I was saying something similar about…. bear with me on this one.. michael mcintyres ‘The Wheel’ at the weekend.
Literally everyone under 40 that goes on replies ‘deposit for a house’ when asked what they are going to do with the money.
Bullseye. Helping countless members of the working classes realise their dream of speedboat ownership.
The piece is written by a guy who made a documentary on BBC Radio 4 marking the show’s 40th – yes 40th – anniversary.
“That caravan changed my life! It really did,” says Kev, “because I was renting a house at the time, and because we got this caravan and sold it and got a lump sum, I was able to afford a house! And that’s enabled me to retire at 60. Because I haven’t got to pay a mortgage! Bullseye did that, it put me on the ladder.”
Good read
“What’s your wife’s name?”
“Gail”
“I bet that’s a stormy relationship”
Top quality patter
Stay out of the black and into the red, there’s nothing in this game for two in a bed.
They got it wrong, they were told “you’ve won a night out with the Ayatollah.” One of those odd little memories I’ve had stuck in my head for four decades.
Jim Bowen RIP. Met him in Edinburgh a few years ago when he did a Fringe show. A man who realised his good fortune and did not let it get to his head.
Excellent article.
Watched a documentary about Bullseye a while back. Turns out that the contestants were given a choice of prizes so whoever got a speedboat really wanted one.
I sometimes watch it on random channels at night. There’ll be some guy who says he’s 40, looks 75, and his job will be “bobbin boy” or something.
Then you realise this was only filmed in the early 80s and 90s. Incredible TV.
I know Bullseye was on TV for a long time, but the only episode I remember was the one with Grotbags the Witch on it.
Its funny I was just saying the other day what with all the other game shows that make a comeback I wonder if anyone would try to bring this back, if so who could they get to host it?
Great to see an article from The Big Issue on here. With people keeping away from the high streets, their vendors are really suffering. I always buy a copy and give a big tip… and then fail badly at the crossword.
My granddad was on the first season of Bullseye! Only managed to watch his episode a couple months ago.
>In 1989, John Cooper appeared on the show. He was later convicted of multiple burglaries, armed robberies, and, in 2011 following advances in forensic science, two double murders, one rape, and another sexual assault. Footage of his appearance on the show was later used by the prosecution to match him to witness reports at the time.
Thanks for posting this. I too have watched it late night. Can you imagine a quiz show now where spelling a 12 letter work is a question?
They had a murderer on that show. He’d committed it but hadn’t yet been caught. I think being on the show might have helped him get identified. Proper nasty bugger.
Great article. And don’t forget the ‘unbroadcast’ episode which hid away on a Christmas Tape from central TV for years (my mate’s dad did all the jingles for Central TV and I had a copy of this 1983 Christmas tape on VHS!)
20 comments
CAN’T BEAT A BIT O’ BULLY!
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Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn wonnn (one)
I was saying something similar about…. bear with me on this one.. michael mcintyres ‘The Wheel’ at the weekend.
Literally everyone under 40 that goes on replies ‘deposit for a house’ when asked what they are going to do with the money.
Bullseye. Helping countless members of the working classes realise their dream of speedboat ownership.
The piece is written by a guy who made a documentary on BBC Radio 4 marking the show’s 40th – yes 40th – anniversary.
“That caravan changed my life! It really did,” says Kev, “because I was renting a house at the time, and because we got this caravan and sold it and got a lump sum, I was able to afford a house! And that’s enabled me to retire at 60. Because I haven’t got to pay a mortgage! Bullseye did that, it put me on the ladder.”
Good read
“What’s your wife’s name?”
“Gail”
“I bet that’s a stormy relationship”
Top quality patter
Stay out of the black and into the red, there’s nothing in this game for two in a bed.
They got it wrong, they were told “you’ve won a night out with the Ayatollah.” One of those odd little memories I’ve had stuck in my head for four decades.
Jim Bowen RIP. Met him in Edinburgh a few years ago when he did a Fringe show. A man who realised his good fortune and did not let it get to his head.
Excellent article.
Watched a documentary about Bullseye a while back. Turns out that the contestants were given a choice of prizes so whoever got a speedboat really wanted one.
I sometimes watch it on random channels at night. There’ll be some guy who says he’s 40, looks 75, and his job will be “bobbin boy” or something.
Then you realise this was only filmed in the early 80s and 90s. Incredible TV.
I know Bullseye was on TV for a long time, but the only episode I remember was the one with Grotbags the Witch on it.
Its funny I was just saying the other day what with all the other game shows that make a comeback I wonder if anyone would try to bring this back, if so who could they get to host it?
Great to see an article from The Big Issue on here. With people keeping away from the high streets, their vendors are really suffering. I always buy a copy and give a big tip… and then fail badly at the crossword.
My granddad was on the first season of Bullseye! Only managed to watch his episode a couple months ago.
>In 1989, John Cooper appeared on the show. He was later convicted of multiple burglaries, armed robberies, and, in 2011 following advances in forensic science, two double murders, one rape, and another sexual assault. Footage of his appearance on the show was later used by the prosecution to match him to witness reports at the time.
Yeesh, the [Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullseye_(British_game_show)#Contestants) takes a dark turn.
Thanks for posting this. I too have watched it late night. Can you imagine a quiz show now where spelling a 12 letter work is a question?
They had a murderer on that show. He’d committed it but hadn’t yet been caught. I think being on the show might have helped him get identified. Proper nasty bugger.
Great article. And don’t forget the ‘unbroadcast’ episode which hid away on a Christmas Tape from central TV for years (my mate’s dad did all the jingles for Central TV and I had a copy of this 1983 Christmas tape on VHS!)
https://youtu.be/Lg_x6aIQ9uQ
Congratulations Sharon you’ve won forty pounds, you can count your money while we take a break.