You Bet!

Infobox Television
show_name = You Bet!


caption =
format = Game show
picture_format = 4:3
runtime = 60mins (inc. commercials)
creator = Frank Elstner
presenter = Bruce Forsyth
(1988 - 1990)
Matthew Kelly
(1991 - 1995)
Darren Day
(1996 - 1997)
channel = ITV
country = UK
first_aired = 20 February 1988
last_aired = 12 April 1997
num_series = 10
num_episodes = 102
producer = LWT
related = flagicon|Germany: Wetten, dass..? flagicon|USA: Wanna Bet?
imdb_id = 0200398

"You Bet!" was a British game show based around the format of the German show "Wetten, dass..?" developed by Frank Elstner. "You Bet!" ran from 20 February, 1988 to 12 April 1997, initially hosted by Bruce Forsyth from 1988 to 1990, then by Matthew Kelly from 1991 to 1995 and finally by Darren Day from 1996 to 1997. It was produced by LWT for ITV at Shepperton Studios.

Formats and Changes in the show

1988

The original format was that a panel of celebrities would bet on the ability of members of the public to achieve unlikely challenges and stunts, which they had usually planned and rehearsed many times, within a limited amount of time. The panellists would receive points for each outcome they predicted correctly, and the studio audience would also bet on the outcomes. The accumulated total of points achieved by the celebrities would be added to the points totalled by the studio audience, increased several times over, converted into pounds and donated to a charity chosen by the celebrity panellist who had achieved the highest score. Each week there would be four challenges, some in the studio and some on location presented by Ellis Ward. The panellists would each "sponsor" a challenge, and Bruce Forsyth would also sponsor one. If the challenge sponsored by the panellist or Bruce Forsyth was not achieved, one of them would have to do a forfeit that they had thought of before the show (e.g., being a golf caddy or air steward for the day). It was either broadcast in the studio on the same show or broadcast on location on the following week's show. The show dropped the talk show aspects of "Wetten, dass...?" and concentrated on the challenges, thus reducing the running time from 2 to 3 hours to 1 hour. The original theme tune was composed by Alan Lisk, better known for penning the theme tune to Men Behaving Badly. The show's airing slot was originally on Saturday nights.

1989 - 1990

A new theme tune and incidental scores were introduced, composed by Jonathan Sorrell.

pring 1991

"You Bet!" made some massive changes due to the depature of Bruce Forsyth. A new logo was introduced, with "You" coloured in red and "Bet!" coloured in blue. Matthew Kelly stepped up as host to replace Bruce Forsyth. Also, the challenges rose from four to five, which meant that Ellis Ward got involved, with her sponsoring challenges as well. 6 random forfeits were there for the panellists, Ellis Ward, or Matthew Kelly to choose from if their sponsored challenge was not achieved; but cryptic clues were written on the 6 forfeits to make it more difficult. Matthew Kelly also got involved doing the work on location challenges, as well as Ellis Ward.

Autumn 1991

The show's airing slot was moved from Saturday nights to Friday nights.

1992 - 1993

The departure of Ellis Ward as co-host led to the number of celebrity guests being increased from three to four per show and Matthew Kelly doing all the work on location challenges.

1994

The show's airing slot was moved back to Saturday nights.

1995

"You Bet!" decided there would be no more forfeits. Instead, they introduced the celebrity challenge, where the lowest celebrity scorer would do a challenge, which would be broadcast for the following week's show. Then the public got to vote in at home to donate £1000 to a charity of their choice if the celebrity succeeded or failed a challenge. The set, which had been more or less the same since "You Bet!" began, was replaced by a new "arena" that allowed much more floor space for the challenges. Matthew Kelly announced his intention to leave "You Bet!" and concentrate on hosting "Stars in Their Eyes" after transmission of Series 8. The viewers' phone vote was dropped after Series 8 was shown.

1996

"You Bet!" was returned to the way it was, with 3 celebrity panellists. Actor Darren Day took over as host, and the co-host was reinstated for all the work on the location challenges. For this penultimate series, it was Diane Youdale, better known as Jet from the UK series of "Gladiators". The forfeits also returned to the show, but they were not chosen by the celebrity guests: they were automatically chosen by the crew at the end of each show for the celebrity who got the lowest score in the show.

1997

Although this wasn't known until after the series had aired. Another new set and format were introduced; the celebrities could play their "You Bet!" bonus card, which meant their points would be doubled if they successfully guessed the outcome of a challenge. The celebrity challenge returned to the show, and the audience got to choose which challenge they would choose for the lowest scoring celebrity at the end of the show from two choices with cryptic clue titles (e.g., "Ooh! That's better!" or "Dangling Down"). Sarah Matravers, well known as a gong girl from Take Your Pick, replaced Diane Youdale as co-host for this final series. The new theme tune was composed by Simon Webb.

Celebrity Guests

eries 1 - 1988

Show 1 -
Dickie Davies,
Richard Digance,
Kate Robbins

Show 2 -
Martin Francis,?,?

Show 3 - ?,?,?

Show 4 - ?,?,?

Show 5 -
Lynsey De Paul,
Nick Martin,?

Show 6 -
Sandra Dickinson,
John Fashanu,
Gloria Hunniford

eries 2 - 1989

Show 1 -
Debbie Greenwood,
Adrian Moorhouse,?

Show 2 -
Michael Barry,
Steve Redgrave,
Timmy Mallett

Show 3 -
Roy Castle,
Wendy Richard,
David Wilkie

Show 4 -
Henry Cooper,
Nino Firetto,
Thora Hird

Show 5 -
David Steel MP,
Janice Long,
Dave Beasant,

Show 6 -
Nicky Campbell,
Jill Gascoigne,
Simon Williams

Show 7 -
Paul Gascoigne,
Claire Rayner,
Melvyn Hayes

Show 8 -
Bob Holness,
John McCririck,
Suzi Quatro

Show 9 -
Jayne Irving,
Nicholas Parsons,
Mark Walker

Show 10 -
Bruno Brookes,
Geoff Capes,
Helen Shapiro

eries 3 - 1990

Show 1 -
Duncan Goodhew,
Sally James,
Kriss Akabusi

Show 2 -
Keith Chegwin,
Lawrie McMenemy,
Annabel Croft

Show 3 -
Gary Stretch,
Fern Britton,
Sylvester McCoy

Show 4 - ?,?,?

Show 5 -
Bill Tidy,
Graeme Garden,
Floella Benjamin

Show 6 -
Letitia Dean,
Barry McGuigan,
Bobby Davro

Show 7 -
Alan Freeman,
Jan Leeming,
Bob Champion

Show 8 -
Leslie Crowther,
Tessa Sanderson,
Chris Serle

Show 9 -
Peter Alliss,
Linda Lusardi,
James Marcus

Show 10 -
Carmen Silvera,
Sean Kerly,
Trevor Brooking

eries 4 - Spring 1991

Show 1 -
Nick Skelton,
Vicki Michelle,
Brian Glover

Show 2 -
Gemma Craven,?,?

Show 3 -
Johnny Briggs,
Andrew O'Connor,
Annabel Giles

Show 4 -
Dame Hilda Bracket,
Cliff Thorburn,
Michaela Strachan

Show 5 - ?,?,?

Show 6 - ?,?,?

Show 7 - ?,?,?

Show 8 - ?,?,?

Show 9 - ?,?,?

Show 10 -
Colonel John Blashford Snell,
Sheila Ferguson,?

eries 5 - Autumn 1991

Show 1 - ?,?,?

Show 2 - ?,?,?

Show 3 - ?,?,?

Show 4 - ?,?,?

Show 5 - ?,?,?

Show 6 - ?,?,?

Show 7 -
Trevor Brooking,
Bella Emberg,
Lesley Joseph

Show 8 - ?,?,?

Show 9 - ?,?,?

Show 10 - ?,?,?

eries 6 - 1992

Show 1 - ?,?,?,?

Show 2 - ?,?,?,?

Show 3 - ?,?,?,?

Show 4 -
Melvyn Hayes,
Sally James,
Gary Herbert,?

Show 5 - ?,?,?,?

Show 6 - ?,?,?,
Floella Benjamin

Show 7 - ?,?,?,?

Show 8 - ?,?,?,?

Show 9 - ?,?,?,?

Show 10 - ?,?,?,?

eries 7 - 1993/1994

Show 1 -
Keith Barron,
Michael Carruth,
Ross King,
Les Hill

Show 2 -
Wendy Richard,
Ben Clarke,
Vinnie Jones,
DJ Normski

Show 3 -
Suzanne Dando,
Eamonn Holmes,
Geoff Capes,
Nicola Stapleton

Show 4 -
Paul Ross,
Bryan Murray,
Ted Robbins,
Andrew Sachs

Show 5 -
Sharon Duce,
Annabel Croft,
Anne Charleston,
Barry McGuigan

Show 6 -
Gareth Hunt,
Ruth Madoc,
David Jensen,
Fern Britton

Show 7 (Celebrity Special) -
John Regis,
Bruno Brookes,
Emma Forbes,
Linda Lusardi

Show 8 -
Paula Hamilton,
Alan Titchmarsh,
Bobby Davro,
James Whale

Show 9 -
Adam Woodyatt,
Michaela Strachan,
David Yip,
Sally Gunnell

Show 10 -
Gary Mason,
Carol Thatcher,
Jayne Irving,
David Hamilton

Show 11 -
Lucinda Green,
Jeremy Guscott,
Daniella Westbrook,
John Inman

Show 12 -
Andrew Mackintosh,
Gareth Chilcott,
Liz McColgan,
Gloria Hunniford

Show 13 -
Mark Blundell,
Valerie Singleton,
Victoria Wicks,
Pat Sharp

Show 14 -
Bob Carolgees,
Anna Walker,
Melvyn Hayes,
Louise Jameson

Show 15 -
Tony Jarrett,
Mike Gatting,
Mo Moreland,
Michael Fish

Show 16 -
Annabel Giles,
Chris Boardman,
Nanette Newman,
Gareth Hunt

eries 8 - 1995

Show 1 -
Pat Sharp,
Jean Boht,
Allan Lamb,
Sharon Duce

Show 2 -
Bob Carolgees,
Carol Smillie,
Mark Blundell,
Sarah Greene

Show 3 -
Geoff Capes,
Alan Titchmarsh,
Willie Thorne,
Bobby Davro

Show 4 -
Jim Bowen,
Gemma Craven,
Gordon Burns,
John Altman

Show 5 -
James Whale,
Michaela Strachan,
Tony Jarrett,
David Yip

Show 6 -
Bernard Cribbins,
Nick Gillingham,
Mr Motivator,
Ross King

Show 7 -
Jilly Goolden,
Gareth Chilcott,
Dale Winton,
Elizabeth Dawn

Show 8 -
Bruno Brookes,
Kate Copstick,
Oliver Skeete,
Robert Llewellyn

Show 9 -
John Regis,
Jessica Martin,
Bobby George,
Billy Pearce

Show 10 -
Richard Vranch,
Judi Spiers,
Tony Hawks,
Annabel Giles

eries 9 - 1996

Show 1 -
Joe Pasquale,
Sonia Evans,
Sally Meen

Show 2 -
Ant McPartlin,
Declan Donnelly,
Michelle Collins

Show 3 -
Caron Keating,
Vinnie Jones,
Anthea Turner

Show 4 -
Ian St John,
Carol Smillie,
Kriss Akabusi

Show 5 -
Terry Christian,
Samantha Fox,
Tim Vincent

Show 6 -
Johnny Herbert,
Vanessa Feltz,
Pat Sharp

Show 7 -
Lee Hurst,
Louise Nurding,
Paul Ross

Show 8 -
Billy Pearce,
Jenny Powell,
Toby Anstis

Show 9 -
Garry Bushell,
Dale Winton,
Wendy Richard

Show 10 -
Carol Vorderman,
Andrew O'Connor,
Carolyn Marshall

eries 10 - 1997

Show 1 -
Jonathan Coleman,
Jenny Powell,
Ian Wright

Show 2 -
Teddy Sheringham,
Wendy Richard,
Paul Zerdin and Sam

Show 3 -
Kevin Day,
Gaynor Faye,
Tim Vincent

Show 4 -
Gary Bushell,
Malandra Burrows,
Paul Ross

Show 5 -
Sonia Evans,
John Regis,
Michelle Collins

Show 6 -
Ainsley Harriot,
Kim Williams,
Trevor Brooking

Show 7 -
Ant McPartlin,
Declan Donnelly,
Davina McCall

Show 8 -
John Parrott,
Carol Smillie,
Duncan Goodhew

Show 9 -
Rowland Rivron,
Dale Winton,
Clare Buckfield

Show 10 -
James Crossley,
Andrea Boardman,
Ian Walker

Transmissions

Trivia

On Series 3, Episode 10, Carmen Silvera's hairdressing challenge sponsor failed and she said that if her challenge sponsor failed, she would have to spend a day as a hairdresser's assistant, but she luckily escaped from her forfeit and we never actually got to see it, it was possibly due to Bruce Forsyth's departure.

From Series 4 to Series 8, Matthew Kelly was involved at every level of the programme, not just studio presenting but going on location to introduce outdoor challenges. He would also escort losing celebrities on their forfeits. This is in marked contrast to Bruce Forsyth, who never left the studio unless he had a forfeit, likewise with Darren Day, who stayed in the studio leaving his two female assistants to do location work.

On Series 5, Episode 7, the third challenge was to name 25 steam locomotives, the museum they are preserved at today, and the railway company originally used for. All 3 celebrities on the panel predicted 'YES' he'll succeed the challenge including sponsor Trevor Brooking, who confessed to being a "bus spotter" as a child, The audience predicted 98% 'YES' and 2% 'NO', Matthew Kelly emerged after the break in a miniature sized steam locomotive model complete with puffing smoke. The original challenge was scheduled to be completed in two minutes, however during rehearsal this was increased to three minutes, due to the excess of information to be relayed and the challenger to announce this clearly on television. In event the challenge was completed in 2 minutes during the live performance.

On Series 8, Episode 1, the second challenge was to name five of Prince's songs, the title of the album and the year which was released. All 4 celebrities on the panel predicted 'YES' he'll succeed the challenge, The audience predicted 96% 'YES' and 4% 'NO', Unfortunately the challenger got the final song wrong and no points were added on the celebrity panel except for the 4% of the audience who had predicted the challenge right to say 'NO'.

On Series 10, Episode 7, Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly and Davina McCall all appeared on the last ever series. All have since presented their own prime time Saturday night television shows on ITV. Ant & Dec also went on to present an American version of the show in 2008 on ABC. [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article987835.ece Howdy there, Geordie lads!] ]

Cancellation

At the end of Series 10, Darren Day promised viewers "we'll be back"; however, this did not happen. Just over a year later, in 1998, a new series called "Don't Try This at Home" appeared.

This programme was more extreme and stunt-based than "You Bet!", but two vital clues hinted that the new show was an evolution of its forerunner. Darren Day co-hosted with Davina McCall, and the studio floor was remarkably similar to that of "You Bet!". Only at this point did LWT admit "You Bet!" was no more.

References

External links

* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/You_Bet%21 "You Bet!"] at UKGameshows.com