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Sale of the Century

ParsonsIT CAME from Norwich. Some called it the Quiz of The Week (especially announcer JOHN BENSON, later poached by Jonathan Ross). NICHOLAS PARSONS was the salesman-presenter. This orgy of pre-THE PRICE IS RIGHT consumerist caprice began on Saturday 19th February at 6.05pm thusly: “Quickfire quizmaster Nicholas Parsons poses questions worth £1, £3 and £5 which earn the contestants the right to bargains worth up to £1,000 in any one show – provided they know the right answers. If you can’t resist a bargain, then this is the show for you. This week’s lucky trio of contestants are Mrs. Pat Beaver, a play group supervisor from Salisbury, Wilts.; Bob Bennett, a stock controller from Sudbury, Suffolk, and John Hayes, a schoolteacher rom Allesley, Coventry. And the major prizes they could win are a £1,000 sports car offered at just £95; a £333 colour television set at £30; a £720 continental bedroom suite at £70, and a fortnight’s family holiday in Cyprus, worth £560, at £55. Some sale!” Musical interludes (“we’re having a heatwaaaaave!”) didn’t help to up the level of sophistication; your man at the organ, PETER FENN.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Mags

    June 27, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    Would you like a Mink Coat, Elizabeth?

  2. Enoch S.

    February 8, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    Classic Q&A. Parsons – What should people in glass houses never do? Contestant – Have a bath.
    I think they gave her the money for that one.

  3. televisualcabbage

    February 8, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    Lest us not forget, a charity edition featuring Nicholas, Derek of Batey and Tom ‘Never a cross word…’ O’Connor… Hosted by Steve Jones, neither the Sex Pistols or the lanky welshman who seems to be everywhere…

    Plus revival on early Sky with Peter ‘Lovely Jumpers’ Marshall as well…

  4. Gavin

    February 9, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Which a young Simon Cowell appeared on. I wonder if that gives him Nightmares?

  5. televisualcabbage

    February 9, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    As Mr Cowell would say… “It’s a no from me…”

    Did he flog the magi-mix and the portable telly to fund his empire?

    So Macho? Not with this lovely pink footspa!

  6. Richard Davies

    August 31, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    Due to a BBC strike one edition managed to get a massive number of viewers, enough to get it in the top 10 most watch shows that week.

  7. David

    June 13, 2016 at 9:50 pm

    My grandpa was on one edition fact

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