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.

Shazia Mirza (Panellist)

Susan Wokoma (Panellist)

Joe Swash (Panellist)

Born: January 20, 1982 in Islington, London

Best Known For: His work in EastEnders.

Early-life: Born in 1982, Swash studied at Highbury Grove School in Islington, and attended Anna Scher Theatre School on the advice of his mother's friend, actress Linda Robson. Fellow attendees at the time were his future EastEnders co-stars Natalie Cassidy, James Alexandrou and Brooke Kinsella. When Swash was seven, he made his first TV appearance in an Andrex advertisement, and at the age of 11 he was cast in the movie The Adventures of Pinocchio, with Dawn French and Griff Rhys Jones.

Career: Swash was about to give up on the idea of becoming an actor when he won a role in BBC's EastEnders. He was cast as Mickey Miller and made his first appearance in EastEnders in April 2003 as a recurring character. In November 2008, Swash was crowned King of the Jungle after winning the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! He has presented a number of shows for ITV2, including Minute to Win It and Fake Reaction. Other projects include Hole in the Wall, Gimme a Break and Celebrity Juice.

Quote: 'I fancied being a fireman because I wanted to help people and because I didn't want to do a 9-5 job. Plus I know the ladies like the uniforms. But EastEnders called and offered me the part of Mickey, and I haven't looked back since.'

Trivia: He has performed in a number of pantos.

Harry Redknapp (Panellist)

Jonathan Ross (Panellist)

Best Known For: His cheeky celebrity interviews.

Early-life: Jonathan Stephen Ross was born on November 17, 1960, in Camden, London. He is one of six children born to a lorry driver and his film extra wife (Martha Ross had a bit part in EastEnders for over 20 years). Jonathan appeared in TV ads as a child, but after completing a degree in modern European history at the University of London, he began his TV career as a researcher on such shows as Loose Talk and Soul Train.

Career: In 1987, Ross and his friend Alan Marke devised a format inspired by Late Night with David Letterman, and after struggling to find a suitable host, Ross stepped in. The resulting show, The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross, made him a star. Other major projects include his chat shows Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and The Jonathan Ross Show, and his stint as the reviewer of the BBC's Film programme. He's also a massive comic book fan; his first foray into the genre, Turf, was published in 2010. But he's also hit the headlines for various controversies over the years, including the notorious Sachsgate, which involved a prank call made by him and Russell Brand to actor Andrew Sachs in 2008.

Quote: 'People like coming on my show because they know they'll have fun and they know I'm going to be respectful to them. I'm never, you know, mean-spirited.'

Trivia: He's been married to screenwriter and author Jane Goldman since 1988. They have three children.

Joanna Page (Panellist)

Born: March 23, 1978 in Swansea, Wales

Best Known For: Gavin & Stacey.

Early-life: Born Joanna Louise Page on March 23, 1978, in Swansea. She's an only child, the daughter of a mechanic father and bank worker mother. She claims she felt adored while growing up, but that may have caused problems later on, because being turned down after auditions came as a shock. She left home to move to London at 18 to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada). She suffered from homesickness initially, but a friendship with fellow student Maxine Peake helped her settle down. They remain good pals.

Career: Page's first film was 1999's Miss Julie, the same year she made her TV debut as Dora in an adaptation of David Copperfield. She went on to have a regular role in The Cazalets. Page appeared alongside Johnny Depp in From Hell, but it was starring as the girl who steals Martin Freeman's heart in Love Actually that made her a famous face, although she didn't become a household name until tackling one of the lead roles in much-loved sitcom Gavin & Stacey. Other TV work includes appearances in White Van Man, The Syndicate, Gates and the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who.

Quote: 'I don't go out a lot. The other day I was in the middle of doing the house cleaning and there was a knock on the door and I opened it to some man who went: 'Oh good God, it's you. What are you doing here?''

Trivia: Page has also appeared frequently on stage, done panto and featured in numerous adverts.

Charlie Irwin (Executive producer)

Christopher Barbour (Executive producer)

Clodagh O'Donoghue (Executive producer)

Aoife Bower (Series producer)

Barbara Wiltshire (Director)

6:35 pm - 7:10 pm, Saturday, May 23 on BBC One London (1)

About this Broadcast

Season 5, Episode 5

Cast & Crew

More Information

Did You Know..

Before / After