As Bradley Walsh Departs Doctor Who, Here's A Reminder of "Midas Touch"

As in the case of Bradley Walsh, every so often there's a personality whom you can't remember not knowing who they were. Jonathan Ross has been on TV since at least the 1950's for example. Before him Bruce Forsyth was entertaining Queen Liz I. But do you remember a time BB? Before Bradley?

He's done it all, quizzes, gameshows, sitcoms, soaps, serious drama, a film, viral corpsing videos from 'The Chase' and has just announced his departure from the role of Graham in 'Doctor Who'. Seriously, go look at his Wikipedia and gawp at just how much the man has done. So as he files another project away alongside "Wheel of Fortune" and "Mike Bassett England Manager", I wanted to quickly talk about the first show I remember seeing him on in 1995, "Midas Touch".

5 contestants start, each picked on the basis they were overflowing with personality/the loud one you'd keep your distance from in the pub. They get asked some guesstimation questions and the closest each time goes straight through to the next round. The last two left in each round face off in a game that'd look suited to Fun House or Its a Knockout. Lose that game and you were gone. After three daft games we'd be left with two contestants facing off to figure out a three digit combination to unlock a £5000 prize. This involved running up and down stairs to remind themselves of the numbers theyd worked out and something tells me modern health and safety would have a meltdown over something as simple as running on stairs.

 

It's an easily forgotten show as it only lasted two series, buried away in the schedules, but it was very enjoyable. It's a shame not much of it has survived the 25 years up to now to make it online.