As anyone who loves classic British game shows knows, “You can’t beat a bit of bully.” A game show for the common man (and woman) built around darts playing, Bullseye ran for 15 series over the entire ITV network in the UK from 1981 to 1995, during which time it was presented by the dream team of Lancashire-born Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club comedian Jim Bowen and former county darts player turned referee Tony Green, winning a special place in the hearts of the nation and becoming a Sunday evening television institution.
The series was created and owned by Andrew Wood in collaboration with comedian Norman Vaughan, the man who stepped into Bruce Forsyth’s shoes to host Sunday Night at the London Palladium. Nobody remembers Norman these days but back in the day he was all over the telly like a rash, using used catch-phrases like “swinging!” and “dodgy!”, accompanied by thumbs-up or thumbs-down gestures. He also took over hosting The Golden Shot from Bob Monkhouse and perhaps most famously appeared in a 1960s TV advertising campaign for Cadbury’s Roses chocolates which included the slogan “Roses Grow On You”.