[Brekkie]

I'm guessing this week was the first time it ever topped the weekly ratings too (with 8.2m). Heartbeat was the regular weekly chart topper for the week in the 90s with close to 20m viewers.

I always assumed the BBC line up of Generation Game/House Party/Casualty generally beat the ITV combination of Gladiators/Blind Date/Family Fortunes but don't think there was much in it.

[bilky asko]

Watching The Chase today, I noticed that the voiceover recorded for one of the contestants' buzzers - Latif - seemed to be quite muffled. Presumably it was one that was recorded at short notice.

[JAS84]

And because it's an unusual name. They can probably reuse common ones like John or Lisa, but it's likely that name hasn't come up before and required a new recording.

[tellyblues]

From BARB, archives start from 1998 and Gladiators first appears 12/15 episodes in, previous eps rating below 6-7m.

22 Nov 1998

5.55 - Generation Game - 7.26
6.55 - Noel's House Party - 7.19
7.40 - National Lottery - 8.52
8.05 - Casualty - 12.71
9.00 - Airport - 11.76

5.45 - Catchphrase - 6.56
6.15 - Gladiators - 7.08
7.15 - Blind Date - 8.81
8.15 - World's Dumbest Drivers - 8.16
9.00 - FILM: Disclosure (1994) - 6.74

[Andrew]

So Gladiators has gone from 8th most popular programme on a Saturday night in 1998 to biggest programme across the whole week in 2024

[Jon]

From BARB, archives start from 1998 and Gladiators first appears 12/15 episodes in, previous eps rating below 6-7m.

22 Nov 1998

5.55 - Generation Game - 7.26
6.55 - Noel's House Party - 7.19
7.40 - National Lottery - 8.52
8.05 - Casualty - 12.71
9.00 - Airport - 11.76

5.45 - Catchphrase - 6.56
6.15 - Gladiators - 7.08
7.15 - Blind Date - 8.81
8.15 - World's Dumbest Drivers - 8.16
9.00 - FILM: Disclosure (1994) - 6.74

Going by that we’re due a National Lottery Live reboot.

[Johnr]

You joke but funnily enough the National Lottery itself is essentially getting a 2024 'revival' as the new Allwyn operator take over from 1st February!

[Jon]

You joke but funnily enough the National Lottery itself is essentially getting a 2024 'revival' as the new Allwyn operator take over from 1st February!

Although they already own current operator Camelot as of last year. So not sure they’d be any immediate changes.

[Brekkie]

Going by that we’re due a National Lottery Live reboot.

Well there is a National Lottery Musicals show on BBC1 this Saturday.

[Jon]

Well there is a National Lottery Musicals show on BBC1 this Saturday.

Who’s playing Guinevere then?