Spelling Bee (lost early BBC game show; 1938)

Listing of episode 4 of Spelling Bee in Radio Times.

Status: Lost

Spelling Bee is an early BBC Television Service and game show. Based on the radio show of the same name, five episodes were broadcast throughout 1938. It is listed by Guinness World Records as the first television game show.

Background

The show's name showcases its premise, pitting contestants to spell a series of words that increase in difficulty as the game progresses. The television show got its origins from its radio version, which began when BBC paired with National Broadcasting Company (NBC) to broadcast two United Kingdom vs United States spelling matches in January 1938. Here, the show was around 45 minutes long, with contestants receiving 30 seconds to spell out the given word to score points. Any errors were signified by a bell, with the opposing player being offered the chance to correct said error for a bonus point. According to UK Game Shows, the radio version of Spelling Bee was itself the first radio game show.

With the radio show a critical success, the BBC were convinced that a television program could be established from this concept. Therefore, in issue 763 of Radio Times, a promotion from The Scanner invited members of the public the chance to appear on the show, providing they regularly viewed television and had a talent for spelling. Selected individuals would team against a set of television stars in a spelling bee competition held at Alexandra Palace.

In total, five episodes were broadcast, starting from May 31st, 1938, where viewers competed against television artists. The 18th June and 10th July episodes also featured regular viewers against television artists. In the 7th August edition, viewers faced a set of television musicians. Finally, on 1st September, an Inter-Schools Spelling Bee was broadcast, direct from Radiolympia. Freddie Grisewood reprised his radio show role as the spelling master in at least the first three episodes, with E. Powys Mathers as a Master of the Dictionary for the third episode, and Mary Adams and Philip Bate being presenters of the third and fourth episodes respectively. The episodes also ranged in length from 10 to 30 minutes. No further episodes were produced, most likely due to a decline in popularity as the inevitability of World War 2 began to loom over by the start of 1939.

Availability

Like other early BBC television broadcasts, Spelling Bee was broadcast live in an era where direct recordings of the show were not possible. Therefore, all five episodes are permanently missing. While photographs and footage of the radio version exist, none concerning the television counterpart have resurfaced.

Gallery

Videos

Surviving footage of International Spelling Bee between Great Britain and the United States, broadcast on radio.

Images

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  Listing of Inter-Schools Spelling Bee in Radio Times.

See Also

• 1937 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1937)
• 1937 International Imperial Trophy Race (lost footage of motor race; 1937)
• 1937 Wimbledon Championships (partially found footage of tennis tournament; 1937)
• 1938 Ashes Series (partially found footage of international test cricket match; 1938)
• 1938 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1938)
• 1939 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1939)
• Ann and Harold (lost early BBC drama television series; 1938)
• Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)
• Cook's Night Out (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)
• England 0-1 Scotland (partially found international football match; 1938)
• England 16-21 Scotland (partially found footage of rugby match; 1938)
• First Aid (lost early BBC medical show; 1937)
• Foundations of Cookery (lost early BBC cooking show; 1939)
• Marcel Boulestin television shorts (lost early BBC programs; 1937-1939)
• RCA recording of BBC Television Service (found footage of pre-Second World War BBC television broadcast; 1938)
• Sea Stories (lost early BBC talk show; 1936-1937)
• The Boat Race 1938 (partially found footage of rowing race; 1938)
• The Care of Your Car (lost early BBC motoring show; 1947)
• The Wasp's Nest (lost early BBC television adaptation of Agatha Christie short story; 1937)

External Link

• IMDB page for Spelling Bee.