The return of Blockbusters- once a tea time British TV favourite.

The return of Blockbusters- once a tea time British TV favourite.

Can this really be true or maybe not? Perhaps we were just imagining it all. The rumour mill among those in ITV boardrooms is well and truly alive. If recent reports are right then we could be in for a treat. Yes, believe it or not that once adored children's tea time British quiz show Blockbusters could be on its way back to our TV screens. Now that's what some of us would call proper news.

During the 1980s a genial host by the name of Bob Holness was that charmingly avuncular figure who presented a show called Blockbusters. The format was simple; take two sets of school children, ask them questions relating to any subject and then challenge their powers of quick witted observation and intelligence. The trick was to find the famous phrase from the three letters of the alphabet and stun the nation with their marvellous capacity for working out those three letters with the relevant phrase.

In essence, Blockbusters was a light hearted, humorous and pleasant prelude to a teenager's main tea time meal. There was nothing complicated or incoherent about it because most of us could identify with its easy going charm and educational motif. But it was the sight of four youngsters racking their brains for the solution to what were effectively everyday phrases that resonated with us. It was all very well knowing the answer to some of the great historical events in school. But could you crack Blockbusters? When push came to a shove you had to decipher three letters on an electronic board designed in the shape of a honeycomb. What could be simpler?

The truth is though that over 30 years have passed since those halcyon days of Blockbusters, rude sounding letters and knockabout fun. We were all versed in the ways of general knowledge because we'd all been to those supper quizzes whose only objective was to tie you up in knots with rounds on words, plays on words and phrases that were on the tips of our tongues. But those kids were so quick off the mark, so bright, alert, responsive and hugely intelligent. They knew their stuff and Blockbusters seemed to be their perfect platform for sharp and immediate answers.

But there has been a long hiatus since those wondrous days of verbal dexterity, logical reasoning and deduction. Blockbusters came to an abrupt end and, with the passing of Bob Holness, a once highly esteemed broadcaster for London radio station LBC, also went a children's programme that had once brought a gentle smile to the nation's face.

Sadly, we have a downside to the proposed return of this much loved quiz show. Is there a popular demand for an old quiz show and has it a feasible shelf life three decades after since it was last shown? Recent experience has proven that TV has had to tread very carefully when it comes to the restoration of a decaying TV programme that once worked on all levels so successfully.

How Britain once rejoiced to the dulcet theme tune of Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game during the 1970s? How we fell about with riotous laughter at the crazy and seemingly haphazard nature of a quiz show with little in the way of any semblance of a pre planned script. But we knew we were in the capable hands of showbiz royalty. Bruce Forsyth, consummate comedian, pianist and singer, had achieved everything that was attainable in the world of light entertainment and the Generation Game became his property, his Saturday early evening TV treasure that would last and last.

After brief flirtations with Larry Grayson and Jim Davidson, the Generation Game was never quite the same and some of us were relieved when the Generation Game was locked away in a BBC cupboard. You see the problem was that the novelty had gone, the shine had been tarnished and that aura of family friendly TV had more or less vanished.

There was no need for games that featured a potters wheel, loads of messy clay and couples valiantly trying their hands at creating some wobbly jug or plate to decorate their living room. There was no need for games that required couples to become actors or actresses in one of Bruce's stunning plays at the end of the show. And you didn't have to remember all of those dreadful prizes on the conveyor belt. To some it might have been regarded as very cheap, superficial and frothy TV but for a number of years the Generation Game did have its time and place.

This is where, you feel sure, Blockbusters may well fall into the same trap. It's rather like the cover versions of your favourite pop song where the said artist has bravely endeavoured to pump new life into the song with their very unique interpretation of the tune. So we are faced with the same scenario with Blockbusters. How to replace that very smart gentleman named Bob Holness who once read the news on the radio and was very formal on the radio. It was when Holness switched to TV that his personality became even more rounded and formality was replaced by frivolity.

With the recent 60th birthday of BBC's Blue Peter and ITV's equivalent Magpie now no more than a sad memory from a long time ago, children's TV may be about to get an injection of something fresh and familiar. Children's TV has long been the easiest audience to please and as the likes of Postman Pat, Thomas the Tank Engine, the Wombles, Play School, Jackanory and Trumpton leave their classic imprint on our schooldays this may be an opportune moment to bang the drum for Blockbusters. It was our childhood and nobody can ever take that away from us.