and answers examples[ edit ] Part of a hi-fi set. Needle / Stereo Family Fortunes - British Classic Comedy Family Fortunes 1 Family Fortunes – 1980 – Present Long running game show Family Fortunes was originally played with real people, before a revived version launched with the now popular trend of using celebrities.

The show first aired in 1980, presented by comedian and gameshow legend Bob Monkhouse. In it’s non celebrity version it notched up 22 series. Monkhouse presented between 1980 and 1983. He was followed by singer and entertainer Max Bygraves between 1983 and 1985. In 1986 the show took a rest, during this period presenter Max Bygraves was so keen to see it return he offered to finance it’s production himself. It did indeed return in 1987, but with a new host in the form of Les Dennis. He presented for 15 years until 2002, when a new presenter, Andy Collons took it to daytime TV. After just one series in it’s daytime slot the axe finally fell. During it’s original run there was a Christmas Special most years with prize money going to charity, and contestants being either celebrity families, or a group of actors famous for playing a fictional family. In 2005 it made a brief re-appearance as part of Ant and Dec’s Gameshow Marathon, with Celebrity contestants Vernon Kay and Carol Vorderman’s families competing.

In 2006 Family Fortunes would return to our screens as All Star Family Fortunes, presented by Vernon Kay the series is still running today. Summary Two family teams, each with five members, would be asked to guess the results of surveys. There were three rounds like this, with a member from each each team approaching the podium. As the question was read, the first of the two nominees to hit a buzzer gives an answer. If this is not the top answer, the other nominee is asked. The team with the higher answer then chooses whether to “play” the question, or “pass” control to the other team (in reality, the teams rarely chose to pass). The answers along with the number of people out of 100 surveyed who gave it appeared on a large computer screen, a wrong answer gets a large cross and the famous uh-uhh! sound. After three rounds contestants play for Double Money. The family who passes the £300 mark (£200 in series 1) first go on to play for the jackpot known as the Big Money round.

In the Big Money round two contestants (out of the five in the family team, in the 2006 revival including the celebrity as the second) answering five questions that fitted with those given by the “100 people surveyed”, with the questions asked within a narrow time limit. The first contestant gives his/her answers to the five questions within 15 seconds; then the second contestant (who had been out of earshot of the first) give his or her answers within 20 seconds (the extra time was available for the contestant to give another answer if he/she duplicated an answer given by the previous contestant). If they get 200 points or more from the ten answers (i.e. at least 200 people had agreed with all ten answers combined), they win the top cash prize. From 1994 onwards, a bonus star prize was available if all five top answers were found, in addition to reaching 200+ points. In the 1998 series one contestant of the Hollands family scored 193 points after finding all five top answers leaving the other member to get only 7 points from his/her five answers.

If the family could not earn 200 points, they won £2 per point, up to £398. In the revived 2006 version, a loss earns £10 times the points earned in both front and end games, up to £1,990. All Star Family Fortunes, 2006 onwards In the revived version there were a number of small changes to the format of the game. The length changed from 30 minutes to 45 minutes and , there were three rounds of the main game and two rounds of double money and then the family who had the most money after this go on to play Big Money, regardless of whether they had £300 or more. The Prizes The top cash prize in “Big Money” in the first series (1980) was £1,000. From the second series (1981), the prize started at £1,000 then rose by £500 weekly if no one won, to a limit of £2,500 (£3,000 from 1982, which it could stay at for more than one week if it still was not won).

Once won, it reverted back to £1,000 for the next edition. In the 1987 series, it started at £1,000, and if not won rose by £1,000 per week to a maximum of £3,000. From the 1988 series, the prize was stabilised at £3,000. After the abolition of the IBA’s prize limits, the top prize rose to £5,000 from 1996. Between 1994 and 1998 there was a bonus star prize of a car. From 1998, contestants had the choice of either a car or a holiday. From the second series in 1981 onwards, spot prizes were available in the main game, turning up seemingly at random when certain answers were found. Typically, these were music centres, televisions or video recorders (or in the later years, DVD players).

Some were more unorthodox, such as a year’s supply of beer, while the same short breaks away – an Agatha Christie Murder Weekend, a stay at a health spa or a canal holiday – were won on the show for many years. The 2006 series features a top prize of £30,000. (The now celebrity) Contestants can win £10,000 for getting over 200 points in “Big Money”, increased to £30,000 for getting all five top answers. The spot prizes remained but were won rarely and were now more action-based such as paragliding lessons. These are won by other members of the family, instead of the celebrity. Comedy Connections In common with many game shows, the host has usually been a comedian, Bob Monkhouse was a legendary stand up comedian, Max Bygraves started his career as a comedian and Les Dennis first came to prominence in the later series of ITV’s The Comedians. Clips Family Fortune was really enjoyable when real families came and played. it is time these family programs are present again. it helps build family watching and shows how much fun a family can have.

hope you guys think the way many of us are feeling. Max Bygraves dead: Veteran entertainer dies aged 89 after battle with Alzheimer's | Daily Mail Online comments Max Bygraves, one of the household names of British entertainment for more than 50 years, has died at the age of 89. The star, whose catch phrase was ‘I wanna tell you a story...’, died at his daughter’s home in Australia after battling Alzheimer’s disease. Bygraves, who enjoyed enormous success as a singer, comedian, film star and quiz show host, emigrated to Australia from Bournemouth four years ago, hoping the warmer climate would help his wife Blossom overcome her health problems. Scroll down for video Legend: Max Bygraves enjoyed enormous success as a singer, comedian, film star and quiz show host Wartime love: Max with his wife Blossom in 1992 Wartime sweethearts, they had two daughters and a son of their own and their 69-year marriage survived revelations in later years that Bygraves had fathered children with other women. Following Blossom’s death last year aged 88, the entertainer moved in with their daughter Christine in Queensland.

She was by his bedside when he died on Friday evening. His son Anthony said: ‘I only saw Dad two weeks ago. He became terribly frail but somehow I hoped he would see his 90th birthday. ‘It wasn’t to be. He just slipped away. We’re all terribly sad. It is hard to imagine a world without him but at least I saw him recently. I got a chance to give him a hug and be with him.’ Much loved: Singer Max Bygraves pictured with Barbara Windsor (right) and Ellie Lane (lane) when he celebrated his 70th birthday, 50 years in show business and his 50th wedding anniversary Battle with Alzheimer's: Max Bygraves, seen here at the 'Talk of the Town', thrilled crowds with his stand up routine Until quite recently, he said his father had still been able to sing along to the songs – such as Tulips From Amsterdam and Fings Aint What They Used To Be – that had made him famous. He said: ‘He knew all the words and even which track was coming next but when I saw him in Australia last month, he’d lost all that.

It was very upsetting because Dad was always so on the ball.’ The performer’s death is a double blow for his daughter Maxine, who received the news just hours after having to flee her home as the Spanish wildfires threatened her neighbourhood near Marbella. Tributes last night poured in from the world of showbusiness. Bygraves’s agent Johnny Mans said he ‘was one of the icons of the business and there will never be another one like him’. Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck said: ‘He could be very cheeky, he wasn’t above that. Funny man: The veteran entertainer regularly topped the bill at the London Palladium Couple of jokers: Max Bygraves and Frankie Howerd started touring with each other 'I mean he was a rascal. I have nothing but lovely memories of him.’ Ronnie Corbett described Bygraves as a ‘lovely, lovely man’, adding: ‘He was an early stand-up, he didn’t go in for sketches, but just spoke to the audience. He was a personality in the truest sense of the word.’ Several celebrities took to Twitter to pay their tributes.

Les Dennis, who took over from Bygraves as host of Family Fortunes, called him ‘a great performer and a gentleman’. And magician Paul Daniels said he was ‘truly one of the greatest live acts I ever saw’. Born Walter Bygraves on October 16, 1922, in Rotherhithe, South-East London, he later changed his name to Max in honour of his comedy hero Max Miller. Bygraves was the son of a docker and one of nine children. To earn pocket money he would drag the River Thames for driftwood – before realising he could make more cash by exploiting his talent for music. Laugh a minute: Max Bygraves, Bernard Bresslaw and Tony Hancock at the rehearsals for the Royal Command Performance The performer emigrated to Australia with his wife Blossom, and was due to celebrate his 90th birthday in October Aged 13, he won a school talent contest, and as an altar boy made his first public appearance singing Handel’s Largo in Westminster Cathedral. After he was demobbed from wartime service in the RAF he began touring the club circuit, where success came quickly.

By 1950 he was second on the bill to Judy Garland at the London Palladium. He was a hit in the Fifties radio comedy Educating Archie and also starred in the films Charley Moon, A Cry From The Streets and Spare The Rod. Bygraves topped the bill at the Royal Variety Performance 17 times and sold millions of records around the world, including his Singalongamax albums. Despite his success – which made him a millionaire by 1960 aged 38 – his family-friendly image was damaged in 1987 when he admitted fathering a son with actress Pat Marlowe in 1961. A similar revelation followed in 2002, when it emerged he had had another son, with landlady Margaret Garriock, four years after his marriage. Last year, after his wife’s death, Beverly Sass, 57, claimed to be the star’s third love-child. TV host: Max fronting ITV quiz show Family Fortunes in the Eighties Max Bygraves: The man behind the laughs Critics poked fun at his repertoire of music hall numbers but he had the last laugh, because they helped make him a multi-millionaire.

The chirpy cockney, who made his name with songs like You Need Hands and Tulips from Amsterdam, did not have the easiest start in life. He was born Walter William Bygraves on October 16, 1922, in Rotherhithe, south-east London, the son of Henry Bygraves, a boxer and a docker, and Lilian. Bygraves was one of nine children in a staunchly Roman Catholic family, living in a council flat in Rotherhithe rented for 8s 4d (about 42p) a week. He used to drag the River Thames for driftwood to earn pocket money. But his way out of poverty opened up when he realised he could make money from his talent for and love of music. He won a school talent competition at the age of 13, and as an altar boy made his first public appearance singing Handel's Largo in Westminster Cathedral.

The comedian and singer is seen here with his family - he was known as being an all-round performer who stuck with his familiar routine and became known for his catchphrase 'I wanna tell you a story' The veteran entertainer died peacefully in his sleep at home in Hope Island, Queensland, Australia, yesterday As a teenager, he sang at a pub in Dagenham for 10 shillings (50p) a night. Later Max was to start work with an advertising agency, carrying copy to Fleet Street. He made his first home in a Romford council house. When the Second World War broke out, he volunteered for the RAF and served five years as a fitter. During this time he realised he could make people laugh and was christened Max for his impressions of the cockney comedian Max Miller. After the war, Bygraves's commanding officer tipped him off about some auditions at the BBC for a show for ex-servicemen. He went along and got work, singing, telling jokes and doing impersonations. He turned professional in 1946 and toured variety theatres throughout Britain and three years later made his West End debut at the London Palladium. From then on there was no looking back.

The dashing presenter, seen here in 1958, appeared in 17 Royal Variety shows Seen here in 1986, the beloved personality from London last appeared in the UK in 2006 A STAR OF THE SCREEN The presenter appeared on many TV programmes, including Family Fortunes and British sitcom Whack-o! He acted in films including The Nitwits On Parade (1949), Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951), Charley Moon (1956) He also released a string of albums, with varying success: The World Of Max Bygraves (1969) #6 Sing Along With Max (1972) #4 Singalongamax Vol.2 (1972) #11 The Song And Dance Men (1978) #67 Singalongawaryears (1989) #5 Singalongawaryears Volume 2 (1989) #33 It was around this period he met the comedian Frankie Howerd. He recalled later: 'Frankie read my palm and told me that I was going to be a millionaire and top of the bill one day.

I thought he had got his wires crossed. Years later, he reminded me of it and used it to get a free lunch out of me.' By 1956, Bygraves was earning £1,000 a week, worth around £20,000 in today's money. His albums sold over 6.5 million copies, earning 31 gold discs. Bygraves also topped the bill at more Royal Variety Performances than any other artist, appearing in no fewer than 17 royal shows. He took to the good life easily, buying the first of 53 Rolls-Royces with the registration MB 1 — which he liked to boast he changed every year. He was a hit in the 1950s radio comedy Educating Archie - with his catchphrase 'That's a good idea, son' - and had TV series like Singalongamax, Max Rolls On, Side by Side and the game show Family Fortunes. Bygraves also appeared in films including Charlie Moon, A Cry From The Streets and Spare the Rod, and also starred in numerous pantomimes.

He turned his hand to writing in 1976 with his aptly-named autobiography I Wanna Tell You A Story, and his novel The Milkman's On His Way. Later, in 2002, he was to have another book published, Stars in My Eyes, which he described as 'about name-dropping, the laughter moments'. He was awarded an OBE in 1983 but simply described himself as 'Just an ordinary cockney bloke who made it'. The death of the singer, seen here with Shirley Bassey, 'is a great loss to the entertainment profession and a great loss to all of his friends in the industry,' his agent Johnny Mans said Entertainer Max Bygraves on the day he was granted an OBE by the Queen, at Buckingham Palace, London He met his wife Gladys - known as Blossom - at a concert at RAF Hornchurch in 1941. She died in 2011, a few years after the couple had moved to Australia. They had three children, Christine, Anthony, and Maxine. The singer also has three other children: John Rice, Beverly Mayhew-Sass, and Stephen Rose.

Max last appeared in public in the UK at revival shows in Blackpool and London in 2006. Anthony, who recently visited Max on the Gold Coast in Australia, had organised a campaign for the public to send him their stories on how they affectionately remembered him. The appeal came after more than 2,000 people sent well-wishing postcards and messages of support to Max in March when it was revealed he was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's. 'I had wanted to compile it with the help of the public. Dad still had a loyal fan base all around the world,' said Anthony. 'I had wanted people to contribute a written memory of Max to appear in 'I Wanna tell you a Story'. 'Their own personal recollection of my father, a meeting, of a show, a time, a place - anything that was interesting or unusual.' Family Fortunes | Family Feud Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Two family teams, each with five members, are asked to guess the results of surveys, in which 100 people would be asked open ended questions (e.g.

"we asked 100 people to name something associated with the country Wales" or "we asked 100 people to name a breed of dog"). Although rarely acknowledged in the show, the 100 people surveyed are invariably audience members who have volunteered before the show. Each round begins with a member of each family (in rotation, meaning all players do this at least once) approaching the podium. As the question is read, the first of the two nominees to hit a buzzer gives an answer. If this is not the most popular answer, the other nominee is asked. The family with the more popular answer then chooses whether to "play" the question, or "pass" control to the other family. The host then passes down the line of the controlling team, asking for an answer from each. After each answer, the board reveals whether this answer featured. If not, a "life" is lost. If a family manages to come up with all the survey answers (most commonly six in the early part of the show, reduced in number after the commercial break), they win the amount in pounds of the total number of people who had given the answers.

Every time someone gives an answer that is not on the board, the family loses a life, accompanied by a large "X" on the board with the famous "uh-uhh" sound. If they lose all three lives, the other family was given the chance to "steal" by coming up with an answer that may be among those missing. If this answer is present, the other family wins the round and is said to have "stolen" the money; if not, the family who gave the three incorrect answers win the money for their correct answers. Following three rounds before the commercial break (two rounds in series 1), "Double Money" is played. Gameplay is the same as the first rounds, but each answer is worth £2 for each person who said it, and there are generally fewer possible answers. The family who passes £300 (£200 in series 1) first go on to play "Big Money" (known in some overseas versions as "Fast Money") for the jackpot. Big Money Edit This involves two contestants from the winning family answering five questions that fit with those given by the "100 people surveyed", with the questions asked within a narrow time limit.

The first contestant answers the five questions within 15 seconds; then the second contestant (who has been out of earshot) answers within 20 seconds (the extra time is available in case the contestant repeats an answer already given). If they get 200 points or more from the ten answers they win the top cash prize. From 1994 onwards, a bonus star prize was available if all five "top" (most popular) answers were found and they had reached 200 or more points. If the family did not earn 200 points, they won £2 per point, up to £398. All-Star Family Fortunes Edit In the current all star run, Vernon Kay (who was previously a contestant on the show during the finals night of Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon ) presided over two celebrities and their families competing to win up to £30,000 for a charity of their choice.

Differences to the Original Civilian Shows Edit The show was basically the same as the original except with these differences: There were three rounds of Single Money and two rounds of Double Money and then the family who had the most money after this went on to play Big Money, whether or not they had reached £300. In Big Money, a loss earned £10 times the points earned in both front and end games, up to £1,990. The Gameboard Edit 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-uh" 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.

The 2006 version shows the use of a multi-coloured computerised scoreboard in place of the classic yellow-and-black LED version – the only other time a colour scoreboard was used was briefly in 1987 and 1988.

Question: Which TV show has been presented by Bob Monkhouse, Max Bygraves and Les Dennis?
Answer: FAMILY FORTUNES