Gameshows have always held a special place in the heart of British viewers, and this new series of Gameshow Marathon will celebrate many of the old favourites

The Price is Right was a massive hit when it first appeared on ITV back in 1984. Leslie Crowther and then Bruce Forsyth were the presenters who would invite punters to ‘Come On Down!’

The name of the game was for four contestants to guess the price of a variety of luxury items, everything from a top of the range Hi-Fi to a three-piece suite, in the hope of securing their spot in the fabulous Showcase Showdown.

The Showcase Showdown displayed host of extravagant prizes and the player had to guess the total value of the goods, without going over the total value. If their guess was the nearest, they would win all of the prizes.

• Presenters

The Price Is Right first aired in America and Leslie Crowther was the first presenter to front the UK version. The first show was made by Central for ITV and had audiences glued to their TV’s every Saturday. The show finished a very successful four year run in 1988. ITV then re-commissioned the show in 1995 with a new presenter, Bruce Forsyth and a new title ‘Bruce’s Price Is Right’. In 2006 the show was re-commissioned once again by ITV, with Joe Pasquale taking on the presenting role.

• Catchphases

‘It’s Saturday night, so come on down, the price is right.’

‘The nearest bid, without going over is…’

‘It’s not over as we’ll be seeing you later in the Showcase Showdown!’

‘‘That is your bid, the actual price is…..’

• Trivia

The first contestant on the show flatly refused to come on down, and host Leslie Crowther was alleged to have muttered: ‘My God, what have we let ourselves in for?’

But some contestants may have been better off staying in their seats. The winner of a set of garden furniture only had a window-box at home, while an elderly lady nearly won a windsurfer.

When a woman from Liverpool lost out on a holiday for two to a man from London, he promptly stunned her by asking her to go with him.

By 1987 The Price is Right was the most popular light entertainment show on TV.

• And all those lovely prizes up for grabs: -

“A globe that floats. It’s a floating globe of the world, detailed in every way. When plugged into the mains, magnetic poles keep it afloat for hours and make it a real talking point.”

“A silver lion chair. This individual fun chair has the look of the throne the Emperor Nero would use at the Roman games. The engravings are styled on ancient carvings and the tassels are accurate to the period too. The cushion is upholstered in leather.”

“A free standing sauna. This prize is constructed from Norwegian wood – and what Norwegian wouldn’t want to get into this comfortable two person sauna with integrated control panel, timer and thermostat.”

“Take to the skies in your very own microlight aircraft. Jump into your flying suit and helmet, and you’ll look magnificent as you take to the skies in this 65 horse power machine. There is a comprehensive instrument panel and to help you find your way around we are giving you a course of flying lessons.”

ITV1 Network Saturday 7 April 7:40 PM to 8:40 PM