Blankety Blank

Bradley Walsh (Host)

Born: June 04, 1960 in Watford

Best Known For: Coronation Street and Law & Order: UK

Early-life: Bradley John Walsh was born in Watford on June 4, 1960. He wanted to be a footballer and was playing for a county league team when he was offered a contract with Brentford FC. Sadly, his sporting career was brought to an abrupt end when he broke both his ankles. He then considered joining the police, but was told he was too short, so he followed his father into engineering. He eventually decided to try stand-up comedy, and made his first steps towards turning professional when he became an entertainer at a holiday camp near Morecambe.

Career: Walsh's big TV break came in 1993, when he appeared on the Royal Variety Show. It led to a stint presenting the National Lottery, and he also hosted the game shows Wheel of Fortune and Win, Lose or Draw. After fearing his brand of light entertainment was becoming dated he moved into acting, taking parts in the TV version of Lock, Stock, the soap Night and Day and movie Mike Bassett: England Manager before Coronation Street's bosses created the role of Danny Baldwin for him in 2004. He stayed in Weatherfield for two years before leaving to pursue other projects. He's since appeared in Torn, The Old Curiosity Shop, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Law and Order: UK and SunTrap. He moved back into presenting in 2009 with ITV quiz show The Chase, and is a team captain on Play to the Whistle.

Quote: 'Professionally I saw the end of light entertainment galloping towards me. Oddly enough, it's coming back now thanks to all the reality shows.'

Trivia: Walsh is a supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Julian Clary (Panellist)

Born: May 25, 1959 in Surbiton, Surrey

Best Known For: His saucy comments.

Early-life: Julian Peter McDonald Clary was born in Surbiton, Surrey on May 25, 1959, and brought up, along with sisters Frances and Beverley, in Teddington, South London. After attending a strict Catholic school, he studied drama at Goldsmiths College. He had a brief stint as a singing telegram, but his sister's dance career inspired him to try cabaret, along with his long-time sidekick, Fanny the Wonder Dog. He wasn't an immediate hit, but when he changed the act to The Joan Collins Fan Club, he was spotted by TV producers, who gave him his big break on Friday Night Live.

Career: Julian quickly became a household name, thanks to shows such as Terry and Julian, Sticky Moments and All Rise for Julian Clary. He's toured the world with his stand-up show, and has a wealth of TV quizzes under his belt - most notably It's Only TV But I Like It. He's also turned his hand to acting, featuring in dramas such as Virtual Murder and Brazen Hussies, as well as a big-screen appearance in the ill-fated Carry On Columbus (1992). Julian also has four ITV pantomimes to his credit, and is a regular panellist on Radio 4's Just a Minute. He took part in the second series of Strictly Come Dancing, and won Celebrity Big Brother in 2012.

Quote: 'I've never really wanted to upset people. I'm only interested in making people laugh.'

Trivia: In 2006, he released his autobiography, A Young Man's Passage.

Sophie Willan (Panellist)

Harry Pinero (Panellist)

Liza Tarbuck (Panellist)

Born: November 21, 1964 in Liverpool

Best Known For: The Big Breakfast and Linda Green.

Early-life: Born November 21, 1964, the middle child of Liverpool comedian Jimmy Tarbuck and his wife Pauline. She doesn't like talking about her family's famous mates, but was good friends with Michael Parkinson's sons while growing up. At convent school, she considered becoming an artist, a PE teacher or a nun, but decided to follow her dad into showbusiness. She had a spell with the National Youth Theatre before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career: Tarbuck started out on stage before playing Pamela in the hugely popular ITV sitcom Watching. When the series ended in 1993, she featured in gritty drama Tumbledown, but after struggling to find more roles reinvented herself as a TV presenter, fronting The Weekend Show in 1995 and She's Gotta Have It, before going on to co-host The Big Breakfast with old pal Johnny Vaughan. Tarbuck stayed with the show for a year but left to take on new projects, including Blockbusters and comedy drama Linda Green. She's also appeared in Bleak House, Saxondale, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Extras and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and presented the Channel 4 series Without Prejudice and Britain's Top Dog.

Quote: 'I'm like most women, I have good bits and bad bits, but I'm pretty happy with the package. Life's too short to worry about having fat upper arms.'

Trivia: She began presenting a Saturday night show on BBC Radio 2 in 2012.

Judi Love (Panellist)

Tom Allen (Panellist)

Charlie Irwin (Executive producer)

Christopher Barbour (Executive producer)

Clodagh O'Donoghue (Executive producer)

Aoife Bower (Series producer)

Barbara Wiltshire (Director)

12:20 am - 12:55 am, Wednesday, May 13 on BBC One London (1)

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Season 5, Episode 4

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