Bob Holness 1928 - 2012

One of British television's most legendary game show hosts has died at age 83. Born Robert Wentworth John Holness in South Africa, he will likely be forever best remembered as the host of the original British version of Blockbusters, which ran from 1983 to 1994. Needless to say, that show was a lot more successful in Britain than it was in America - incredibly, it was also played as a kids game show in Britain! Bob also had a lengthy stint as the host of Call My Bluff, as did seemingly everyone else - I've already reported the deaths of two other former Call My Bluff hosts (Peter Wheeler in June 2010 and Robert Robinson in August 2011).

The news of Bob's death comes soon after the report that a new British version of Blockbusters will premiere at some point in 2012. There's no information on who will host it, but let's whoever it is, he\she pays proper tribute to Bob.

A few other pieces of news:

• Denise Darcel, a French actress who hosted a few game shows in the early years of television, has died at age 87.
• The new game show It's Not What You Know will premiere on February 23 on BBC Radio 4 with host Miles Jupp. The premise appears to be more or less Celebrity Newlywed Game (or Tattletales, I guess). 
• Mill Creek Entertainment has pushed back the DVD release of Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? The Complete Series to February 21. As I've said before, Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? was the cartoon on Fox - the game shows on PBS were Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? and Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego?

That's all the news I've seen lately. Let me leave you with one more note - no discussion of the British version of Blockbusters is complete without noting that in the end credits of the Bob Holness version, the audience hand jives to the theme music. I've never embedded a YouTube video before, but this has to be seen to be believed.

If it helps, I verified the above link on the day this was posted.

Aaron