Les isn't pleased with the new-look set for the twelfth series, describing it as a "Roman version of Crossroads". Despite this, he pledges to make Blankety Blank a wholesome family show "Until we find some hole for it."
Les meets a young contestant who tries to help the person playing against him, and a warm-hearted edition is joined by Rose Marie and Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, making their first appearances - in Eddie's case, his sole outing.
The show returns after a two-week break for Olympics features on the BBC. Included among the panel is Chris Serle, making his third and final appearance, and the return of Ellie Laine.
The revolving stage proves a hazard for one contestant, while there's the sole appearance of three panellists: Simon Dee, Bill Oddie and Mark Walker. Also making her panel debut is Judi Spiers.
A low-scoring game sees Les dealing with a rowdy audience, an even rowdier Frank Carson - and Jackie Grainger, a contestant who was once the trainer of Red Rum.
The final episode for Debbie Greenwood, Jan Leeming and June Whitfield, though June would return for the Lily Savage revival series. Yet attracting the most attention is the eccentrically-dressed contestant Stuart Hughes.
Paul Coia, Louise Jameson and Brian Blessed join the panel for the first time. Although Louise would come back the following year, and both she and Brian took part in the revival series with Lily Savage, this was Paul's only appearance.
The debut of Caron Keating, and the sole outing of Bill Wiggins, who was Joan Collins's boyfriend at the time of recording. There's also a vocal contingent in the studio: "Least we've got an audience that's alive for a change", claims Les.
Featuring the sole appearance of Adrienne Posta, and final edition for Geoff Capes. There's also the attempted show-stealing of Bernie Clifton, who Les sarcastically reminds the audience: "He's had us chuckling all day."
There's unbroadcastable answers from Stan Boardman that have the audience in hysterics, the sole appearance of Jean Boht and the debuts of John Craven and Jane Marie Osborne.
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Top Gap
By what name was Blankety Blank (1978) officially released in Canada in English?