Acting out at work
MARION McMULLEN looks back at What’s My Line? which first asked game show guests to mime their jobs 70 years ago
GUESSING the occupation of a challenger was all in a day’s work for the panellists of What’s My Line? The popular game show launched on BBC1 on July 16, 1951 with the Radio Times informing viewers “looks like being a lot of fun”.
People on the show performed a short mime to illustrate their job and then it was left to the four-strong panel to work out what they actually did for a living.
The panellists were also blindfolded when a mystery celebrity guest came into the studio and comedian Norman Wisdom and Walt Disney were among those who took part over the years.
Irish TV presenter Eamonn Andrews became the host of the show and regular panellists included the irascible Gilbert Harding, Barbara Kelly, magician David Nixon and Lady Isobel Barnett. Former policeman and schoolteacher Gilbert was a colourful character and ended up being dubbed “the rudest man on television”. He once said: “I am full of the milk of human kindness, damn it. My trouble is that it gets clotted so easily.” His clashes with Eammon Andrews also became a key part of the programme.
Eammon himself presented nearly 400 episodes over the years and he also appeared on the American show as a mystery guest, a panellist and a host.
Anyone who managed to defeat the panel went home with a certificate.
The international appeal of the show led to versions of the quiz all over the world. It was known as Guess What He Does? in Brazil, Guess Your Life? in Spain and Guessing Jobs in Denmark.
The beautiful people are back. Another clutch of singletons are set to spend the summer stressing out over text messages and trying to avoid being mugged off.
Laura Whitmore hosts and her hubby Iain Stirling provides sarcastic voiceover, as the contestants settle into the Mallorcan villa to find their perfect match.
They are all desperately seeking a share in a cash prize and millions of Instagram followers – sorry I mean, love, they’re desperately seeking love.
This year’s intake includes a semi-professional footballer, a luxury events host, a Nando’s waitress, a PE teacher, a model and a fashion blogger.
We’ve already been teased with a trailer and an introduction to this year’s cast.
Lettings manager Faye says of her job: “I try to make it as Selling Sunset as possible.
“I’m definitely there in the mini dresses, boobs out, bum out, turning up and you can see the wives say to their husbands, ‘You’re staying outside’.”
Meanwhile, ex glamour model Shannon sounds a little conflicted when she says: “I don’t feed off looks, I feed off energy, I need someone with personality,” before going on to add: “I need to make sure they’re for me. Looks – obviously, they’ve got to be handsome.”
And labourer Brad reveals that his colleagues would say he “tries to make as much money as he can by doing as little as possible”. Well he’s in the right place. Brace yourselves for a couple of months of nightly drama, with texts, fire pit gatherings, coupling up, recoupling, saucy challenges and getting dumped.
It’s gonna be emotional.