Charlie Chester

Pot Luck

1952 - United Kingdom

Television series devised by and starring British comedian Charlie Chester. 

Debuting in 1952 Pot Luck is notable as the first ever British audience participation series. Described as a "programme of prizes and surprises", it involved members of the audience passing a pot around until the music stopped. Whoever was then holding the pot had to come up on stage and take part in a quiz. 

Supporting Chester were Harry Seltzer and Leslie Welch the Memory Man. The show was produced by Walton Anderson who mainly worked on TV musical comedies and reviews.

Published on January 21st, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Big Brother

Reality show in which contestants, known as "housemates", live together in a specially constructed house that is isolated from the outside world

Also tagged Reality Series

All Your Own

BBC hobby programme for children.

Also released in 1952

I Married Joan

Standard US sitcom that tried to reproduce the phenomenal success of I Love Lucy.

Also released in 1952

Dragnet

A truly defining early entry in the annals of the embryonic genre of US television police drama series, Dragnet became the seminal template from which all later successful cops shows drew a measure of guidance and inspiration...

Also released in 1952

The Howerd Crowd

Frankie Howerd in a series of three shows written by Eric Sykes.

Also released in 1952

Bullseye TV game show

Darts based game show that at its peak enjoyed an audience of nearly 17 million viewers in a late Sunday afternoon slot

Also tagged Game Show

Breaking Dad

Coming of age road trip to the USA. With viewing figures of 5 million an episode, the series became Britain's highest rating celebrity travelogue in nearly 10 years

Also tagged Reality Series

My Hero 1952

The first US sitcom to be shown on ITV in 1955.

Also released in 1952

Draqons Den

"Lips and brows beading with sweat, as one by one the investors rip their ideas to shreds, the poor rejects take their products and themselves, tails tucked neatly between their legs and shuffle dejectedly out of the loft..."

Also tagged Reality Series