Wednesday January 22 2025

BBC bringing back classic TV shows

The BBC is set to launch a Saturday night entertainment series, showcasing classic shows from the past fifty years.

This "Classic Entertainment Season" will air on BBC Four and iPlayer, starting on Saturday, July 27, and running for three weeks during the network's Olympics coverage.

BBC Classics

Viewers can look forward to iconic episodes from shows like "The Generation Game," "Blankety Blank","Noel's House Party" "Bob's Full House", and the debut episode of "Strictly Come Dancing" which marks its 20th anniversary.

The season will feature legendary hosts such as Bruce Forsyth and Michael Parkinson, among others, celebrating the best of the BBC's entertainment history.

Details on the full broadcast schedule and episode listings will be released shortly.

Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game (1970s and 1990s)
Terry Wogan’s Blankety Blank (1970s)
Les Dawson’s Blankety Blank (1980s)
Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank (1990s)
Bob’s Full House (1980s)
Noel’s House Party (1990s)
Larry Grayson’s Generation Game (1970s)
Strictly Come Dancing (The first episode from 15th May 2004)
Mark Lawson Talks to… Terry Wogan (2012)
One on One: Terry Wogan (2002)
What We Were Watching: Summer TV Classics (Grace Dent’s 2020 special)
Parkinson: The Les Dawson Interviews (1996)
Les Dawson: Talking Comedy (2015)
The Many Faces of Les Dawson (2011)
The Fight for Saturday Night (Michael Grade’s 2014 documentary)
Parkinson meets Bruce Forsyth, Boris Becker & The Corrs (His final BBC show, 2004)
When Miranda met Bruce (Miranda Hart interviews Bruce Forsyth, 2013)

Lindsay Currie, Head of Channel Management, expressed excitement about the series, noting it as a chance for audiences to enjoy a treasure trove of memorable programs that highlight the BBC's longstanding tradition of Saturday night entertainment.