Mr. Robert Robinson Retires.

[Patrick]

Non Radio 4 listeners might think he was gone already, but the famed combover is to hang up his microphone as chairman of "Brain of Britain".

Famous for uttering the phrase "Ah, would that it were, would that it were" when contestants give a wrong but entertaining answer, Mr. Robinson is to stand down after more than three decades at the helm.

He will be replaced by Mr. Russell Davies, who has previously stood in for Mr. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson – who also hosted BBC TV quizshows Ask the Family and Call My Bluff, took over from Brain of Britain's original host Mr. Franklin Engelmann in 1972.

Mr. Robinson said of leaving Brain of Britain: "It feels a bit like running away from home! On the other hand, one mustn't outstay one's welcome.

"Faithful listeners, along with all concerned with the production of Brain Of Britain, have been so supportive over the many years. I shall be missing them and it."

Mr. Davies added: "Having started listening to Brain Of Britain when Mr. Franklin Engelmann was in charge, I feel I've heard and admired Mr. Robert Robinson's entire contribution to this great tradition, and it's been a huge pleasure. His wonderful urbanity and airiness are quite inimitable."

The Radio 4 controller, Mr. Mark Damazer, said: "The brilliant Mr. Robert Robinson is retiring after more than three decades, during which he has defined the art of the quiz show host. He has presided over Brain Of Britain with sympathy for the contestants, wit and panache. It has been a joy listening to him and he will be greatly missed by the audience."

Straight out of The Ladybird book of Tributes there Mark!

Brain of Britain began life as a slot in What Do You Know? in 1953, before becoming a programme in its own right.

[tarzanontarmazepam]

Classic Ask The Family clip



The Baynes family look somwhat bemused by a burst of pop music from The Police.

[Patrick]

Toe curling stuff there!

They're repeating The Onedin Line on "Yesterday" (I think I mentioned) - A drama 'raved' about and heady with nostalgia for some. I hated it when little, but had a look the other day to see if - like some other 'classic' programmes it was just an age thing. Have to say that the acting is absolutely appalling - as wooden as the ships themselves! Compare it to other classic 70's dramas and it's Acorn Antiques. You could drive a Ford Granada through the gaps - or 'dramatic pauses' in between the actors speaking! Truly dreadful.

[everso]

Aug 4, 2010 13:00:39 GMT Patrick said:

Toe curling stuff there!

They're repeating The Onedin Line on "Yesterday" (I think I mentioned) - A drama 'raved' about and heady with nostalgia for some. I hated it when little, but had a look the other day to see if - like some other 'classic' programmes it was just an age thing. Have to say that the acting is absolutely appalling - as wooden as the ships themselves! Compare it to other classic 70's dramas and it's Acorn Antiques. You could drive a Ford Granada through the gaps - or 'dramatic pauses' in between the actors speaking! Truly dreadful.

Oh my god. I caught the tail end of The Onedin Line the other day. What a load of old cobblers. I never was keen on it in the 70s, and, as you say, the acting was dreadful. And the wigs! My dear! Someone in the costume department should have been horsewhipped.

Shame about Robert Robinson (I often wonder about his parents, though, naming him Robert - what if he'd had a speech impediment and couldn't sound his Rs?) I always thought he was a very good quiz master.

Those families in Ask The Family! They were so far removed from my family that I used to wonder if they were real.

[aubrey]

I always enjoyed him.

[trubble]

I used to love Call My Bluff. There wasn't a lot on in the seventies, the TV used to close down for long rests and there were only three channels, so I suppose it's not much of an accolade to say it, but it was one of my favourite shows.

[tarzanontarmazepam]

Aug 6, 2010 10:09:22 GMT trubble said:

I used to love Call My Bluff. There wasn't a lot on in the seventies, the TV used to close down for long rests and there were only three channels, so I suppose it's not much of an accolade to say it, but it was one of my favourite shows.

People watched more TV in the seventies than now. Average weekly viewing hours for the average family in 1975 was around 24 hours per week. Now it is approximately 12 hours per week. The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show in 1974 got a record 24 million viewers. I don't think that's ever been beaten.

Never rated him myself.

[trubble]

The first few minutes of that clip are so amusing. I'm quite proud to say that I got the fish question right. The Police question... nothing to do with The Police! Moomin, I elect you to write a pop quiz for the Stubbers forcing us to listen to bars and bars of a song just so you can ask a theme based history question. Make it so. Please. Ask the Stubby Family.