Top 10 Hilarious Gameshow Bloopers

The latest in a long line of lads from the love lift, this “Take Me Out” contestant is on cloud nine after getting himself a date. He and his lucky lady will soon be whisked away to the Isle of Fernando’s, but they have to safely vacate the set first. Which is easier said than done. This chap’s so chuffed with how his day’s panned out, he forgets to stop gaping at the woman by his side. And promptly face plants a partitioning wall. Not even ‘Paddy love’ can cure that.

To what’s typically one of the more civilised TV quizzes, and a rare moment when Jeremy Vine gets the giggles. The ordinarily composed presenter of “Eggheads” is pitching a question concerning topless world leaders, but the first of the potential answers leaves him laughing away the tears. In all fairness, all three options offer quite an unusual mental image. Who knew Putin’s macho displays would have such wide-reaching repercussions.

We roll with a retro clip next, because you can’t beat a bit of Bully. It’s all eyes on the oche, as Jim Bowen interviews his darting contestants, as per usual. And then this happens. The guy’s answer was worthy of Jim’s ‘bus fare home’, but the presenter’s reaction is what makes it. Because, why not throw in a few swear words for good measure? Glancing at his card, it’s a definite case of ‘Here’s what you should’ve said’.

To Nick Weir’s first day on the new job, taking over from Roy Walker as presenter of the much-loved say-what-you-see series, “Catchphrase”. But Weir’s big gig began with a big break. He falls down the stairs mere seconds into filming the first episode, and spends the rest of the series ambling around on crutches. Not ideal. Weir’s isn’t the only painful fracture on prime-time TV, either. Judith Stafford was part-way through competing on “The Krypton Factor” in 1989 when she broke her ankle. Ouch.

A Mecca for game show mishaps, “Countdown” has given us countless gaffes and unscripted embarrassments. But we head directly to Dictionary Corner for one of the best. Susie Dent is already struggling to compose herself after a certain six-letter word, and Nick Hewer does not let her off lightly. No matter how he links to Origins of Words, the innuendo’s inescapable. The whole thing’s made even funnier by the host’s deadpan delivery.

Another treasure trove for TV’s funniest answers, “Family Fortunes” requires speed of thought and a logical mind. But sometimes, your mind just goes blank. Take this guy, on a high having reached the final round. But then his brain turns to turkey. Bob gives the same answer to his first three questions, and bizarrely blows his family’s chances of winning big money. It’s a comic capitulation, best served with veg and gravy.

Welcome to the Dream Factory, where Noel, his players and his pilgrims have a quarter-million in their sights. “Deal or No Deal” proved massively popular in the late-2000s, as players aimed to beat the Banker by opening boxes filled with cash sums. But the familiar format fell to pieces when one contestant revealed an empty container. Cue a sharp intake of breath, and Noel heading backstage as the tension increased, before the blunder was smoothed over in typically dramatic fashion.

We’ve already made an awkward visit to Dictionary Corner, but it’s at the letters board where “Countdown” truly excels for today’s list. How much fun can you really have with nine random letters? Well… A fair bit, actually. From toilet humour to sex terms and all out obscenities, it’s tough to pick a favourite rude word. But, ‘bumhole’ takes it for sheer silliness. All courtesy of Susie once again, and they even have Rachel Riley spell it out for us.

For the most part “The Chase” is prime-cut quizzing. But Bradley Walsh does lose his composure now and again. Special mention for the contestant who broke her chair before breaking wind, but the famous Fanny Chmelar is today’s runner-up. Bradley reads the name, but barely makes it through the next few minutes. Even the Governess Anne Hegerty gives in eventually. He did offer an apology to the former Olympic skier sometime afterwards, but this clip will never likely be forgotten.

Who else but Roy Walker to see us out, with this classic clip. The bonus catchphrase is a simple idea; pick a square, reveal more of the picture. But, here we see how that concept can cause chaos. With every square removed, this image gets increasingly risqué. First the hand movements, then Mr. Chips’ hat, and his overly happy friend. The audience are in fits, but Roy does a sterling job of keeping it together until it’s finally solved. That’s riiight!