Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1980s Television
    1980s Television 1990s Television Shows P Variety 2 Mins Read

    Play Your Cards Right

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 0 – 1 9 8 7 (UK)
    1 9 8 4 (Australia)
    1 9 9 4 – 1 9 9 9 (UK)

    Based on the American game show Card Sharks, the British LWT version Play Your Cards Right turned up trumps for Bruce Forsyth in 1980.

    There was no shortage of contestants happy to behave on television as they might on the last night of a club 18-30 holiday, and apparently there were 13 million viewers who could stand the “higher” and “lower” shouting from Rent-a-Mob audiences as contestants had to say if a card was greater or smaller than a previous one.

    playyourcardsright_033

    Bruce was assisted by his ‘Dolly Dealers’, including Jan Michelle, Denny Kemp, Zena Clifton, Natalie Shaw, Sheryl Deane, Sharon Amos, Maxine Restall and Charlie Maloney.

    The game relied upon market research which discovered the answer to such vital questions as “How many people out of one hundred think Bo Derek is flat-chested?”

    But they stirred up trouble with the Crossroads producers when the correct answer to how many actresses out of one hundred would accept a part in the much-mocked soap turned out to be only slightly more than half.

    It seemed that 43% said they wouldn’t go near it . . .

    playyourcardsright

    By 1987 the game’s audience had dropped to 8 million and Bruce decided to quit.

    LWT produced a new version from 1994 to 1999, luring Forsyth back.

    A short-lived Australian version was produced by the Grundy organisation in 1984 with ex-pat British comedian ‘Ugly’ Dave Gray starring, supported by Kerrie Friend and Adele Bailey.

    Related Posts

    • familyfortunes
      Family Fortunes
      1 9 8 0 - 2 0 0 2 (UK) ATV bought the British rights to an American game show called Family…
    • winnertakesall7
      Winner Takes All
      1 9 7 5 - 1 9 8 7 (UK) Jimmy Tarbuck welcomed the guests and the unseen Geoffrey Wheeler…
    • Let's Play Post Office
      Let's Play Post Office
      1 9 6 5 - 1 9 6 6 (USA) This game show aired in colour on weekdays, Monday to Friday,…
    • gambit7
      Gambit
      1 9 7 5 - 1 9 8 5 (UK) The British version of this American game show - based on…
    • priceisright00
      Price Is Right, The
      1 9 5 6 - present (USA) 1 9 8 1 - 1 9 8 6 (Australia) 1 9 8 4 -…
    • Balance Your Budget
      Balance Your Budget
      1 9 5 2 - 1 9 5 3 (USA) 30 minute episodes Bert Parks - billed as "the keeper…
    • breakbank9
      Break The Bank
      1 9 4 8 - 1 9 5 7 (USA) Originally heard on the radio in 1945, Break The Bank was one of…
    • Make Me Laugh
      Make Me Laugh
      1 9 8 3 (UK) 13 x 30 minute episodes Based on an American show of the same name, this Friday…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleMcGuinness Flint
    Next Article Fuzztones, The

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.
    Thank you so much. Enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    You may also like

    • bruceforsythsbignight033
      Bruce Forsyth's Big Night
      1 9 7 8 (UK) 12 x 120/90 minute episodes 1978 was not Bruce Forsyth's year. Since 1971 he had dominated…
    • Card Sharks
      Card Sharks
      1 9 7 8 - 1 9 8 1 (USA) 1 9 8 6 - 1 9 8 9 (USA) 30 minute…
    • generationgame29
      Generation Game, The
      1 9 7 1 - 1 9 8 2 (UK) 1 9 9 0 - 2 0 0 2 (UK) 2 0…
    • priceisright00
      Price Is Right, The
      1 9 5 6 - present (USA) 1 9 8 1 - 1 9 8 6 (Australia) 1 9 8 4 -…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.