Background
Blockbusters was created by Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions and originated as an American series in 1980, but had a more successful run in the UK, where it lasted over eleven years (between 1983 and 1994) with the host Bob Holness (1928–2012). Bob Holness played up the role of being an 'old duffer' to the young contestants, which helped win him a cult following amongst students, with catchphrases that included "Can I have a 'P' please, Bob?". The UK version was created after Central Independent Television producer Graham C. Williams spotted the show in 1981 and produced a pilot in which two teams of sixth form students competed.
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 Nottingham "Television House" studios, however, at least one season (1989–90) was filmed 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.
In the final episode of each day, the contestants were allowed to do a "hand jive" during the end credits, therefore only appearing on each Friday's episode. The hand jive first appeared in 1986 after one of the contestants was bored while sitting through filming several shows a day waiting for his turn. It lasted for the rest of the original series' run. The hand-clapping sequence was ridiculed by Half Man Half Biscuit in their song "Hedley Verityesque".
The original game board was powered using 38 slide projectors, each with its own set of slides for the different letters, colours and Gold Run questions, and took up the entire height of the studio.
Read more about this topic: Blockbusters (UK game show)
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