maryportfuncity 10,684 Posted December 20, 2005 Back on the subject of RR, weren't the families on Ask the Family dreadful? "Mr Middleclass who's a librarian, Mrs Middleclass who's a teacher and their children Tarquin aged 14 and Crispian aged 12." And they all wore NHS glasses. And what was the implication in lumping together the "mother and youngest child" for some questions? Blacks were a bit thin on the ground too! Maybe an investigative program should run RR to ground and ask if he was a closet fascist all along. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godot 149 Posted December 21, 2005 Thank you TV Cream Worrying. A theme tune that has been wiped completely from my memory. Ask The Family was a forgotten prisoner in some secluded cell parked in the remotest recess of my brain before reading this stuff. Imagine year upon year of solitary confinement before someone turns the key and announces: "You have a visitor." It can mess up your mind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady Die 63 Posted December 21, 2005 Back on the subject of RR, weren't the families on Ask the Family dreadful? "Mr Middleclass who's a librarian, Mrs Middleclass who's a teacher and their children Tarquin aged 14 and Crispian aged 12." And they all wore NHS glasses. And what was the implication in lumping together the "mother and youngest child" for some questions? Blacks were a bit thin on the ground too! Maybe an investigative program should run RR to ground and ask if he was a closet fascist all along. Were there black people in the 60s & 70s? I don't remember seeing them anywhere on TV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slave to the Grave 26 Posted December 21, 2005 Back on the subject of RR, weren't the families on Ask the Family dreadful? "Mr Middleclass who's a librarian, Mrs Middleclass who's a teacher and their children Tarquin aged 14 and Crispian aged 12." And they all wore NHS glasses. And what was the implication in lumping together the "mother and youngest child" for some questions? Blacks were a bit thin on the ground too! Maybe an investigative program should run RR to ground and ask if he was a closet fascist all along. Were there black people in the 60s & 70s? I don't remember seeing them anywhere on TV. Well there was the 'Black and White Minstrel Show'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tempus Fugit 214 Posted December 21, 2005 Were there black people in the 60s & 70s? There certainly were, but they were only allowed out after dark, lest they scare the natives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady Die 63 Posted December 21, 2005 Were there black people in the 60s & 70s? There certainly were, but they were only allowed out after dark, lest they scare the natives. I'd have thought that would scare the natives more. You'd only be able to see their teeth & the whites of their eyes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tempus Fugit 214 Posted December 21, 2005 Were there black people in the 60s & 70s? There certainly were, but they were only allowed out after dark, lest they scare the natives. I'd have thought that would scare the natives more. You'd only be able to see their teeth & the whites of their eyes. I think you'll find the ordinance in force at that time, stated that dark glasses had to be worn and smiling was prohibited. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady Die 63 Posted December 21, 2005 Were there black people in the 60s & 70s? There certainly were, but they were only allowed out after dark, lest they scare the natives. I'd have thought that would scare the natives more. You'd only be able to see their teeth & the whites of their eyes. I think you'll find the ordinance in force at that time, stated that dark glasses had to be worn and smiling was prohibited. Thanks for that info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmh8300 2 Posted November 26, 2006 Whilst listening to a very dull episode of “The Brain of Britain” on Radio 4 today, I began to wonder not only how old RR is but whether he would be somewhere on the DeathList, given that he was not exactly young back in the seventies, when presenting “Ask the Family.” I'm pleased to see he's here. A quick trawl on the net did not bring to light any news or more recent photographs of our subject than those apparently taken in 1973, so it's hard to tell how healthy he currently looks. He has just turned 79. To add to the nostalgic feel of this thread, here are a couple of reminders of his best work, "Ask the Family." First, a typical family of contestants. The Dawsons from "Godalming." George is these days a retried accountant, Tristan still collects stamps even after his gender reassignment, Simon works in advertising while Jennifer (yes those do look like NHS specs) does voluntary work at a lesbian collective in Camden. You can be assured that this is from the seventies by the massive preponderance of brown. To really bring it back, here are some obscure teasers from everyone's favourite Christmas present from 1972, The Ask the Family quiz book. Q. If Dover is 2 and Plymouth 3, what is Edinburgh? Q. If 8 follows 1, and 3 is between 17 and 19, which number is dead centre? Q. A boy had 9 coins totalling 46.5p made up of three each of three different coins. What were the coins? Q. On a telephone dial, the finger hole for '0' is at six o'clock at the bottom. Which digit is at the top at twelve o'clock? Q. If an LP lasts 30 minutes, how many times will it revolve while being played? The last two, presumably like RR, are showing their age. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
halleluyahjohntudor 5 Posted November 26, 2006 Whilst listening to a very dull episode of “The Brain of Britain” on Radio 4 today, I began to wonder not only how old RR is but whether he would be somewhere on the DeathList, given that he was not exactly young back in the seventies, when presenting “Ask the Family.” I'm pleased to see he's here. A quick trawl on the net did not bring to light any news or more recent photographs of our subject than those apparently taken in 1973, so it's hard to tell how healthy he currently looks. He has just turned 79. To add to the nostalgic feel of this thread, here are a couple of reminders of his best work, "Ask the Family." First, a typical family of contestants. The Dawsons from "Godalming." George is these days a retried accountant, Tristan still collects stamps even after his gender reassignment, Simon works in advertising while Jennifer (yes those do look like NHS specs) does voluntary work at a lesbian collective in Camden. You can be assured that this is from the seventies by the massive preponderance of brown. To really bring it back, here are some obscure teasers from everyone's favourite Christmas present from 1972, The Ask the Family quiz book. Q. If Dover is 2 and Plymouth 3, what is Edinburgh? Q. If 8 follows 1, and 3 is between 17 and 19, which number is dead centre? Q. A boy had 9 coins totalling 46.5p made up of three each of three different coins. What were the coins? Q. On a telephone dial, the finger hole for '0' is at six o'clock at the bottom. Which digit is at the top at twelve o'clock? Q. If an LP lasts 30 minutes, how many times will it revolve while being played? The last two, presumably like RR, are showing their age. Three 10p coins, 3 x 5p coins, 3 half p coins. Did they ever get a prize on Ask the Family? No, I thought not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,684 Posted November 26, 2006 The prize was - I think - some stupid trophy or other useless insult, like premium bonds for the kids. Remember in the days of industrial action and three day weeks the BBC had a problem with giving away anything valuable, as it was all paid for the struggling licence payers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MadMac 98 Posted November 28, 2006 Q. If Dover is 2 and Plymouth 3, what is Edinburgh?Q. If 8 follows 1, and 3 is between 17 and 19, which number is dead centre? Q. A boy had 9 coins totalling 46.5p made up of three each of three different coins. What were the coins? Q. On a telephone dial, the finger hole for '0' is at six o'clock at the bottom. Which digit is at the top at twelve o'clock? Q. If an LP lasts 30 minutes, how many times will it revolve while being played? 1) 1 (It's the numbers of the trunk roads that lead to them from London) 2) 50 (It's a dartboard) 3) Answered elsewhere 4) 5, I think 5) 1000 (33 1/3 RPM) And no, I don't have the book. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Magere Hein 1,400 Posted November 29, 2006 4) 5, I think 3, rather: That's for European models. Apparently US models have a slightly different lay-out. regards, Hein Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady Die 63 Posted November 29, 2006 George is these days a retried accountant What was he retried for? My guess is crimes against fashion. BTW why is "Godalming" in quotes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAFKAG 70 Posted August 4, 2010 Well, old Smuggins is still alive, though he's quitting the day job. Another Humph scenario, or just a ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted August 13, 2011 Call My Bluff presenter Robert Robinson dead at 83! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thefunkyfaz 51 Posted August 13, 2011 Call My Bluff presenter Robert Robinson dead at 83! He was on my list of possibilities for 2011, but was he on my final list...? Ah no, tish, would that he were. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,208 Posted August 12, 2018 Seven years ago today, the Reaper called Robert Robinson's bluff, aged 83. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
One shot Paddy 1,209 Posted August 12, 2018 51 minutes ago, YoungWillz said: Seven years ago today, the Reaper called Robert Robinson's bluff, aged 83. Did he Ask the Family first? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
