One of Britain’s longest-running popular game shows, comedy classic Blankety Blank fast became a national treasure across the country and featured a series of beloved presenters since its launch on the BBC in 1979.
While a series of revival hosts, including Bradley Walsh, have stepped in to front the show since it came back on air in 1997, none have made their mark more than the hosts who launched the show to its original success.
Having both passed on since their game show glory days, Terry Wogan and Les Dawson left an unmatched legacy behind, from astonishing broadcasting success, to million-pound inheritance funds, let’s take a look at the legacy of these classic British hosts.
Terry Wogan
Holding the coveted title as the original host, late broadcasting legend Sir Terry Wogan presented the show from 1979 until 1983.
The Irish-British media personality was known for his good-humoured interaction with the contestants and lively banter with celebrity guests, which went a long way to making the show a success.
Sir Terry, who died from cancer aged 77 back in 2016, was reported to be the highest paid BBC radio presenter at one time which ultimately led to a hefty inheritance cheque for his family to the tune of millions.
(Image: BBC)
Sir Terry, estimated to be worth around £20million before he died, left a net estate worth of £1,047,576 to his wife Lady Wogan and three children.
As well as his long-running Radio 2 breakfast show, he was also known for his work with Children In Need, Eurovision Song Contest commentary and his tremendously successful BBC chat show, Wogan, which ran from 1982 to 1992 and featured some rather memorable moments.
(Image: PA)
Most memorable of all was the time George Best turned up drunk to the show in 1990.
Talking about the infamous interview with the football legend years later, Sir Terry said: “He chunted down several bucket-fulls in about five minutes so he comes across to me and he’s as drunk as a skunk.”
Sir Terry was honoured by the BBC who renamed the Radio 2 building Wogan House in his honour
Les Dawson
(Image: Getty Images)
Known for his deadpan humour, comedian, actor and presenter Les Dawson took over as host of Blankety Blank in 1984, giving the comedy gameshow a fresh lease of life.
The comedian appeared on shows including Dawson’s Weekly, Jokers Wild and hosted his own variety show on BBC on and off for 10 years, named The Les Dawson Show.
Les sadly died suddenly back in 1993 at the age of 62 after suffering a heart attack during a routine health appointment at Greater Manchester hospital.
The life and work of Les Dawson was remembered in an ITV documentary which aired previously unseen footage of the comedian to mark what would have been his 90th birthday.
Speaking of his death back in 2007, the star’s second wife Tracy told the Daily Telegraph: “When he died it was like I had lost half of my body.
“It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve had a lot of support from our friends, and have worked for the many charities, such as Cancer Research, that Les was involved in.”
(Image: Sunday Mirror)
Tracy was Les’ second wife after his marriage to Margaret Dawson from 1960 until her death in 1986.
Together, they had three children, Julie, Pamela and Stuart.
The youngest daughter of the comic legend, Charlotte Dawson, made an emotional plea to her brother and sisters to end their long-running family rift back in 2013, saying her dad would be “devastated by the distance between his children”.
The Ex On The Beach star made a bid to bury the hatchet for the 20th anniversary of his death after they reportedly fell out over funeral costs.
(Image: PA)
During her darker moments, Charlotte has admitted she gets saddened that he ignored the signs of ill health.
“He’d already had two heart scares before he died but he still lived the same lifestyle,” she told The Sunday Mirror.
“He used to hide cigarettes in the shed and go out there for secret smokes. He loved eating from the chippy, and I know he liked a drink too.
“Of course I have my moments of thinking, ‘What if?’ and I wonder how things could have been different if he had taken it all more seriously.
“Maybe he would still be here and maybe he would be able to help me have a relationship with my sisters and brother.”
While his exact fortune is not known, the comedian was believed to have between worth between £1million and £3million at the time of his death.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
