1984
Right! This was the opening episode of the 1984 series tonight (at 8:30 and not 8:00 as originally stated, sorry).
Bowen opens the show coming down the stairs from the crowd. Each couple comes on and is interviewed one at a time. Rather interestingly they're introduced by their regions ("All the way from TVS it's...").
Intriguingly, Bowen explains all the rules before rounds (which he never bothered doing from when I remember it). It looks like he was trying to start an audience based catchphrase with "the Bullseye's worth..." "TWO HUNDRED POUNDS!". The food category from the year before was unpopular so "we've replaced it with something more specialised - Pot Luck". No flashing arrows, instead the whole segment flickers on and off repeatedly. More interestingly, no Tony Green.
Lowest scoring couple go home at the end of this round whilst the two remaining play Pounds For Points. Tony Green is here but commentating off camera. If anybody else caught it, was it me or was the tune for the third round a repeat of the tune for the first one?
After the break, Jocky Wilson throws for charity and only manages 220.
Bully's Prize Board - again Tony Green off camera commentating. Our couple win a camera, a food processor, some watches and Bully's Special Prize a 22 inch Teletext television with (get this) remote control. Woooooh!
They're asked if they want to gamble their prizes ("yer money's safe") for what's behind Bully's Prize Board, 101 or more with 6 darts. They turn it down so couple number two are asked and gamble the £191 won earlier which they do. Non dart player scores 60, Dart player only needs 16 from the final dart and ends up with a double one. Oh no! They've lost a mini.
Jim Bowen does lots of "oh! what a smashing audience" throughout.
Fascinatingly, this show was made in association with Chatsworth TV (who went on to make The Crystal Maze and Treasure Hunt). I had no idea!
