REMEMBERING BLANKETY BLANKS: SECRETS FROM THE SET!

Graham Kennedy’s version of the madcap game show remains the most beloved

- Glen Williams

It was the game show that kept Australia laughing uproariously five nights a week. And it was also the show that returned Graham Kennedy to his rightful place as the king of Australian TV.

Blankety Blanks premiered on Ten in January 1977, and was based on the popular American game show Match Game. It was tailor-made for Graham’s trademark quick wit, naughty humour and love of a salacious double entendre.

It wasn’t long before it had Australian TV audiences eating dinner around the box gripped by Graham’s mad antics. This silly game show, on at 7pm weekdays, became the country’s favourite show.

It was essentially a comedy program with a game format built around it. There were two contestants – one carry-over champion and one challenger. Graham would then read out a hilarious fill-in-the-blank statement and hilarity ensued.