The Generation Game 1971
What is 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.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1971
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 421
- Genres
- Reality, Comedy
- Updated
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
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.
Should you watch it?
“Four teams of two compete in this classic British game show featuring a iconic prize conveyor belt.”
- features a classic prize conveyor belt
- showcases family-based competition
- the series had multiple long hiatuses
Watch it if you enjoy classic British television game shows featuring family teams and prize rounds.
The show is a lighthearted family-oriented game show produced for Saturday night audiences.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 16 episodes
- E1 Series 1, Show 1 Oct 2, 1971
- E2 Series 1, Show 2 Oct 9, 1971
- E3 Series 1, Show 3 Oct 16, 1971
- E4 Series 1, Show 4 Oct 23, 1971
- E5 Series 1, Show 5 Oct 30, 1971
- E6 Series 1, Show 6 Nov 6, 1971
- E7 Series 1, Show 7 Nov 13, 1971
- E8 Series 1, Show 8 Nov 20, 1971
- E9 Series 1, Show 9 Nov 27, 1971
- E10 Series 1, Show 10 Dec 4, 1971
- E11 Series 1, Show 11 Dec 11, 1971
- E12 Series 1, Show 12 Dec 18, 1971
- E13 Christmas Special 1971 Dec 24, 1971
- E14 New Year Special 1972 Dec 31, 1971
- E15 Bank Holiday Special May 28, 1972
- E16 Series 1 Highlights Sep 9, 1972
Season 2 · 17 episodes
- E1 Series 2, Show 1 Sep 16, 1972
- E2 Series 2, Show 2 Sep 23, 1972
- E3 Series 2, Show 3 Sep 30, 1972
- E4 Series 2, Show 4 Oct 7, 1972
- E5 Series 2, Show 5 Oct 14, 1972
- E6 Series 2, Show 6 Oct 21, 1972
- E7 Series 2, Show 7 Oct 28, 1972
- E8 Series 2, Show 8 Nov 4, 1972
- E9 Series 2, Show 9 Nov 11, 1972
- E10 Series 2, Show 10 Nov 18, 1972
- E11 Series 2, Show 11 Nov 25, 1972
- E12 Series 2, Show 12 Dec 2, 1972
- E13 Series 2, Show 13 Dec 9, 1972
- E14 Series 2, Show 14 Dec 16, 1972
- E15 Christmas Special 1972 Dec 25, 1972
- E16 New Year Special 1973 Jan 1, 1973
- E17 Series 2 Highlights Sep 8, 1973
Season 3 · 23 episodes
- E1 Series 3, Show 1 Sep 15, 1973
- E2 Series 3, Show 2 Sep 22, 1973
- E3 Series 3, Show 3 Sep 29, 1973
- E4 Series 3, Show 4 Oct 6, 1973
- E5 Series 3, Show 5 Oct 13, 1973
- E6 Series 3, Show 6 Oct 20, 1973
- E7 Series 3, Show 7 Oct 27, 1973
- E8 Series 3, Show 8 Nov 3, 1973
- E9 Series 3, Show 9 Nov 10, 1973
- E10 Series 3, Show 10 Nov 17, 1973
- E11 Series 3, Show 11 Nov 24, 1973
- E12 Series 3, Show 12 Dec 1, 1973
- E13 Series 3, Show 13 Dec 8, 1973
- E14 Series 3, Show 14 Dec 15, 1973
- E15 Series 3, Show 15 Dec 22, 1973
- E16 Christmas Special 1973 Dec 25, 1973
- E17 Series 1, 2 & 3 Highlights Dec 29, 1973
- E18 Series 3, Show 16 Jan 5, 1974
- E19 Series 3, Show 17 Jan 12, 1974
- E20 Series 3, Show 18 Jan 19, 1974
- E21 Series 3, Show 19 Jan 26, 1974
- E22 Series 3 Highlights Sep 14, 1974
- E99 Episode 99 Feb 2, 1974
Season 4 · 22 episodes
- E1 Series 4, Show 1 Sep 21, 1974
- E2 Series 4, Show 2 Sep 28, 1974
- E3 Series 4, Show 3 Oct 5, 1974
- E4 Series 4, Show 4 Oct 12, 1974
- E5 Series 4, Show 5 Oct 19, 1974
- E6 Series 4, Show 6 Oct 26, 1974
- E7 Series 4, Show 7 Nov 2, 1974
- E8 Series 4, Show 8 Nov 9, 1974
- E9 Series 4, Show 9 Nov 16, 1974
- E10 Series 4, Show 10 Nov 23, 1974
- E11 Series 4, Show 11 Nov 30, 1974
- E12 Series 4, Show 12 Dec 7, 1974
- E13 Series 4, Show 13 Dec 14, 1974
- E14 Series 4, Show 14 Dec 21, 1974
- E15 Christmas Special 1974 Dec 25, 1974
- E16 Series 4 Highlights Dec 28, 1974
- E17 Series 4, Show 15 Jan 4, 1975
- E18 Series 4, Show 16 Jan 11, 1975
- E19 Series 4, Show 17 Jan 18, 1975
- E20 Series 4, Show 18 Jan 25, 1975
- E21 Series 4, Show 19 Feb 1, 1975
- E22 Series 4 Highlights Sep 20, 1975
Season 5 · 16 episodes
- E1 Series 5, Show 1 Sep 27, 1975
- E2 Series 5, Show 2 Oct 4, 1975
- E3 Series 5, Show 3 Oct 11, 1975
- E4 Series 5, Show 4 Oct 18, 1975
- E5 Series 5, Show 5 Oct 25, 1975
- E6 Series 5, Show 6 Nov 1, 1975
- E7 Series 5, Show 7 Nov 8, 1975
- E8 Series 5, Show 8 Nov 15, 1975
- E9 Series 5, Show 9 Nov 22, 1975
- E10 Series 5, Show 10 Nov 29, 1975
- E11 Series 5, Show 11 Dec 6, 1975
- E12 Series 5, Show 12 Dec 13, 1975
- E13 Series 5, Show 13 Dec 20, 1975
- E14 Christmas Special 1975 Dec 25, 1975
- E15 New Year Special 1976 Jan 1, 1976
- E16 Series 5 Highlights Sep 4, 1976
Frequently asked questions
What is the format of the show?
Four teams of two people from the same family, but different generations, compete to win prizes.
When did the show first air?
The program was first broadcast in 1971.
What was the show based on?
It was based on the Dutch television show Een van de acht, which was devised in 1969.
Who was involved in the original production?
The show was produced by the BBC and originally titled Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game.
How long did the show run?
The show ran from 1971 until 1982, and again from 1990 until 2002.