The Generation Game

1971 - 2002

Series 1, Show 1

2nd October 1971

Episode 1

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests and family couples from all over the country in a knock-out competition testing their wit, skill, ingenuity and sense of fun

Series 1, Show 2

9th October 1971

Episode 2

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests Clodagh Rodgers, Teddy Piero and family couples from all over the country 'To see you... nice!' Bruce is back with this fast-moving challenge to your ingenuity, skill and general knowledge. The Generation Game is a test for all the family - at home or in the studio

Series 1, Show 3

16th October 1971

Episode 3

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests Vince Hill, Rosko and family couples from all over the country Vince Hill in romantic mood sings 'Look around, you'll find me there' from Love Story as well as joining in one of the games, while there are a few surprises from the man without whom Saturday morning wouldn't be Saturday morning - Rosko

Series 1, Show 4

23rd October 1971

Episode 4

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests Aimi Macdonald, Richard Wattis 'The Archers' and family couples with a chance to 'star' in a 60-second farce and provide the sound effects for The Archers' TV debut

Series 1, Show 5

30th October 1971

Episode 5

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests Joe 'Mr Piano' Henderson, Fanny Cradock and family couples from all over the country who take their chance to challenge Fanny Cradock in the Great Omelette Race

Series 1, Show 6

6th November 1971

Episode 6

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guest Joe Andy and family couples from all over the country Joe Andy, one of the deftest men on the cabaret circuit, makes 'it' look easy, but could you do 'it' like he does 'it'? Find out tonight

Series 1, Show 7

13th November 1971

Episode 7

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests Bernard Cribbins, Tony Green and family couples from all over the country Cribbins can tell a tall tale... but how tall? And could you put on a play, the oldest sort of play of all?

Series 1, Show 8

20th November 1971

Episode 8

Starring Bruce Forsyth and family couples from all over the country Things look a hit sniffy tonight, especially when our courageous competitors come face-to-face with the pot

Series 1, Show 9

27th November 1971

Episode 9

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests and family couples from all over the country

Series 1, Show 10

4th December 1971

Episode 10

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guest Erik Hansen and family couples from all over the country

Series 1, Show 11

11th December 1971

Episode 11

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests and family couples from all over the country

Series 1, Show 12

18th December 1971

Episode 12

Starring Bruce Forsyth with his special guests and family couples from all over the country If you have tears, prepare to shed them now; and if you've never been cowed, this is your opportunity to set the scene with Bruce and his guests

Christmas Special 1971

24th December 1971

Episode 13

Starring Bruce Forsyth in his special Christmas programme, with umpteen Santa Clauses, Walt Disney characters, clowns, a pantomime and family couples from all over the country, including a special section for kids at home

New Year Special 1972

31st December 1971

Episode 14

Starring Bruce Forsyth Beat the New Year in with Bruce and his guests

Bank Holiday Special

Episode 15

All the fun of the fair in a special holiday edition With family couples chosen from Britain's leading holiday resorts Hostesses: Miss United Kingdom, Miss Blackpool, Miss Clacton, Miss Llandudno

Series 1 Highlights

9th September 1972

Episode 16

Presented by Bruce Forsyth Have you pottered with pottery? Danced with a dummy? Gone for a song? All these and more of your favourite moments from last season's The Generation Game which herald a new series starting next week. In this round-up of the best of last year's series you will see Aimi MacDonald, Richard Wattis, Robertson Hare, Jill Damas, Arthur Negus, Trevor Little, Peter Eggleton, Brenda Winslade, Joe Andy, Peter Steele and Anthea Redfern

Top Cast

The Generation Game was a British game show produced by the BBC in which four teams of two competed to win prizes. The programme was first broadcast in 1971 under the title Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game and ran until 1982, and again from 1990 until 2002. The show was based on the Dutch TV show Een van de acht, "One of the Eight", the format devised in 1969 by Theo Uittenbogaard for VARA Television. Mrs. Mies Bouwman - a popular Dutch talk show host and presenter of the show - came up with the idea of the conveyor belt. She had seen it on a German programme and wanted to incorporate it into the show. Another antecedent for the gameshow was 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium' on ATV, which had a game called Beat the Clock, taken from an American gameshow. It featured married couples playing silly games within a certain time to win prize money. This was hosted by Bruce Forsyth from 1958, and he took the idea with him when he went over to the BBC.

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