British game/quiz show hosts

Veteran entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth had a career spanning eight decades, in which he went from struggling variety performer to Saturday night TV stardom. On the way, he became one of the most recognisable entertainers in the business, driven by what appeared to be inexhaustible energy. He became synonymous with the plethora of game shows that seemed to dominate television light entertainment in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, although he often felt he had become typecast as the genial quizmaster. And at an age when most performers would have put their feet up, his career enjoyed a huge revival with the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing (2004). Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson was born in Edmonton, north London, on 22 February 1928. His father owned a local garage and both his parents were Salvation Army members who sang and played music at home.

Bruce was a direct descendant of William Forsyth, a founder of the Royal Horticultural Society, whose name was given to the plant forsythia. His interest in showbusiness was kindled at the age of eight and he was reportedly found tap-dancing on the flat roof after watching his first Fred Astaire film.

He made his stage debut at the age of 14 as Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom, appearing bottom of the bill at the Theatre Royal, Bilston. Live entertainment was a way of escaping the pressures and dangers of wartime Britain, and there was a huge demand for acts, no matter how bad they were.

But there was to be no fast track to success. For the next 16 years he performed in church halls and theatres across the country, sleeping in train luggage racks and waiting for the big break. It came in 1958, at a time when he had been unemployed for more than three months and was seriously considering giving up on showbusiness. He was asked to present Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955), a televised variety show, made by Lord Grade's ATV company for the ITV network. He'd finally found the fame he had always craved, appearing not in front of a couple of hundred people in a theatre, but the more than 10 million who regularly tuned in to the show.

Originally booked for two weeks, he stayed five years, by which time he was Britain's highest-paid entertainer, earning £1,000 a week (£18,700 in today's money). But he continued touring with his variety show and the strain of combining this with his Palladium appearances took a toll on his private life. He divorced his first wife, Penny Calvert, a dancer he'd met in the theatre, and she wrote an account of her husband's perpetual absence, called Darling, Your Dinner's in the Dustbin. A popular element in his Palladium show was a feature called Beat the Clock, in which contestants, egged on by Forsyth, had to complete quirky tasks as a huge clock ticked down.

The segment gave a hint of his future television role and he went on to host some of the most popular television game shows of the 1970s and 80s. With his catchphrases of "Nice to see you, to see you nice" and "Didn't he do well?" he reigned supreme at the helm of the BBC's The Generation Game (1971) for six years from 1971, and again at the beginning of the 1990s. At its peak, the programme attracted 20 million viewers, who tuned in to watch Forsyth seemingly having more fun than the competitors, enthusing over the mundane prizes on the conveyor belt. The presenter argued with his BBC managers about the show's early evening timeslot but he eventually accepted his role as the "warm-up man" for Saturday night television.

His co-host on the show, Anthea Redfern, was each week encouraged to "give us a twirl". The couple married in 1973 but divorced six years later. It was on The Generation Game (1971) that he introduced his famous "thinker" pose, appearing in silhouette at the beginning of each show. The idea came from the classic circus strongman pose, something he'd perfected during his days in variety. He repeated his success on ITV's Play Your Cards Right (1980), where the audience joined in the cries of "higher" or "lower" as the contestants tried to guess the value of a series of playing cards.

In 1995, a year after his final Generation Game appearance, he received a lifetime achievement award for variety at the British Comedy Awards and began hosting ITV's The Price is Right (1972). The entertainer was, by this time, a Rolls-Royce-driving multimillionaire and married since 1983 to Wilnelia Merced, a former Miss World. He later claimed that he regretted becoming so associated with game shows and wished he'd done more variety work on TV.

Play Your Cards Right (1980) was axed in 1999 and, with changing tastes in entertainment, his TV career began to slide. He returned to the theatre - but experienced an unexpected revival after his wife watched an edition of the satirical quiz, Have I Got News For You, and suggested he could present the programme. After calling show regular Paul Merton, he landed the gig and offered to be "a little bit deadpan". "But the team said, 'No, be Bruce Forsyth,'" he said. He used the occasion to parody some of his old game shows, much to the ill-disguised disgust of team captain Ian Hislop. But the appearance led to Forsyth, an accomplished tap dancer, being offered the job of hosting Strictly Come Dancing (2004), which began a year later. Viewed with scepticism when it launched, the celebrity dance show became one of the most-watched programmes on TV by the time it reached its fifth series in 2007. He brought his own brand of avuncular good humour to the proceedings - reassuring many of the contestants with the phrase "you're my favourites".

After missing a handful of episodes because of illness, he decided to "step down from the rigours" of presenting Strictly in 2014.

He continued to host the Christmas and charity editions of Strictly until 2014 - all of which were taped, as opposed to live broadcasts. Away from entertainment, Forsyth's biggest passion was golf and he took part in many pro-celebrity tournaments. His house was next to the course at Wentworth, where he played with many of the world's best players, practising in the bunker in his own back garden.

During his career, Forsyth's multiple talents and years of application sparked an enduring appeal. In 2011 he was knighted after years of campaigning by his fans and a parliamentary Early Day Motion signed by 73 MPs. But he suffered from ill health towards the end of his life, and in 2016 his wife revealed he still had "a bit of a problem moving", following major surgery a year earlier. Sir Bruce was one of the last entertainers from the tradition of music hall to be working on British television. In many ways his act barely changed. The same corny gags, the same toothy smile and, above all, the same manic enthusiasm. He is particularly remembered for his ability to transform run-of-the-mill party games into glorious moments of mayhem that enthralled contestants and audiences alike.

He died in August 2017 at his home in Virginia Water, Surrey, England, UK following a period of ill health. He was 89. He was survived by his third wife.

One of British TV's most popular performers with a career that spanned over four decades, funny-man Bob Monkhouse started off as a radio broadcaster (1947) and stand-up comic. He earned success early on as a gag writer, partnering with Denis Goodwin.

In 1953, the duo won their own TV show called Fast and Loose (1954), which was sketch-comedy based. A nightclub comedian to boot, he also pursued films on occasion appearing in such slapstick dillies as Carry on Sergeant (1958), Dentist in the Chair (1960), Dentist on the Job (1961) and A Weekend with Lulu (1961). But TV would be his prime venue, and he moved quite easily into various parlor game and variety show hosting duties.

For Love or Money (1959) was his first, a Brit version of "Candid Camera". Along the way, he found emceeing chores with The London Palladium Show (1966), The Golden Shot (1967) (which made him a household name), Celebrity Squares (1975) (based on The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965)), Family Fortunes (1980), "The $64,000 Question", Opportunity Knocks (1956), The National Lottery (1994), and many others. Monkhouse died in 2003 of prostate cancer.

Chris Tarrant is regarded by many as the king of popular broadcasting. With his popular breakfast show on Capital Radio and his regular peak-time appearances on ITV he's the biggest personality on UK commercial radio and has done wonders for the popularity of ITV's Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, which is now the world's most successful quiz show.

He was born on the 10th of October, 1946, and attended King's School, Worcester, from 1960 to 1964 where he showed a flair for hockey and cricket. Chris has described this period of his life as an unhappy one, owing to the very-strict nature of King's School, and in typical Tarrant style he described it as a 'modern day Iran'.

He later turned down a place at Oxford University, selecting instead to attend the University of Birmingham to read English. Following graduation, he worked for a while as an English teacher in Brockley, East London. His time as a teacher proved to be eventful, and for six months he had to live in a grey mini van in the grounds of the school after walking out on a girlfriend and having no place to stay.

When his teaching contract came to an end, he decided to pursue his dream of working in television. Tarrant took up work as a truck driver whilst writing a series insolent letters to television companies, claiming he was the face of the 1970s and they should grab the chance to hire him. Incredibly, his bold persistence paid off and he was invited by the Midlands-based ATV for an audition and ended up as a newsreader on the regional bulletins.

Chris reported on ATV's main daytime bulletins, which included light-hearted stories which helped raise his profile. In 1974, ATV wanted to develop a new show and it needed a host. They offered the job to Tarrant. He eagerly accepted and became the host of 'Tiswas', a Saturday morning children's show and his popularity soon soared.

In 1984, Tarrant joined Capital Radio as a presenter, initially presenting the station's lunchtime show, then from 1987 until 2004 he hosted Capital Breakfast. The show was immensely popular, increasing Capital Radio's audience share in London.

On 1 January 1993, when Thames Television dissolved and was replaced by Carlton Television, Tarrant hosted the first programme of the franchise, A Carlton New Year. Also in 1993, Tarrant hosted Lose A Million, in which contestants started off with a million pounds and were required to lose it by aiming to incorrectly answer a set of questions--a game-show that in some ways was a precursor to Who Wants to be a Millionaire. H

Tarrant is also the long-term host of Tarrant on TV, a programme which shows clips featuring a number of unusual television programmes from around the world. He has presented the show since 1990.

He began to host the popular television quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 1998, and since then the show has gone on to have series in over 100 other countries, and in 2002, the UK version merged with the Irish version.

In June 2008 it was announced he would return to radio, hosting a weekly Saturday morning show for the GMG Radio network of stations including London's 102.2 Smooth Radio, Real Radio (Scotland) and the North West's Century Radio.

Chris' charity work, for which he received an OBE in 2004 includes: being an ambassador for the homeless charity, Centrepoint; Trustee/Patron of The New School at West Heath for disadvantaged children (the school previously being a private school for girls that Diana, Princess of Wales attended); patron of Milly's Fund, set up in memory of murdered Surrey teenager "Milly" Dowler; patron of the Phoenix Centre for children with special needs. Chris is represented in London by Useful Talent.

David Coleman was born on 26 April 1926 in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England, UK. He was an actor and producer, known for Sports Retort (1955), Without Limits (1998) and FA Cup Classics (2009). He was married to Barbara. He died on 21 December 2013 in Warwickshire, England, UK.

Alexander Armstrong was born on 2 March 1970 in Rothbury, Northumberland, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for The Armstrong and Miller Show (2007), Match Point (2005) and Plunkett & Macleane (1999). He has been married to Hannah Bronwen Snow since 27 August 2003. They have three children.

Bob Holness was the second actor to portray James Bond, starring in a 1957 South African radio dramatization of 'Moonraker'. Born in South Africa in 1928 he moved to Kent, England at a young age and grew up during the Second World War. A career as an actor followed which took him back to the land of his birth where he met Mary Rose whom he soon married. They had two children, Carol Ann (born 2 May 1956) and Rosalind, before returning to Great Britain where another child, Jonathan was born (9 June 1967). His career spanned radio, TV and theatre although he is best known as the presenter of 'Blockbusters', a role which won him a cult like following. He presented the BBC daytime quiz show 'Call My Bluff' as well as various guest work and work on radio.

Bradley Walsh was born on 4 June 1960 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Coronation Street (1960), Law & Order: UK (2009) and The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007). He has been married to Donna Derby since 1997. They have one child.

Ulrika Jonsson is a United Kingdom-based Swedish television presenter and model.

She became known as a TV-am weather presenter, moved on to present Gladiators, and became a team captain of the show Shooting Stars.

After working as a secretary, Jonsson began her television career on TV-am in 1989, as a weather presenter on Good Morning, Britain. From 12 September 1989, she was the weather presenter for Swedish TV3, broadcasting from London. In 1991, she co-presented the short-lived daytime quiz show Who's Bluffing Who?, and starred in the French film, The Annunciation of Marie (1991). In 1992, she moved into mainstream presenting and played host to numerous shows including Gladiators, The National Lottery Draws plus two major international broadcasts in 1998 and 1999, the Eurovision Song Contest and Miss World respectively. She also modelled for Playtex Lingerie during this period and was a team captain on the BBC TV quiz show Shooting Stars. In 2002, she was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, Ulrika Jonsson: the Truth About Men. The programme featured a candid interview with Jonsson, received heavy press attention and attracted 2.8 million viewers.

Born in Cheltenham, England, Richard Smith's family moved to Tauranga, New Zealand, in 1951 when his father, an accountant, decided to become a sheep farmer. Watching horror and science-fiction double features in nearby Hamilton, Smith added an interest in acting to his love of rock and roll. He moved back to England in 1964, tried singing, then became a movie stuntman and fringe theater actor. He changed his name to O'Brien (his beloved maternal grandmother's name) one day while on the phone to British Actors Equity, to avoid confusion with another Richard Smith. He met director Jim Sharman in 1972, when Sharman cast him in the dual roles of Apostle and Leper for the London stage production (transferred from Sharman's native Australia) of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Working again with Sharman on a production of Sam Shepard's "The Unseen Hand", O'Brien mentioned a new rock musical he'd been writing called "Rock Horror." The play went into rehearsals as "They Came from Denton High," and at Sharman's suggestion, was retitled "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" before opening in June 1973.

Bamber Gascoigne was born on 24 January 1935 in London, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Dig This Rhubarb (1963), Jonathan Creek (1997) and Connoisseur (1988). He was married to Christina Ditchburn. He died on 8 February 2022 in Richmond, London, England, UK.

Born Anne Josephine Robinson on September 26, 1944 in Crosby, Liverpool, England, this famous host of the BBC and NBC quiz show The Weakest Link (2001) started her career as a journalist for Rediffusion. She made her way up by working on the Daily Mail, Sunday Times and Daily Mirror. It was at the Mirror where she was to make her mark, being Assistant Editor throughout the 1980s and early 1990s; she was the first woman to regularly edit a national newspaper.

She credits that most of her formative education was gleaned not from attending the convent boarding school or university, but from working on her mother's "marled" stall. She is one of Great Britain's most distinguished broadcasters and journalists and was made an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool's John Moores University in 1996.

She is well-known (even in America) for her red hair, her dark Giorgio Armani suits, her impatience with organizations that give customers a raw deal (she was the host of the prime time BBC 1 consumer affairs show Watchdog (1985)) and, of course, her wink (which was developed when, in 1987, the director of right-to-reply show Points of View (1961) asked her not to wink - she subsequently winked at the end of every program).

She is married to journalist John Penrose, who also acts as her personal manager (and whom she both divorced and remarried in 1994). Her daughter Emma, from her first husband, Charlie Wilson, is a graduate of the prestigious New York University and works as a freelance television director, writer and presenter in London and New York. Anne Robinson divides her time between her house in Kensington and her home in the Cotswolds, where she enjoys walking her English Setters: Maudie and Sebastian.

John Richard Whiteley, a staunchly proud Yorkshireman, was a much-loved television presenter and journalist, born in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1943. He was best known for being the presenter of the long running UK Channel 4 television show Countdown (1982).

However, prior to this he was primarily a journalist, working as a reporter for Yorkshire Television, one of whose claims to fame being that he had interviewed every British Prime Minister since Harold Macmillan. He was also the first journalist to interview the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher after the IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party conference week in 1984.

Countdown was originally scheduled to run for only five weeks when it began in 1982 as an inception show for the then brand new UK television channel Channel 4, but the show went on to run for 23 years under his presentation, averaging four million viewers per week.

Whiteley will also be remembered for his taste in clothing, every single episode wearing a different garishly coloured tie along with an equally loud, sometimes striped, jacket. Never one to appear superior to his guests he was always self-effacing and "bumbling" - a word often used to describe him by his closest friends.

In 2004 he was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an award of which he was said to have been very proud.

In May 2005, he was rushed into intensive care suffering from pneumonia, and although he appeared to be making a slow but steady recovery, doctors found that he had an infection in one of his heart valves. He was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary and underwent an operation to correct this. The operation went well but unfortunately two days later he suffered a heart attack and did not regain consciousness.

He will be deeply and sadly missed by his family, his closest friends and his fans, an all-round truly decent man.

Cilla Black was born on 27 May 1943 in Liverpool, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Last Night in Soho (2021), Hellboy (2019) and Cilla (1968). She was married to Bobby Willis. She died on 1 August 2015 in Estepona, Spain.

Les Dawson was born on 2 February 1931 in Manchester, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Demob (1993), The Loner (1975) and Sounds Like Les Dawson (1974). He was married to Tracy Dawson and Meg Dawson. He died on 10 June 1993 in Manchester, England, UK.

Victoria Coren Mitchell was born on 18 August 1972 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. She is a producer. She has been married to David Mitchell since 17 November 2012. They have two children.

Richard Osman was born on 28 November 1970 in Billericay, Essex, England, UK. He is a producer, known for The Thursday Murder Club (2025), Another Plan from Outer Space: The Doomed and Boyz Unlimited (1999). He has been married to Ingrid Oliver since 3 December 2022.

Gordon Burns was born on 10 June 1942 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgement (1996), A Word in Your Ear (1993) and Being Sold (2011).

English actor Warwick Davis was born in Epsom, Surrey, England, the son of Susan J. (Pain) and Ashley Davis, an insurance broker. Davis was born with the condition spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenital (SED), which caused his dwarfism. He was educated at City of London Freemen's School. When he was 11 years old, his grandmother heard a radio appeal for people under four feet tall to appear in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). A huge Star Wars fan, Davis auditioned successfully and was cast as an extra, playing an Ewok. Kenny Baker was cast as lead Ewok Wicket, but fell ill so George Lucas chose Davis to replace him. The film was a smash hit, and Davis went on to reprise his role as Wicket in further TV projects - The Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985).

Davis next big role came with a part specifically written for him, as the titular hero in Willow (1988). Other successes followed with roles in such projects as Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989) and two distinctly different film series - the 'Harry Potter' and 'Leprechaun' film series. In 2006, he appeared in a cameo role in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's hit sitcom Extras (2005), which led to the pair writing a series specifically for Davis, the comic mockumentary Life's Too Short (2011).

Davis, along with his father-in-law Peter Burroughs, is also the director of an acting agency for very short and tall actors called Willow Management. He is married to Samantha Davis and they have a son and a daughter.

Ben Shephard was born on 11 December 1974 in Epping, Essex, England, UK. He is a producer and actor, known for 4.3.2.1. (2010), Tipping Point (2012) and Lingo (2021). He has been married to Annie Perks since 25 March 2004. They have two children.

Jeremy Paxman is arguably Britain's most respected political journalist, renowned for his tough, rigorous interviewing of public figures. He was born in Leeds and educated at a prestigious private school, Malvern College. He graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in English. He joined the BBC as a trainee in 1972 and began working on BBC radio. He worked as a foreign correspondent for BBC television news and read the Six O'clock News. In 1989, Paxman took on what has become the defining job in his career, presenting Newsnight (1980). Although Newsnight had been on the air for nine years previously, and has been anchored by other presenters since, Paxman and Newsnight have become synonymous for most people, and he remained with the series until 2014.

As a youngster Paul lived at 51 North Street, South Bank near Middlesborough. He had a baby brother who died of Blue Baby Syndrome. Another brother, Trevor is a musician and organist. Their father was Handel Newton Daniel and when he went to register Paul's birth the registrar added an s so changing the family's name to Daniels. His grandparents had high hopes for his father hense christening him Handel, for music and Newton for science and while he served time as an electrician he could make anything out of wood, metal and plastics and do anything with electronics.

Michael Barrymore was born in Bermondsey London in 1952, the breeding ground for many famous stars, including Charlie Chaplin, Max Bygraves and Tommy Steele.

Having won the TV show New Faces, Michael's big break came when he joined Russ Abbot's Television Madhouse. His own series with Thames Television, The Michael Barrymore Show, soon followed accompanied by his infamous appearances at all the major variety shows.

In 1987 he made the first of his Strike It Lucky shows for Thames Television. It proved so successful that the entertainer went on to make a further nine series.

In 1989, Michael's versatility put him at the forefront of British Entertainment; he trod the boards playing Wishee Washee with Frank Bruno as the Genie of the Lamp in the pantomime Aladdin at London's prestigious Dominion Theatre, where bookings went through the roof. The following Christmas, with Michael's popularity so high, he starred in Cinderella as Buttons at the Bristol Hippodrome and again ticket sales broke all records.

Highlights of Michael's career have included two Royal Variety Performances and Royal shows in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. In 1992 he starred in The Children's Royal Variety Performance attended by Princess Margaret, to universal acclaim.

In 1993 Michael was signed by London Weekend Television who recognised the performer's huge talent that would, in the next few years, earn him an awesome array of awards and accolades. His top rated series Barrymore won him the title of Top ITV Entertainment Presenter for three years running at the British Comedy Awards from 1993 to 1995. Having now established himself firmly in the public's affection with his mixture of warmth and spontaneity, Michael went on to collect trophies for the Best Entertainment Show and Best Entertainment Performance at the 1994 Royal Television Society Awards.

Michael went on to win a veritable arsenal of awards in 1995 and scored another triumph with his series My Kind Of People. Travelling the length and breadth of Britain, Michael recruited an even bigger army of fans as he invited them to sing their souls out or dance their legs off completely unrehearsed in London Weekend Television's first major foray into weekday prime-time television.

Also in that year, at the first ever National Television Awards voted for by viewers, Michael both won the title of Top Entertainment Presenter and also saw Barrymore scoop Best Entertainment Show. At the same ceremony he also notched up Top Game Show for Strike It Lucky (1986).

In the same ground breaking fashion the following year, underscoring Michael's reputation as Britain's top male entertainer, he was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal - the top accolade in the variety category - at the New York Festival for an episode of Barrymore. Again Michael was voted by the public as Best Entertainment Presenter at the National Television Awards.

During 1997 Michael recorded a new series of Strike It Rich, followed by the filming of his cameo role in the Spice Girls movie Spiceworld. He also recorded a new series of My Kind Of Music and performed his live Christmas show Barrymore Live for 11 Days at Fairfield Halls which sold out every night and received overwhelming standing ovations. Once again Michael received the National Television Award for Best Entertainment Presenter.

In 1998 he had enormous ratings with his hit series My Kind Of Music and he also recorded a new series of Strike It Rich. Michael won two awards at the Challenge TV Game Show Awards and Best Game Show Host and Most Popular Tv Presenter at the National Television Awards.

Michael toured England, Wales and Scotland during 1998 with his An Evening with Barrymore live show, again his huge popularity was reflected in the instant sell outs and standing ovations. Michael also recorded a new series of My Kind Of Music for 1999.

In 1999 and 2000 Michael made a brand new series called Kids Say The Funniest Things which was an instant ratings success and his first ever drama comedy series Bob Martin, both bringing him more awards for Best Entertainment Show and Best Comedy Performance at the National Television Awards.

Michael went on to sell out his live Laid Back tour across New Zealand and then again returning to a further sell out tour in both Australia and New Zealand receiving standing ovations and sell outs each night for both tours.

In 2004 Michael went on the road again in New Zealand with his sell out Heartland Tour receiving overwhelming standing ovations and positive press reviews.

Michael became a resident of New Zealand in March 2004 but splits his time between London and Auckland.

He continued the year working on various potential television productions and, as he did in the UK on numerous occasions, took the role of Master of Ceremonies for a variety of corporate events, including the Thrive EMA conference, and delivered various after dinner speeches bringing his own unique, versatile and spontaneous humour to each and every event.

Michael was also given the opportunity to try on a journalistic hat in 2004 when he was asked to write his own column for the new Herald on Sunday. This was new territory for Michael and his work was well received.

Michael played the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the hit stage musical Chicago. A first ever musical performance by the entertainer, Michael won the crowds with co star Tina Cross in a two month tour around the North Island of New Zealand. The show sold to sell out audiences and rave reviews. Michael has done a number of live shows and is constantly in demand for corporate entertainment in New Zealand.

In 2006 Michael joined Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother. The unanimous applause for him as he entered and left the house, showed the huge public support for Michael in England, and he was voted by the public most popular known celebrity in the show.

Since then Michael has appeared as a guest in various televisions shows.

Patrick Henry Kelly known professionally as Henry Kelly, is a television presenter and radio DJ.

Kelly was born in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland, and educated at Belvedere College SJ, and at University College Dublin, where he was Auditor of the Literary and Historical Society. After university he worked as a journalist and was the Belfast-based Northern Editor of The Irish Times in the 1970s. He wrote How Stormont Fell in 1972, a work still highly regarded. In 1976, he moved to London to work on Radio 4's The World Tonight and then, in a complete career change from serious journalism, in 1980 moved into television. Kelly became a household name in the UK as part of the team presenting LWT's practical-joke show Game for a Laugh in the 1980s.

In June 1983 He joined TV-am and become the host of the Saturday edition of "Good Morning Britain" with Toni Arthur. He was also a regular stand in presenter on the weekday programme and could also be seen presenting "Summer Sunday" over the years. His last appearance was in 1987. From 1987 to 1996 he presented Going for Gold, a lunchtime TV quiz show on BBC1, where he developed the catchphrases "What am I?" and "Now you're playing catchup". He hosted After Dark in 1988, a programme he had also once appeared on discussing the Irish civil rights struggle, as well as appearing as himself in two episodes of dinnerladies (1998).

In 1992 Kelly was one of the launch presenters of Classic FM, initially presenting the weekday mid-morning show from 9 am to 12 noon. He then moved on to the Breakfast Show, until replaced by Simon Bates in June 2003. He returned between 2006 and 2008 to present a three-hour show on Sunday mornings.

He also appeared on Sky News TV, reviewing the Sunday morning newspapers.

Henry is a keen golfer playing off a handicap of 4. In 1994 he won the inaugural William Roache charity classic golf invitational at Woburn. In a field which included a whole host of celebrities, including Kenny Lynch, Robert Powell, Johnny Briggs, Kevin Kennedy, Leslie Grantham and Oliver Skeet, Henry won the tournament after beating former champion jockey Pat Eddery in a 4 hole playoff.

Many people are quick to ridicule Noel Edmonds, yet he has consistently been a ratings winner for the BBC.

Noel started life as a radio DJ having stints on Radio Luxembourg, pirate radio stations and then BBC's Radio 1. It was whilst serving at Radio 1 that he gained a huge fan base and his shows normally consisted of lively banter, good music, and some hilarious phone jokes played on unsuspecting listeners.

From radio, Edmonds took the leap into television. He presented Swap Shop, and various other children's TV programmes during the late seventies and early eighties, graduating into adult television soon later.

He presented Top of the Pops, the immensely popular Telly Addicts quiz show, he also had stints on Top Gear and often commentated for the BBC on special events and occasions.

For well over a decade he also presented and produced "Noel's Christmas Presents" where he arranged once in a life time trips and surprises for deserving or disadvantaged members of the public. It was often slated as being "schmaltz" but he was always very sincere and genuinely touched by the reaction he got from the people for whom he arranged the trips and surprises.

He became the most bankable Saturday night entertainer on British TV. His show the "Late Late Breakfast Show" was new, exciting, fast-paced and genuinely funny. It had a feature where viewers were given the chance of winning cash for doing nail-biting stunts (controlled and overseen by proper stunt men and safety officials). After a contestant was killed when a stunt went wrong, the show was cancelled.

Noel's House Party was another lively early evening entertainment show on Saturday evenings which trounced all competition. In many ways it could be seen as the predecessor to "Ant and Dec's Saturday take away" on ITV1.

After many years the show began to lose viewers and Edmonds and the BBC finally decided to finish it in 1999.

Noel has many fingers in many pies, he still does the odd bit of broadcasting, recently sitting in for Johnnie Walker on Radio 2's Drivetime show. He is also the CEO of many companies, runs his own charity helicopter taxi service for less-able people and is honorary patron of many charities.

John Humphrys was born on 17 August 1943 in Cardiff, Wales, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Ali G Indahouse (2002), The Secret World (2008) and Oliver's Travels (1995).