Blankety Blank

- Season 1

(1979)

Terry Wogan introduces a brand new quiz show, where he reads out sentences with a vital word missing - the "blankety blank" of the title. If contestants give the same answer as a panel of celebrities, they can go on to win prizes.

Terry Wogan returns with Wendy Craig and five other new panellists in the second episode of the quiz show.

Beryl Reid makes her first of 26 appearances on the quiz, and sets up a long-running joke between herself and Terry: the idea that there's a man under her desk, not only taking her used question cards, but making sure she's "entertained".

Terry Wogan hosts the fourth edition of the quiz, with three celebrity guests brand new to the programme: Brian Murphy, Jon Pertwee and Isla St. Clair.

Guest panellist Michael Barrymore becomes entranced by the eccentricity of Margaret Powell, while Bernie Winters questions Kate O'Mara's inability to get a single answer right

Regulars Lorraine Chase and Patrick Moore are joined by newcomers Paul Daniels and Anna Dawson, plus the sole appearances of Derek Griffiths and Peggy Mount. One thing they share is love of teasing Terry, including pretending to be asleep.

In a low-scoring game where even the winning contestants get hardly any points, the "Taxi Driver Of The Year 1979" challenges Peter Jones to earn his fee.

The first appearance on the panel of David Jason, Ted Moult, Alfred Marks and Janet Brown. It's also the debut of Terry's Columbo impression - but will he keep it together when impersonating Marcus Welby's nurse?

Marti Caine makes her only appearance on the show, but Terry is in a dominant mood, threatening to lock the audience in, reminding the panellists that he can punch his weight, and telling Jerry Stevens that "I'll smash you in the mouth".

Eddie Waring makes his sole appearance on the programme, while Nicholas Parsons makes his first of four.

Lorraine Chase argues for the benefits of phonetic English, noting that "whoever first discovers the word does it all wrong". Plus, Humphrey Lyttelton makes his sole appearance, Terry complaining "I said it was a mistake having him on".

Mollie Sugden and Dilys Watling make their first guest spots on the panel, while Alexandra Bastedo and Peter Bull make their sole appearances. Meanwhile, Paul Daniels has some surprises for Terry.

The celebrity panellists have so much trouble matching any correct answers with the contestants that they turn to cheating to try and get some points. Lennie Bennett gets away with it - but for how long?

The first episode to feature seven panellists, as Keith Harris is joined by Orville. However, Terry is more dismayed by the series of wrong answers, noting "I always start this show sprightly as a button, and I end up on me knees."

Terry contends with the emergence of the STWW - Stop Terry Wogan Working - revolts from the studio audience, and contestants offering to sell him their prizes.

A chaotic, chart-topping series finale that sees Terry declare "I've got a terrible feeling that this is going to be one of those shows". Half of the celebrities come armed with props, with getting correct answers the last thing in mind.