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...

Educated Evans

Based on an Edgar Wallace created character this 1957/8 sitcom starred Charlie Chester as the popular Cockney racing tipster 'Educated' Evans, who ducked and dived through the back streets and public houses of London all the while trying to stay one step ahead of the law.

Also starring Charlie Chester

Noah Gives Thanks

After broadcast in 1952 the BBC was bombarded with letters of enthusiastic appreciation and gratitude for this simple yet moving piece of drama...

Also released in 1952

Treasure Hunt

Can contestants solve the cryptic clues and direct Anneka Rice to different locations, via helicopter, to find treasure - in just under an hour?

Also tagged Game Show

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

Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way

At 70-years-of-age Barbara Woodhouse became a global personality. She insisted that it wasn't the pets that were hard to teach - it was the pet owners

Also tagged Reality Series

Clarkson's Farm

When the Petrolhead Turns Farmer - A Hilarious Harvest of Mishaps

Also tagged Reality Series

Double Your Money

Hosted by the charismatic Hughie Green, Double Your Money gave away the biggest cash prize on British television in the 1950s.

Also tagged Game Show

The Appleyards

Transmitted once a fortnight from 1952 in the Children's Television slot, The Appleyards is generally regarded as Britain's first television soap opera-even if it was made for kids.

Also released in 1952