We’re sad to hear about the passing of legendary producer and 15 to 1 host William G Stewart this afternoon. He was 84.
Whilst most people will best know him as the stern long-running host of the aforementioned quiz, we’re a bit more interested in his producer work, producing some of the finest light entertainment quizzes of the 80s and 90s. The Price Is Right was my favourite TV show as a kid (even if I did find Cliffhanger unbearably scary to watch) – the games, the glitz, loved it. And lest we forget he helped turn around Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush from pre-production limbo-hell to one of the most important and influential light entertainment shows of the last 30 years.
Here from Youtube is the first episode of 15 to 1 from 1988.
Was he 82 or 84? Sources differ.
BBC says 84 so that’s what I’ve gone with:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-41353273
Wikipedia suggests 1935-2017 which would be 82:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Stewart
May change later.
That’s not the first episode of Fifteen to One by the way. This is…
Cripes, that’ll teach me for Youtubing at work, thanks Rob.
There really aren’t very many people who enjoyed such massive success either side of the camera – WGS was a true tour de force.
Might be stating the obvious but the amount of research that went into the Q&A writing on 15 to 1 shouldn’t be underestimated, either – I remember a documentary a while back (no clips on YouTube it seems) where he said he used to shriek with delight every time there was a Cabinet reshuffle, so he could eke out a few new questions.
This was also a highlight:
This is sad news, I used to love Fifteen to One and much of it was thanks to William G’s little bits of business like the Senior Citizens Board. There was a great closer one day when he referred back to him having a bit of a chuckle with a contestant earlier in the programme, saying “Last time they were on, they were eliminated after both their questions were about sport. I thought that was a bit unfair, so invited them back. As luck would have it, their first question today was about sport, which explains our private joke!” Used to love that kind of thing, where they discussed the mechanics of the programme.
And, of course, his top catchphrase, “go away, enjoy the summer holidays, and come back and see us in the autumn!”
The mighty William G Stewart also acted as troubleshooter to wrestle the first series of Wanted into shape, lest we forget. It had one of the first mainstream examples of interaction with its audience through an Internet forum, back in the days when UK home Internet access was (if not strictly at the cutting edge) still something of a novelty, and it built up something of a community. I went to see a couple of episodes being filmed and was introduced to him after one taping. He told me “The Internet’s not just for kids, you know!”, and I’ve continued to associate the phrase with him from almost 21 years ago.
If you’re an afterlife type, it’s fun to imagine that there’s a lot of top talent making really good shows up there right now.
Mmm! I saw him listed as producer on his ukgameshows.com entry (solid 8/10 for that news headline whoever wrote it, btw) but couldn’t remember seeing it anywhere else so couldn’t really talk about it the same way you evidently can. Still though.
Ah! I wrote that headline, and I’ve got to say it becomes a lot less funny when you lose someone yourself. (My Dad went a couple of hours ago.) I swung between question or cremate or question or nom-cremate – which would have been better?
Very sorry to read that. I’m sure that everyone at the Bar sends you and your family warmest wishes and condolences.
Wikipedia is now saying 1933-2017 i.e. 84, so I’ve changed it back.
Basically nobody knows how old William G Stewart was. Legend.
Wikipedia have gone with what the BBC have said. I always take the view that if sources differ, the older age is nearly always accurate because people often fabricate their age to look younger.