Blockbusters (British game show)

Lore & Background

Blockbusters was created by Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions and originated as an American series in 1980. The UK version was developed after Central Independent Television producer Graham C. Williams saw the show in 1981 and produced a pilot in 1982. Unlike the American edition, the UK version featured sixth formers instead of adults. Bob Holness presented the first ten series, while a 1994 revival on Sky One was hosted by Michael Aspel, noting that his prior experience hosting Junior Criss Cross Quiz led to his selection.

The game board used 40 slide projectors, each with its own set of slides, taking up the entire studio height. There were 15 different board combinations, with the letter 'Q' appearing on only one board and 'Y' on two. In 1987 and 1988, readers of TVTimes voted it the most popular quiz show on television. A hand jive performed by contestants during end credits began in 1986 and continued for the original run, later referenced in the song 'Hedley Verityesque' by Half Man Half Biscuit.

The show's theme music was originally composed by Ed Welch, who also updated it for the second Sky series in 2001; however, the 2001 revival actually used a new theme by Paul Farrer. The 1983 opening sequence featured flipping hexagons with images on an encyclopedia page, while the 1987–93 titles paid homage to science-fiction films like Metropolis and Blade Runner. Later revivals used different theme music and title sequences, including a 2013 version that referenced all previous title sequences.

Reader's Guide

Blockbusters holds a significant place in British television history as a long-running and frequently revived quiz show. Its format—a solo player versus a pair, answering questions with answers beginning with a chosen letter—became iconic, particularly the phrase 'Can I have a P please, Bob?' which entered popular culture as a pun on urination. The show's game board, powered by slide projectors, and its hand jive tradition added unique elements that distinguished it from other quiz shows.

The show's multiple revivals across different networks (Sky One, BBC Two, Challenge, Comedy Central) and presenters (Bob Holness, Michael Aspel, Liza Tarbuck, Simon Mayo, Dara Ó Briain) demonstrate its enduring appeal. The 2019 comedy version on Comedy Central marked a new direction, while the original series' popularity in the late 1980s, as voted by TVTimes readers, cemented its status. The show's influence extends to music, with Half Man Half Biscuit referencing the hand jive, and its catchphrase remains widely recognized. Blockbusters exemplifies how a simple but clever game concept can sustain interest across decades and formats.

Did You Know?

• The hand jive during end credits began in 1986 after a contestant was bored waiting for his turn during filming.
• The original game board used 40 slide projectors, and the letter 'Q' appeared on only one board combination.
• The show was voted the most popular quiz show on television by TVTimes readers in 1987 and 1988.
• The phrase 'Can I have a P please, Bob?' became a pun for urination and entered common slang.