Prime Time Purgatory: You Bet

[@roscovb]

Every new video has me feeling like I'm in a fever dream on my death bed.

[@felipel.6742]

I'm Brazilian, I've never heard of these shows or 90% of the celebrities mentioned, but your humour and wit is so great that I ended up watching (and rewatching) all your videos. Cheers.

[@paulmontgomery6702]

I wish I could articulate just how up my street this video is but I don’t have the words. Outstanding work again Stuart. I’m weirdly comforted by the pangs of intense nostalgia this evokes and also mildly disturbed by how bizarre and downright shit this programme was. Seemed ok at the time. I think.

[@danmorfitt]

Like Adam Curtis, if only he concentrated on the 1991 ITV Franchise auction instead of all that geopolitics stuff. Stuart, I cannot love this channel enough!

[@eatmywords]

yeah, i get the adam curtis vibe. but stuart doesn't sound calmly sinister, more calmly sarcastic.

[@iskye07]

If you're of a certain age you may remember Wackaday circa 1989 and Timmy Mallett giving away alleged bits of the Berlin Wall to successful phone-in contestants. Bleh-lin Wall. Everyone at home go "blehhhh".

[@kildogery]

I know Brucie is a legend, but this is Matthew Kelly's show. You might as well claim Leslie Crowther was the definitive face of Stars in Their Eyes.

[@rhianhegarty3383]

I agree. I genuinely don't remember him hosting. I don't wanna say he did a full year hee just have done a 6 month contract. Mind you I think I was 9 so this was late night tv for me

[@fuhqsideways]

Bruce is creepy. If he'd lived a bit longer he'd have been in next to Rolph

[@incredibleflameboy]

​@@fuhqsidewayslegend has it that they're just updating his operating system ready for his inevitable domination of the world. The last 30 years of his life were just the final steps of installing his pain extractors that will keep him powered for all eternity.

[@MrTwinbee]

How your channel doesnt have more subs is a bloody mystery. Absolutely essential viewing😊

[@incredibleflameboy]

Ill be honest, I would put a lot of money on Alastair Crowley being able to drink a cauldron of spunk.

[@ScrewlooseStudios]

Bloody loved You Bet. Seeing if a man could identify twelve models of car by the sound of their seatbelt as you clicked it closed is a special kind of art, in a way.

[@mrwevans]

Your videos are brilliant Stuart - they deserve 100k views.

[@daisyblonde87]

That music has unlocked so many memories of my childhood watching the television. Great work as ever.

[@se8425]

That Barrymore headline edit though. Absolutely amazing!

[@garethjohnstone9282]

You Bet! Was fantastic. I loved the tense music during the challenges.

[@colinr0380]

Some of my faith in humanity is restored knowing that footage from "You Bet!" is so rare on KZbin because even at the time even people with only four channels to choose from wouldn't bother to record it for posterity.

[@gazmachine]

I will be watching every second of your KZbin channel until it's burned into my soul. A form of self harm. Also you have me scouring the internet for that Fashanu Vs digger episode. Another 'gift' you've left me with. Subscribed.

[@jazzygeofferz]

The bit with the headlines was amazing. I lost it when Barrymore turned up. Great episode.

[@colinr0380]

That roll call of forgotten TV shows was intoned with the barely-contained contempt of reading out the names of defendants at the Nuremberg trials. And with some justification!

[@dmoorb]

Thanks, brought back some great memories, not least of "Wetten dass" presented by Paul Nicholas lookalike Thomas Gottschalk.

[@JasonC1782]

You know, marrying Bruce's 'Takeover Bid' rap to footage of the LA riots was genius enough, but finding scenes which fitted the context of each line is on another level entirely.

[@serena3812]

"Stuff like this actually makes you appreciate how long three minutes is."

[@iskye07]

Did you foretell Matthew Kelly's appearance in the last series of Inside Number 9?

[@melanietaylor2699]

My mum was on You Bet we had a lovely day at shepperton studios.

[@thecloak5203]

I bet you did

[@FPLHaveABeer]

22:28 you say the British version of You Bet only had minor celebrities on it, but personally I think that getting Kevin Spacey on there was pretty bloody impressive! God knows how he had such a good memory of British newspaper headlines!

[@COL321]

Brucie's Rap... what a strange thing. I had to google it, it's the closing music to Takeover Bid, another classic "Sing the name of the show" tune. Great job on this video, by the way!

[@j0hnf_uk]

Seeing John McCririck always reminds me of Great Uncle Bulgaria from The Wombles. Even when he isn't wearing his trademark deerstalker hat. It must be the mutton chops he sports, that does it.

[@Sonofdonald2024]

Avoiding tv shows like these was what made playing on my zx spectrum on a black and white portable TV in my room seems so enjoyable 😂😂

[@TonySpike]

I was 5 when this started, i would probably look a bit conspicous at a rave ....but they would probs have let me in 😂

[@JohnLloydDavis]

I forgot about Bruces' syrups! These videos are ace! I love Nosferatu as a boy doing the windmills :)

[@PaulF0ley]

Enjoy this channel a lot. Cheers lad. Sound not real. But I like it

[@killbotone6210]

I loved after each Bet the theme music would play either ending on a Major note if the Bet was successful or a Minor note if it was failure.

[@Dripfed]

Bullseye did the same sort of thing. Upbeat and (hate the word) zany if successful, more minor keys if unsuccessful.

[@killbotone6210]

@Dripfed ooh I'm just remembering it now! Cheers!

[@garethjohnstone9282]

Lol I still think of that now when I see someone fail at something lol

[@ldma]

"Human Bungle the bear" just finished me 😂

[@danielnesbitt9565]

I was born in 1987 and I can't remember You Bet at all during it's original run. I fondly remember the likes of Blind Date, Beadles About etc. and of course as a Geordie, Tyne Tees Television. My family was very working class, and while we did not get Sky till the 00s, we did have a own brand VCR which might have saved me from the tedium of the the race to the bottom of ITV that started in 1993 that has been accelerating to the black hole ITV is today.

[@80srenaissance67]

That's because it started in 1988 and you were 1 years old

[@danielnesbitt9565]

@@80srenaissance67 I am old enough remember early 90s television lol.

[@lucaschapman2188]

My mate had a Theory back in the day . He said the BBC and ITV had a deal with the breweries to put shite on Saturday night. So everyone would go to the Pub .

[@colinr0380]

@18:14 I remember how naive I was as a kid that I never realised just how camp Matthew Kelly was.

[@stephenhough4957]

Camp as a row of tents, wasn’t he?

[@andycain4351]

I remember the show with Mike Smith (that there's a clip of near the start of the video) but I was convinced it was called That's Entertainment and not That's Showbusiness. Thankyou for the entertainment and the education.

[@IamRobotMonkey]

The Big John McC in the 70s looks and sounds like Ringo Starr cameoing in the background as a two bit thug in the pub scene in Get Carter.

[@FellowHuman137]

Such an odd uncanny valley feeling with these. Or like walking through the backrooms liminal spaces in my memories. Such lowkey disturbing nostalgia.

[@SMlFFY85]

This wasn't on in our house but I did catch one episode of a guy claiming he could name the song by the way it supposedly made a candle flame flicker. I'm grateful now to my dad for not tolerating most of ITV's prime-time output and making us watch something else instead.

[@kisbie]

17:00 - A proper, genuine “£1,500? That’s a pathetic amount of money!”

[@DementedNun121]

Lol it was the 80s and on bbcs pointless which is a moroden show top prize is 2000 you want big money move to america hahaha

[@dinogoldie9716]

The only You Bet challenge I can remember is some guy who (successfully) identified a selection of songs purely from a graphic equaliser levels display. I remember a lot of challenges involving JCBs doing un-JCBly things. I think there was a challenge in which a blindfolded martial artist roundhouse kicked wheatabixes off of peoples' heads.

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

The only problem with blindfold challenges is that most of the time there’s the challenge is finding a way of making sure they really can’t see 😂

[@mikb5587]

There was one where he identified classical records by looking at the vinyl grooves.

[@stephenbulmer8748]

Matthew kelly. Human bungle the bear 🤣

[@_Piers_]

I had a vague recollection that Pat Sharpe was on I'm a Celebrity. So I did a quick search and the first link was a video "Pat Sharp Gets a Face Full of Cockroaches" in which he didn't seem to give much of a shit. Matthew Kelly must have trained him well! :D

[@rocon86]

I liked watching You Bet. It's better than the junk on nowadays like Ant and Dec's impossible limitless ladder which is rigged with questions that are near impossible to answer as you get across 100,000.

[@worstxb1playertylerteehc635]

That clip of Blind Date. Thats my mate Jamie lol. He was the first one to ever get chucked off there. And yes he did bang the bird before not going on the holiday. Lol. @1:24

[@incredibleflameboy]

If im not mistaken watten das? was a simulation where you could win a photo of a car if you manage to hit metal 17 times but property is theft

[@therespectedlex9794]

Looking back, I think I see why my teachers liked me at school. The You Bet TV show endorsed autism. It was memorisers galore!

[@thesunreport]

Now that windmill kid has grown up, he can afford to take a holiday at any wind-farm in the world. He is definitely having the last laugh.

[@krispysox]

18:32 very nearly spat my coffee lol. "coldren full of spunk" hehe.

[@mcsonicteam]

You bet was amazing. Most game and entertainment shows were back then.

[@VambeefcoHorzey]

They weren't - we just didn't know any better.

[@lordhoot1]

Ah, John McCririck. Implied to have been a regular sex tourist in his Guardian obituary. Lovely stuff.

[@eatmywords]

don't know about that, but he was a bastard to his wife: "John explained he called his wife Jenny ‘Booby’ ‘after a South American bird that is stupid, incredibly easy to catch and squawks a lot’". after his appearance on wife swap he was roundly condemned for being a misogynist. but, saying that, his marriage lasted 48 years, so... well, something worked. probably him, because he was out the house pretty much every day. he only lasted six years after being sacked from channel 4 for being too old. without his racing he felt lost, so rather than hang on and live out his retirement with his wife, he preferred to die.

[@AdamMcCarthy74]

I know Christy Mullins the road bowler. Didn't expect him to pop up.

[@Harry75]

Ah, Louise Jameson, reduced to this by the 90s. A fall from Doctor Who, Tenko, Bergerac et al.

[@difficultkunt4050]

22:44 That barrymore cut had me ROFL..😂

[@rhianhegarty3383]

Ps.. I would love a fun house ...art attack....grange hill, brookside! You have so many shows.... You can do this lol. More videos please.. Can't wait for a new one

[@nicroberts83]

Can I request a follow up of Ant and Decs failed American Reboot Wanna Bet when they tried to do a Noel and failed as he had decades earlier?

[@shockz16]

"Anime Sherlock Holmes" hahaha

[@danielwilliamson6180]

You Bet was a great show. Matthew Kelly made You Bet. It's rumoured the 1987 film The Running Man was the inspiration behind You Bet. But, I don't see the connection. The Running Man was a fictional game show which criminals are relentlessly hunted by hi-tech killers.

[@561jeffkelly]

Excellent Vlog The guy the could count the headlines in 3 seconds looked the double of a young Kevin Spacey. Keep up the great work 👍👍👍

[@davidwilde4933]

I can't say the early nineties were a laugh riot fornme personally, but looking at this, I'm amazed I didn't buy a load of fertiliser and sugar, take it to the nearest abandoned quarry and set light to it whilst hugging it

[@RitualFlip]

“While caught in the midst of it, the inane weirdness of what we were scoffing down just, slipped on by” Harrowing stuff

[@fanyt1894]

Please make a video essay on John McCririck

[@eatmywords]

nah. just watch wife swap, and you'll get everything you need on the guy.

[@davekennedy6315]

McCrick is SO repulsively vile and disgusting that the viewing figures would be in the minus!

[@caro_lam]

'anime sherlock holmes' had me howling!

[@MrTwinbee]

As I type this im cleaning a mouth full of coffee off the floor due to laughing so hard at that line

[@Iffy]

Replaced by human Bungle the bear! 😂

[@eadweard.]

Was that part about a rolled up copy of the Racing Post something that Rick Mayall said on Bottom? 7:23

[@greenaum]

"Oh bloody 'ell fuckin' ell that reely 'urts that does" - every episode of Dirty Sanchez. "Firing a nail gun through my bell end, oh bloody 'ell fuckin' ell...". Shows that you can't do Jackass for 50p and 6 litres of cider.

[@mrnaughtycat]

I liked the wrestling one

[@leejones8582]

Darren Day presented the last variation of the show

[@StuartMillard]

The plan was to cover one show from each era, but mercifully no full Darren Day episodes have surfaced.

[@goodnightvienna8511]

Mate I remember when there was three channels…..

[@rhianhegarty3383]

The differences between failure and success music played at the end of the get were iconic

[@chrisflee1]

22.26, I actually thought it was Kevin Spacey

[@sonnyjimbod]

5:08 lols

[@retrorambles517]

What a classic era

[@TheMusicalElitist]

"Gammon king" - ROFL!

[@mrandrew1243]

You bet was class

[@mikb5587]

Bruceys rap encapsulates why I took the drugs and party route in the 80's

[@colinr0380]

The irony of that moment at @17:36 going straight into a Gaza Appeal advert was not lost on me.

[@kildogery]

I still remember the first time I realised You Bet was basically the biggest show in Germany for decades.

[@YeOldeFootballChannel]

And in Spain was a mammoth show for more or less a decade.

[@kildogery]

I was born in 1980 and got online in 1995. I feel like I've got a superpower.

[@ianbeale2527]

Yeah, the guy who could tell what car it was from the closing of it's door whilst blindfolded. Managed to carefully step over a cable on the floor - just as his head nodded downwards. Me thinks he could see out of that blindfold somewhat. I did like the "can of WW2 corned beef" that was still edible. A huge tin it was. They cut off nearly all of the sides (that looked green !") and the small bet left in the middle was actually edible. About 10 gram out of a 5 Kg. tin !

[@Quedron]

Ellis Ward was by far the best thing about this show.

[@colinr0380]

Bruce: "No! I'm sorry but the bet was to shave *everything* ! Good try though!"

[@fuhqsideways]

Never heard anyone say Alistair Crowley that way 😂

[@fuhqsideways]

What was it with schools and raps!? Doing project...teacher says...you could do a poster , leaflet, presentation ....or.....a rap! (no...no-one ever chose the rap)

[@markdavidson9100]

I have a theory that Suzie Quatro voiced Suzy in the Trio adverts, they have the same name so why not?

[@ianjones3568]

I remember some guy was trying to guess what part of the French Open tennis final by just audio excerpts of the noises, shuffling of feet and crowd noise. Weirdo. Can't remember if he actually did it.

[@tokageza2238]

SPANISH FOOTBALL REFERENCE, YES!!!

[@guidelineuk4876]

Commentary as good as this ...😂😂😂

[@michaelbiggs1254]

You Bet was taylor-made for people on the "spectrum" . Before anyone knew what that was.

[@Gianfranco_69]

That Road Bowler is OK i spose.....but he's no Pa Flood let me tell you

[@Smoneey]

What’s with all the John McCririck content on my page today?

[@therespectedlex9794]

19:08 I can't believe Melvyn Hayes (third along) even remarried a woman, in 2010. He's 89, and I could have sworn he was the poster boy for queers, long ago. Same for Bob Carolgees eh.

[@allthers]

Is that a young Damien Demento at 13:33?

[@FlatDerrick]

I must pull you up on the comment around 19.09, that tash is sending my gaydar into overdrive whatever he publicly identifies as.

[@vykkye]

You're the perfect dude

[@80srenaissance67]

Anime Sherlock Holmes

[@barrycooper8640]

Don't forget Jim will fix it!

[@strongcoffee7]

I love your content, not you, I don't know you.

[@FlaccidHouse]

Sensational ITYSL reference

[@barrycooper8640]

You got pre and post mixed up. I use to do that many, many moons ago.

[@womblediehard123]

Brucie was God at presenting TV shows and once he left the show it went downhill on a huge scale!

[@TheMartinTD]

Mathew Kelly was the best host.

[@jointgib]

laughed

[@mainwaring1975]

What the fuck was mar Kelly talking about?!!😂😂