Blind Date (UK game show)
| Blind Date | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Dating game show |
| Presented by | Cilla Black |
| Voices of |
Graham Skidmore (1985–2002) Tommy Sandhu (2002–03) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 18 |
| No. of episodes | 373 (inc. 10 specials) |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | The London Studios |
| Running time |
45 minutes (Series 1–4) 50 minutes (Series 5) 60 minutes (Series 6–18) |
| Production company(s) | LWT |
| Distributor | ITV Studios |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format |
4:3 (1985–2001) 16:9 (2001–03) |
| Original release | 30 November 1985 – 31 May 2003 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows |
Blind Date: Kiss & Tell Take Me Out The Love Machine |
Blind Date is a British dating game show produced by London Weekend Television. An unscreened pilot was made with comic Duncan Norvelle as presenter[1] but it was eventually hosted by Cilla Black, who already hosted the LWT series, Surprise Surprise. Blind Date ran on Saturday nights from 30 November 1985 to 31 May 2003.
Blind Date returned on 16 October 2013, to celebrate Black's 50-year career in the entertainment industry. This special one-off was part of another programme, The One and Only Cilla Black, presented by Paul O'Grady.[2] Blind Date producers brought back three of the show's most memorable contestants who were still single, giving them a second chance to win a date.[3] However, the couple's date was not shown.
Blind Date is to return for a one-off special in December 2016 hosted by Louise Redknapp.
Format
The show had a format similar to the show known in Australia as Perfect Match or in the US as The Dating Game. Three singles of the same sex were introduced to the audience. They were then asked a question by a single of the opposite sex, who could hear but not see them, to choose with whom to go on a date. Before the decision 'Our Graham' (replaced on the final series by Tommy Sandhu), who was never seen, gave an amusing reminder of each contestant. The couple then picked an envelope naming their destination. The following episode showed the couple on their date, and interviews with them about the date and about each other. Locations ranged from Bognor Regis or a date in an ice cream factory, to Anguilla or the Maldives.
In the final series, the format was tweaked; the "Ditch or Date?" twist was added to the show.[4] Also, a behind-the-scenes companion show, called Blind Date: Kiss & Tell was produced for ITV2 and hosted by Sarah Cawood and Brendan Courtney.
In 2003, the show was broadcast live to try to improve dwindling ratings.
Production
A pilot was shot in early 1985 fronted by comedian Duncan Norvelle. John Birt, LWT's director of programmes, and the IBA regulatory body had reservations about Norvelle's camp style. Black had seen The Dating Game in the US and enthused about it to LWT's Alan Boyd, who produced Surprise, Surprise and who made the Norvelle pilot. After two pilots starring Black, the series was commissioned.[1] Thelma Pickles, an old girlfriend of John Lennon, worked as a producer on the show.[5] The distinctive theme music for Blind Date has a strong resemblance to the jazz standard "Soft Winds".
A notable outtake occurred in a later series when Cilla momentarily forgot the name of the announcer.
Popularity
At the height of its popularity in the 1980s, 18.2 million tuned in on a Saturday night. Black's scouse accent and her catchphrases became familiar throughout the United Kingdom. The first episode of Series 17, on 10 November 2001, was reportedly watched at 19:00 GMT by seven million viewers – 32% of the audience. Although, this was around a million fewer than tuned in to its debut episode in the previous series.[6] This was likely to state that its popularity was on the wane.
Viewing figures declined to 5 million by 2003. The final episode in May 2003 was seen by 2.9 million viewers.[7]
Cancellation
The series ended in 2003 when, during an episode on 4 January 2003 (the first to be broadcast live), Black announced she was quitting the show.[8][9] The production crew had not been told. Production was halted after the series ended; Dale Winton and Paul O'Grady were to be in line for her replacement[10] but the show was later cancelled. ITV had been refused permission to make changes to the format by Columbia, the US company which owned Blind Date.
However, ITV briefly aired a similar replacement show in 2004 hosted by Davina McCall, called Love on a Saturday Night and since 2010, Take Me Out, hosted by Paddy McGuinness which is still airing.
Famous contestants
Blind Date featured celebrities before they became well known. These include:
- Mark Speight (1989)[11][12][13]
- Amanda Holden (1990)[14]
- Howard Griffiths (1993)[15]
- Ed Byrne (1993)[16]
- Jenni Falconer (1994)[17]
- Ortis Deley (1995)[18]
- Nikki Grahame (2003)[19]
- A Comic Relief special in 1993 had Mr Bean on the show. The sketch featured Rowan Atkinson as Bean, Barbara Durkin as Bean's date Tracy, and Cilla Black.
- A 2002 celebrity Christmas edition featured Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and Alex Sibley (2002)[20]
Weddings
During the show's history, three Blind Date weddings took place and were watched by millions of television viewers. Black was a guest at the weddings.
- Sue Middleton & Alex Tatham (1991) – met on the show in 1988, married in October 1991 and celebrated 25 years together in 2013[21]
- Lillian Morris & David Fenson (1994) – they married in February 1994 in Tiverton, Devon[22]
- Anna Azonwanna & Paul Pratt (1998) – met on the show in September 1993 and married October 1998 in Barbados.[23] The other couples also attended the wedding with Cilla.[24]
On 29 December 2001, the episode saw contestant Hannarle Davies from Essex propose to Mark Ackerell from Buckinghamshire; after they fell in love on their date to Vienna, Austria.[25]
Minor controversy
A contestant named Nicola Gill came on the show, claiming she was a temporary secretary, when she was actually a journalist for Cosmopolitan Magazine. When Black found out about this, she exploited the truth on the show, leading Gill to get booed by the audience, and her date to go away in total shock. Her date was later brought back on a different episode and offered a second chance, but as the one choosing from the three girls.
Transmissions
Series
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 November 1985 | 11 January 1986 | 7 |
| 2 | 30 August 1986 | 21 December 1986 | 15 |
| 3 | 5 September 1987 | 25 December 1987 | 17 |
| 4 | 3 September 1988 | 24 December 1988 | 17 |
| 5 | 16 September 1989 | 10 February 1990 | 21 |
| 6 | 29 September 1990 | 2 February 1991 | 19 |
| 7 | 7 September 1991 | 25 January 1992 | 19 |
| 8 | 10 October 1992 | 27 March 1993 | 21 |
| 9 | 18 September 1993 | 5 February 1994 | 18 |
| 10 | 1 October 1994 | 4 March 1995 | 22 |
| 11 | 16 September 1995 | 2 March 1996 | 24 |
| 12 | 28 September 1996 | 8 March 1997 | 24 |
| 13 | 20 September 1997 | 14 March 1998 | 26 |
| 14 | 21 November 1998 | 15 May 1999 | 24 |
| 15 | 20 November 1999 | 13 May 2000 | 24 |
| 16 | 18 November 2000 | 5 May 2001 | 24 |
| 17 | 10 November 2001 | 25 May 2002 | 25 |
| 18 | 19 October 2002 | 31 May 2003 | 26 |
Specials
| Date | Entitle |
|---|---|
| 29 July 1989 | The Best of Blind Date |
| 22 September 1990 | The Best of Blind Date |
| 9 February 1991 | The Best of Blind Date |
| 20 October 1991 | Blind Date Wedding of the Year |
| 18 July 1992 | Telethon Special |
| 1 January 1994 | The Best of Blind Date |
| 12 February 1994 | Wedding & Best of the Rest |
| 31 December 1994 | The Tenth Anniversary Show |
| 13 September 1997 | Blind Date Exclusive |
| 14 November 1998 | Blind Date Exclusive 2 |
| 20 June 1999 | Blind Date Wedding 1998 |
Ratings
Series 14
| Episode no. | Air date | Viewers (millions)[26] | ITV weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 November 1998 | 8.81 | 18 |
| 2 | 28 November 1998 | 8.86 | 20 |
| 3 | 5 December 1998 | 9.17 | 17 |
| 4 | 12 December 1998 | 8.95 | 17 |
| 5 | 19 December 1998 | 9.06 | 14 |
| 6 | 2 January 1999 | 8.52 | 20 |
| 7 | 9 January 1999 | 9.70 | 25 |
| 8 | 16 January 1999 | 9.48 | 24 |
| 9 | 23 January 1999 | 9.67 | 17 |
| 10 | 30 January 1999 | 9.83 | 13 |
| 11 | 6 February 1999 | 9.96 | 13 |
| 12 | 13 February 1999 | 9.70 | 13 |
| 13 | 20 February 1999 | 9.82 | 13 |
| 14 | 27 February 1999 | 9.82 | 15 |
| 15 | 6 March 1999 | 10.27 | 16 |
| 16 | 13 March 1999 | 8.13 | 26 |
| 17 | 20 March 1999 | 8.56 | 20 |
| 18 | 27 March 1999 | 8.29 | 19 |
| 19 | 3 April 1999 | 8.41 | 15 |
| 20 | 10 April 1999 | 8.12 | 18 |
| 21 | 17 April 1999 | 8.69 | 15 |
| 22 | 24 April 1999 | 7.84 | 17 |
| 23 | 8 May 1999 | 8.19 | 14 |
| 24 | 15 May 1999 | 7.90 | 17 |
Series 15
| Episode no. | Air date | Viewers (millions)[26] | ITV weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 November 1999 | 10.05 | 16 |
| 2 | 27 November 1999 | 10.21 | 9 |
| 3 | 4 December 1999 | 9.58 | 13 |
| 4 | 11 December 1999 | 9.78 | 9 |
| 5 | 18 December 1999 | 9.85 | 11 |
| 6 | 1 January 2000 | 7.74 | 19 |
| 7 | 8 January 2000 | 8.93 | 16 |
| 8 | 15 January 2000 | 8.14 | 21 |
| 9 | 22 January 2000 | 9.39 | 20 |
| 10 | 29 January 2000 | 8.88 | 14 |
| 11 | 5 February 2000 | 8.93 | 14 |
| 12 | 12 February 2000 | 8.26 | 21 |
| 13 | 19 February 2000 | 9.00 | 15 |
| 14 | 26 February 2000 | 9.60 | 10 |
| 15 | 4 March 2000 | 9.51 | 13 |
| 16 | 18 March 2000 | 9.11 | 11 |
| 17 | 25 March 2000 | 8.47 | 15 |
| 18 | 1 April 2000 | 8.80 | 20 |
| 19 | 8 April 2000 | 8.97 | 16 |
| 20 | 15 April 2000 | 8.71 | 12 |
| 21 | 22 April 2000 | 7.81 | 15 |
| 22 | 29 April 2000 | 7.10 | 17 |
| 23 | 6 May 2000 | 7.21 | 20 |
| 24 | 13 May 2000 | 6.77 | 17 |
Series 16
| Episode no. | Air date | Viewers (millions)[26] | ITV weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 November 2000 | 8.39 | 19 |
| 2 | 25 November 2000 | 8.27 | 20 |
| 3 | 2 December 2000 | 8.37 | 26 |
| 4 | 9 December 2000 | 8.07 | 21 |
| 5 | 16 December 2000 | 8.06 | 15 |
| 6 | 23 December 2000 | 7.31 | 21 |
| 7 | 30 December 2000 | 8.62 | 20 |
| 8 | 6 January 2001 | 8.13 | 22 |
| 9 | 13 January 2001 | 8.65 | 18 |
| 10 | 20 January 2001 | 8.79 | 20 |
| 11 | 27 January 2001 | 8.98 | 19 |
| 12 | 3 February 2001 | 9.19 | 18 |
| 13 | 17 February 2001 | 7.98 | 22 |
| 14 | 24 February 2001 | 8.30 | 19 |
| 15 | 3 March 2001 | 8.20 | 21 |
| 16 | 10 March 2001 | 8.33 | 16 |
| 17 | 17 March 2001 | 8.17 | 18 |
| 18 | 24 March 2001 | 7.39 | 24 |
| 19 | 31 March 2001 | 7.29 | 21 |
| 20 | 7 April 2001 | 7.46 | 20 |
| 21 | 14 April 2001 | 7.00 | 22 |
| 22 | 21 April 2001 | 7.58 | 18 |
| 23 | 28 April 2001 | 7.20 | 22 |
| 24 | 5 May 2001 | 6.36 | 24 |
Series 17
| Episode no. | Air date | Viewers (millions)[26] | ITV weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 November 2001 | 7.11 | 19 |
| 2 | 17 November 2001 | 7.14 | 19 |
| 3 | 24 November 2001 | 7.66 | 18 |
| 4 | 1 December 2001 | 7.77 | 17 |
| 5 | 8 December 2001 | 7.46 | 18 |
| 6 | 15 December 2001 | 7.58 | 19 |
| 7 | 22 December 2001 | 6.64 | 18 |
| 8 | 29 December 2001 | 7.41 | 16 |
| 9 | 5 January 2002 | 7.03 | 19 |
| 10 | 12 January 2002 | 6.40 | 19 |
| 11 | 19 January 2002 | 6.71 | 18 |
| 12 | 26 January 2002 | 7.73 | 17 |
| 13 | 2 February 2002 | 7.21 | 18 |
| 14 | 16 February 2002 | 6.49 | 19 |
| 15 | 23 February 2002 | 6.41 | 21 |
| 16 | 2 March 2002 | 6.38 | 18 |
| 17 | 9 March 2002 | 6.15 | 20 |
| 18 | 16 March 2002 | 6.53 | 17 |
| 19 | 23 March 2002 | 6.03 | 18 |
| 20 | 6 April 2002 | 5.90 | 19 |
| 21 | 13 April 2002 | 5.13 | 21 |
| 22 | 20 April 2002 | 5.36 | 22 |
| 23 | 4 May 2002 | 4.69 | 20 |
| 24 | 18 May 2002 | 4.60 | 24 |
| 25 | 25 May 2002 | 5.31 | 19 |
Series 18
| Episode no. | Air date | Viewers (millions)[26] | ITV weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 October 2002 | 5.69 | 22 |
| 2 | 26 October 2002 | 5.53 | 23 |
| 3 | 2 November 2002 | 5.81 | 23 |
| 4 | 9 November 2002 | 6.11 | 23 |
| 5 | 16 November 2002 | 5.93 | 23 |
| 6 | 23 November 2002 | 6.04 | 22 |
| 7 | 30 November 2002 | 5.05 | 25 |
| 8 | 7 December 2002 | 5.18 | 25 |
| 9 | 14 December 2002 | 5.25 | 26 |
| 10 | 21 December 2002 | 5.39 | 24 |
| 11 | 28 December 2002 | 5.90 | 17 |
| 12 | 4 January 2003 | 6.77 | 18 |
| 13 | 11 January 2003 | 5.87 | 22 |
| 14 | 18 January 2003 | 5.31 | 26 |
| 15 | 25 January 2003 | 5.23 | 26 |
| 16 | 1 February 2003 | 5.01 | 28 |
| 17 | 8 February 2003 | Under 5.21 | Outside Top 30 |
| 18 | 15 February 2003 | 6.17 | 19 |
| 19 | 22 February 2003 | 4.44 | 30 |
| 20 | 1 March 2003 | 4.55 | 30 |
| 21 | 8 March 2003 | 4.26 | 30 |
| 22 | 15 March 2003 | Under 4.78 | Outside Top 30 |
| 23 | 10 May 2003 | Under 5.15 | Outside Top 30 |
| 24 | 17 May 2003 | Under 3.95 | Outside Top 30 |
| 25 | 24 May 2003 | Under 4.23 | Outside Top 30 |
| 26 | 31 May 2003 | Under 3.52 | Outside Top 30 |
References
- 1 2 Jennings, Luke (6 March 1994). "Independent on Sunday, 6 March 1994". The Independent. London. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- ↑ "The One And Only Cilla Black". ITV Press Centre. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ↑ Tom Eames (14 June 2013). "Cilla Black to host one-off 'Blind Date' on ITV for 50th anniversary". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Charlie Brooker's Screen burn: Blind Date". The Guardian. 26 October 2002.
- ↑ Beatles Girls, Thelma Pickles page, Jeannette Caserta
- ↑ "Blind Date makes strong return". BBC News Online. 4 January 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ↑ "ITV gives 'Blind Date' the axe". Digital Spy. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ↑ "Cilla quits Blind Date". BBC News Online. 4 January 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ↑ "Cilla quits 'Blind Date' after fronting the popular dating-game show for 18 years!". Cillablack.com. 7 January 2003.
- ↑ "Blind Date to continue". BBC News Online. 6 January 2003.
- ↑ Speight in Blind Date
- ↑ Revealed: The spot where tragic TV star Mark Speight's body hung undiscovered for six days
- ↑ Blind Date Christmas 1989
- ↑ Amanda Holden
- ↑ Biography Howard Griffiths
- ↑ Ed Byrne
- ↑ How Jenni played a Blinder; GMTV's Jenni Falconer may have got her big break on Blind Date but she still hasn't found love
- ↑ Blind Date Veterans
- ↑ Nikki Grahame
- ↑ Tara Palmer-Tompkinson
- ↑ "Blind Date couple who met on Cilla Black's TV show still happy together after 25 years". Daily Mirror. 30 June 2013.
- ↑ "Granada's hot new date: It started 30 years ago as one man's tentative idea. Today, as Blind Date, it is one of the most valuable properties in British television - and, like it or not, a part of our national heritage". The Independent. 6 March 1994. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ↑ "Matchmaker Cilla Black celebrates the third 'Blind Date' wedding with a lavish TV special". Cillablack.com. 10 June 1999. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ↑ "BLIND DATE (Blind Date Wedding 1998)". ITN Source. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ↑ "Blind Date contestant's proposal". BBC News Online. 29 December 2001. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
External links
- Blind Date (UK) at the Internet Movie Database
- Blind Date (UK) at BFI
- Blind Date (UK) at UKGameshows.com