The Generation Game (1971)

The Generation Game

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. During the 1970s, gameshows became more popular and started to replace expensive variety shows. Creating new studio shows was cheaper than hiring a theatre and paying for long rehearsals and a large orchestra, and could secure a similar number of viewers. With less money for their own productions, a gameshow seemed the obvious idea for ITV. As a result many variety performers were recruited for gameshows. The BBC, suffering poor ratings, decided to make its own gameshow. Bill Cotton, the BBC's Head of Light Entertainment, believed that Bruce Forsyth was best for the job. For years, The Generation Game was one of the strong shows in the BBC's Saturday night line-up, and became the number one gameshow on British television during the 1970s, regularly gaining over 21 million viewers. However, things were about to change. LWT, desperate to end the BBC's long-running ratings success on a Saturday night, offered Forsyth a chance to change channel to host The Big Night.

The Generation Game

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Seasons

Season 1

Season 1

Season 2

Season 2

Season 3

Season 3

Season 4

Season 4

Season 5

Season 5

Season 6

Season 6

Season 7

Season 7

Season 8

Season 8

Season 9

Season 9

Season 10

Season 10

Season 11

Season 11

Season 12

Season 12

Season 13

Season 13

Season 14

Season 14

Season 15

Season 15

Season 16

Season 16

Season 17

Season 17

Season 18

Season 18

Season 19

Season 19

Season 20

Season 20

Season 21

Season 21

Season 22

Season 22

Season 23

Season 23

Episodes season 0

  • 0x1

    Larry grayson's generation game - untransmitted pilot

  • 0x99

    Episode 99

Episodes season 1

  • 1x1

    Series 1, show 1

  • 1x2

    Series 1, show 2

  • 1x3

    Series 1, show 3

  • 1x4

    Series 1, show 4

  • 1x5

    Series 1, show 5

  • 1x6

    Series 1, show 6

  • 1x7

    Series 1, show 7

  • 1x8

    Series 1, show 8

  • 1x9

    Series 1, show 9

  • 1x10

    Series 1, show 10

  • 1x11

    Series 1, show 11

  • 1x12

    Series 1, show 12

  • 1x13

    Series 1, show 13

  • 1x14

    Series 1, show 14

  • 1x15

    Bank holiday special

  • 1x16

    Series 1 compilation

Episodes season 2

  • 2x1

    Series 2, show 1

  • 2x2

    Series 2, show 2

  • 2x3

    Series 2, show 3

  • 2x4

    Series 2, show 4

  • 2x5

    Series 2, show 5

  • 2x6

    Series 2, show 6

  • 2x7

    Series 2, show 7

  • 2x8

    Series 2, show 8

  • 2x9

    Series 2, show 9

  • 2x10

    Series 2, show 10

  • 2x11

    Series 2, show 11

  • 2x12

    Series 2, show 12

  • 2x13

    Series 2, show 13

  • 2x14

    Series 2, show 14

  • 2x15

    Series 2, show 15

  • 2x16

    Series 2, show 16

  • 2x17

    Series 2 compilation

Episodes season 3

  • 3x1

    Series 3, show 1

  • 3x2

    Series 3, show 2

  • 3x3

    Series 3, show 3

  • 3x4

    Series 3, show 4

  • 3x5

    Series 3, show 5

  • 3x6

    Series 3, show 6

  • 3x7

    Series 3, show 7

  • 3x8

    Series 3, show 8

  • 3x9

    Series 3, show 9

  • 3x10

    Series 3, show 10

  • 3x11

    Series 3, show 11

  • 3x12

    Series 3, show 12

  • 3x13

    Series 3, show 13

  • 3x14

    Series 3, show 14

  • 3x15

    Series 3, show 15

  • 3x16

    Christmas special 1973

  • 3x17

    Series 3, show 17

  • 3x18

    Series 3, show 18

  • 3x19

    Series 3, show 19

  • 3x20

    Series 3, show 20

  • 3x21

    Series 3, show 21

  • 3x22

    Series 3, show 22

  • 3x23

    Series 3 compilation

Episodes season 4

  • 4x1

    Series 4, show 1

  • 4x2

    Series 4, show 2

  • 4x3

    Series 4, show 3

  • 4x4

    Series 4, show 4

  • 4x5

    Series 4, show 5

  • 4x6

    Series 4, show 6

  • 4x7

    Series 4, show 7

  • 4x8

    Series 4, show 8

  • 4x9

    Series 4, show 9

  • 4x10

    Series 4, show 10

  • 4x11

    Series 4, show 11

  • 4x12

    Series 4, show 12

  • 4x13

    Series 4, show 13

  • 4x14

    Series 4, show 14

  • 4x15

    Christmas special 1974

  • 4x16

    Series 4, show 16

  • 4x17

    Series 4, show 17

  • 4x18

    Series 4, show 18

  • 4x19

    Series 4, show 19

  • 4x20

    Series 4, show 20

  • 4x21

    Series 4, show 21

  • 4x22

    Series 4 compilation

Episodes season 5

  • 5x1

    Series 5, show 1

  • 5x2

    Series 5, show 2

  • 5x3

    Series 5, show 3

  • 5x4

    Series 5, show 4

  • 5x5

    Series 5, show 5

  • 5x6

    Series 5, show 6

  • 5x7

    Series 5, show 7

  • 5x8

    Series 5, show 8

  • 5x9

    Series 5, show 9

  • 5x10

    Series 5, show 10

  • 5x11

    Series 5, show 11

  • 5x12

    Series 5, show 12

  • 5x13

    Series 5, show 13

  • 5x14

    Christmas special 1975

  • 5x15

    Series 5, show 15

  • 5x16

    Series 5 compilation

Episodes season 6

  • 6x1

    Series 6, show 1

  • 6x2

    Series 6, show 2

  • 6x3

    Series 6, show 3

  • 6x4

    Series 6, show 4

  • 6x5

    Series 6, show 5

  • 6x6

    Series 6, show 6

  • 6x7

    Series 6, show 7

  • 6x8

    Series 6, show 8

  • 6x9

    Series 6, show 9

  • 6x10

    Series 6, show 10

  • 6x11

    Series 6, show 11

  • 6x12

    Series 6, show 12

  • 6x13

    Series 6, show 13

  • 6x14

    Series 6, show 14

  • 6x15

    Series 6, show 15

  • 6x16

    Series 6, show 16

  • 6x17

    Bruce's choice

  • 6x18

    Series 6 compliation

Episodes season 7

  • 7x1

    Series 7, show 1

  • 7x2

    Series 7, show 2

  • 7x3

    Series 7, show 3

  • 7x4

    Series 7, show 4

  • 7x5

    Series 7, show 5

  • 7x6

    Series 7, show 6

  • 7x7

    Series 7, show 7

  • 7x8

    Series 7, show 8

  • 7x9

    Series 7, show 9

  • 7x10

    Series 7, show 10

  • 7x11

    Series 7, show 11

  • 7x12

    Series 7, show 12

  • 7x13

    Series 7, show 13

  • 7x14

    Series 7, show 14

  • 7x15

    Series 7, show 15

  • 7x16

    Series 7, show 16

  • 7x17

    Bruce's choice

  • 7x18

    Bruce's choice

Episodes season 8

  • 8x1

    Series 8, show 1

  • 8x2

    Series 8, show 2

  • 8x3

    Series 8, show 3

  • 8x4

    Series 8, show 4

  • 8x5

    Series 8, show 5

  • 8x6

    Series 8, show 6

  • 8x7

    Series 8, show 7

  • 8x8

    Series 8, show 8

  • 8x9

    Series 8, show 9

  • 8x10

    Series 8, show 10

  • 8x11

    Series 8, show 11

  • 8x12

    Series 8, show 12

  • 8x13

    Series 8, show 13

  • 8x14

    Series 8, show 14

  • 8x15

    Series 8, show 15

  • 8x16

    Easter special

Episodes season 9

  • 9x1

    Series 9, show 1

  • 9x2

    Series 9, show 2

  • 9x3

    Series 9, show 3

  • 9x4

    Series 9, show 4

  • 9x5

    Series 9, show 5

  • 9x6

    Series 9, show 6

  • 9x7

    Series 9, show 7

  • 9x8

    Series 9, show 8

  • 9x9

    Series 9, show 9

  • 9x10

    Series 9, show 10

  • 9x11

    Series 9, show 11

  • 9x12

    Series 9, show 12

  • 9x13

    Series 9, show 13

  • 9x14

    Series 9, show 14

  • 9x15

    Series 9, show 15

  • 9x16

    Series 9, show 16

  • 9x17

    Series 9 compilation

  • 9x18

    Easter special

Episodes season 10

  • 10x1

    Series 10, show 1

  • 10x2

    Series 10, show 2

  • 10x3

    Series 10, show 3

  • 10x4

    Series 10, show 4

  • 10x5

    Series 10, show 5

  • 10x6

    Series 10, show 6

  • 10x7

    Series 10, show 7

  • 10x8

    Series 10, show 8

  • 10x9

    Series 10, show 9

  • 10x10

    Series 10, show 10

  • 10x11

    Series 10, show 11

  • 10x12

    Series 10, show 12

  • 10x13

    Series 10, show 13

  • 10x14

    Series 10, show 14

  • 10x15

    Series 10, show 15

  • 10x16

    Series 10, show 16

  • 10x17

    Series 10, show 17

  • 10x18

    Series 10, show 18

  • 10x19

    Easter special

Episodes season 11

  • 11x1

    Series 11, show 1

  • 11x2

    Series 11, show 2

  • 11x3

    Series 11, show 3

  • 11x4

    Series 11, show 4

  • 11x5

    Series 11, show 5

  • 11x6

    Series 11, show 6

  • 11x7

    Series 11, show 7

  • 11x8

    Series 11, show 8

  • 11x9

    Series 11, show 9

  • 11x10

    Series 11, show 10

  • 11x11

    Series 11, show 11

  • 11x12

    Series 11, show 12

  • 11x13

    Series 11, show 13

  • 11x14

    Series 11, show 14

  • 11x15

    Series 11, show 15

  • 11x16

    Series 11, show 16

  • 11x17

    Series 11, show 17

  • 11x18

    Series 11, show 18

Episodes season 12

  • 12x1

    Series 12, show 1

  • 12x2

    Series 12, show 2

  • 12x3

    Series 12, show 3

  • 12x4

    Series 12, show 4

  • 12x5

    Series 12, show 5

  • 12x6

    Series 12, show 6

  • 12x7

    Series 12, show 7

  • 12x8

    Series 12, show 8

  • 12x9

    Series 12, show 9

  • 12x10

    Series 12, show 10

  • 12x11

    Series 12, show 11

  • 12x12

    Series 12, show 12

  • 12x13

    Series 12, show 13

  • 12x14

    Christmas special

Episodes season 13

  • 13x1

    Series 13, show 1

  • 13x2

    Series 13, show 2

  • 13x3

    Series 13, show 3

  • 13x4

    Series 13, show 4

  • 13x5

    Series 13, show 5

  • 13x6

    Series 13, show 6

  • 13x7

    Series 13, show 7

  • 13x8

    Series 13, show 8

  • 13x9

    Series 13, show 9

  • 13x10

    Series 13, show 10

  • 13x11

    Series 13, show 11

  • 13x12

    Series 13, show 12

  • 13x13

    Series 13, show 13

  • 13x14

    Series 13, show 14

  • 13x15

    Series 13, show 15

  • 13x16

    Christmas special

  • 13x17

    Series 13 compilation

Episodes season 14

  • 14x1

    Series 14, show 1

  • 14x2

    Series 14, show 2

  • 14x3

    Series 14, show 3

  • 14x4

    Series 14, show 4

  • 14x5

    Series 14, show 5

  • 14x6

    Series 14, show 6

  • 14x7

    Series 14, show 7

  • 14x8

    Series 14, show 8

  • 14x9

    Series 14, show 9

  • 14x10

    Series 14, show 10

  • 14x11

    Series 14, show 11

  • 14x12

    Series 14, show 12

  • 14x13

    Series 14, show 13

  • 14x14

    Series 14, show 14

  • 14x15

    Series 14, show 15

  • 14x16

    Series 14 compilation

Episodes season 15

  • 15x1

    Series 15, show 1

  • 15x2

    Series 15, show 2

  • 15x3

    Series 15, show 3

  • 15x4

    Series 15, show 4

  • 15x5

    Series 15, show 5

  • 15x6

    Series 15, show 6

  • 15x7

    Series 15, show 7

  • 15x8

    Series 15, show 8

  • 15x9

    Series 15, show 9

  • 15x10

    Series 15, show 10

  • 15x11

    Series 15, show 11

  • 15x12

    Series 15, show 12

  • 15x13

    Series 15, show 13

  • 15x14

    Series 15, show 14

  • 15x15

    Series 15, show 15

  • 15x16

    Series 15 compilation

Episodes season 16

  • 16x1

    Series 16, show 1

  • 16x2

    Series 16, show 2

  • 16x3

    Series 16, show 3

  • 16x4

    Series 16, show 4

  • 16x5

    Series 16, show 5

  • 16x6

    Series 16, show 6

  • 16x7

    Series 16, show 7

  • 16x8

    Series 16, show 8

  • 16x9

    Series 16, show 9

  • 16x10

    Series 16, show 10

  • 16x11

    Series 16, show 11

  • 16x12

    Series 16, show 12

  • 16x13

    Series 16, show 13

  • 16x14

    Series 16, show 14

  • 16x15

    Series 16, show 15

  • 16x16

    Christmas special

Episodes season 17

  • 17x1

    Series 17, show 1

  • 17x2

    Series 17, show 2

  • 17x3

    Series 17, show 3

  • 17x4

    Series 17, show 4

  • 17x5

    Series 17, show 5

  • 17x6

    Series 17, show 6

  • 17x7

    Series 17, show 7

  • 17x8

    Series 17, show 8

  • 17x9

    Series 17, show 9

  • 17x10

    Series 17, show 10

  • 17x11

    Series 17, show 11

  • 17x12

    Series 17, show 12

  • 17x13

    Series 17, show 13

  • 17x14

    Series 17, show 14

  • 17x15

    Series 17, show 15

  • 17x16

    Series 17, show 16

  • 17x17

    Series 17, show 17

Episodes season 18

  • 18x1

    Series 18, show 1

  • 18x2

    Series 18, show 2

  • 18x3

    Series 18, show 3

  • 18x4

    Series 18, show 4

  • 18x5

    Series 18, show 5

  • 18x6

    Series 18, show 6

  • 18x7

    Series 18, show 7

  • 18x8

    Series 18, show 8

  • 18x9

    Series 18, show 9

  • 18x10

    Series 18, show 10

  • 18x11

    Series 18, show 11

  • 18x12

    Series 18, show 12

  • 18x13

    Series 18, show 13

  • 18x14

    Series 18, show 14

  • 18x15

    Series 18, show 15

  • 18x16

    Christmas special

Episodes season 19

  • 19x1

    Series 19, show 1

  • 19x2

    Series 19, show 2

  • 19x3

    Series 19, show 3

  • 19x4

    Series 19, show 4

  • 19x5

    Series 19, show 5

  • 19x6

    Series 19, show 6

  • 19x7

    Series 19, show 7

  • 19x8

    Series 19, show 8

  • 19x9

    Series 19, show 9

  • 19x10

    Series 19, show 10

  • 19x11

    Series 19, show 11

  • 19x12

    Series 19, show 12

  • 19x13

    Series 19, show 13

  • 19x14

    Series 19, show 14

  • 19x15

    Series 19, show 15

  • 19x16

    Series 19, show 16

  • 19x17

    Series 19, show 17

  • 19x18

    Series 19, show 18

  • 19x19

    Series 19, show 19

  • 19x20

    Series 19, show 20

  • 19x21

    Series 19, compilation part 1

  • 19x22

    Series 19, compilation part 2

Episodes season 20

  • 20x1

    Series 20, show 1

  • 20x2

    Series 20, show 2

  • 20x3

    Series 20, show 3

  • 20x4

    Series 20, show 4

  • 20x5

    Series 20, show 5

  • 20x6

    Series 20, show 6

  • 20x7

    Series 20, show 7

  • 20x8

    Series 20, show 8

  • 20x9

    Series 20, show 9

  • 20x10

    Series 20, show 10

  • 20x11

    Series 20, show 11

  • 20x12

    Series 20, show 12

  • 20x13

    Series 20, show 13

  • 20x14

    Series 20, show 14

  • 20x15

    Series 20, show 15

  • 20x16

    Series 20, show 16

  • 20x17

    Series 20, show 17

  • 20x18

    Series 20, show 18

  • 20x19

    Series 20, show 19

  • 20x20

    Best of 1998

Episodes season 21

  • 21x1

    Series 21, show 1

  • 21x2

    Series 21, show 2

  • 21x3

    Series 21, show 3

  • 21x4

    Series 21, show 4

  • 21x5

    Series 21, show 5

  • 21x6

    Series 21, show 6

  • 21x7

    Series 21, show 7

  • 21x8

    Series 21, show 8

  • 21x9

    Series 21, show 9

  • 21x10

    Series 21, show 10

  • 21x11

    Series 21, show 11

  • 21x12

    Series 21, show 12

  • 21x13

    Series 21, show 13

  • 21x14

    Series 21, show 14

  • 21x15

    Series 21, show 15

  • 21x16

    Series 21, show 16

  • 21x17

    Series 21, show 17

  • 21x18

    Series 21, show 18

  • 21x19

    Series 21, show 19

  • 21x20

    Best of 1999 part 1

  • 21x21

    Best of 1999 part 2

Episodes season 22

  • 22x1

    Series 22, show 1

  • 22x2

    Series 22, show 2

  • 22x3

    Series 22, show 3

  • 22x4

    Series 22, show 4

  • 22x5

    Series 22, show 5

  • 22x6

    Series 22, show 6

  • 22x7

    Series 22, show 7

  • 22x8

    Series 22, show 8

  • 22x9

    Series 22, show 9

  • 22x10

    Series 22, show 10

  • 22x11

    Series 22, show 11

  • 22x12

    Series 22, show 12

  • 22x13

    Series 22, show 13

  • 22x14

    Series 22, show 14

  • 22x15

    Series 22, show 15

  • 22x16

    Series 22, show 16

  • 22x17

    Series 22, show 17

  • 22x18

    Series 22, show 18

  • 22x19

    Series 22, compilation

Episodes season 23

  • 23x1

    Series 23, show 1

  • 23x2

    Series 23, show 2

  • 23x3

    Series 23, show 3

  • 23x4

    Series 23, show 4

  • 23x5

    Series 23, show 5

  • 23x6

    Series 23, show 6

  • 23x7

    Series 23, show 7

  • 23x8

    Series 23, show 8

  • 23x9

    Series 23, show 9

  • 23x10

    Series 23, show 10

  • 23x11

    Series 23, show 11

  • 23x12

    Series 23, show 12

  • 23x13

    Series 23, show 13

  • 23x14

    Series 23, show 14

  • 23x15

    Series 23, show 15

  • 23x16

    Series 23, show 16

  • 23x17

    Series 23, show 17

  • 23x18

    Series 23, show 18

  • 23x19

    Series 23, compilation

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