Master Bridge

(ft)
(Pictures)
Line 49: Line 49:
[[Category:Sport]]
[[Category:Sport]]
[[Category:Bridge]]
[[Category:Bridge]]
 +
[[Category:Channel 4 Programmes]]

Revision as of 13:00, 24 January 2021

Contents

Host

Nicola Gardener

Co-hosts

Sammy Kehela

Broadcast

Brook for Channel 4, 16 April to 3 September 1983 (14 episodes in 1 series)

Synopsis

A duplicate bridge competition following the lead of the BBC’s Grand Slam, though unlike the Beeb’s series, Master Bridge was an individual contest, with eight players paired up with each of the others in turn. The concept was very much "learn about bridge by watching the masters" and although it wasn’t explained on-screen, the deals had been devised by host Nicola Gardener and series creator/producer David Elstein specifically to illustrate interesting situations and strategies in the game.

The participants were Jeremy Flint, Martin Hoffman, Zia Mahmood, Rixi Marcus, Jane Priday, Irving Rose, Omar Sharif and Martin Sheehan.

If you can help us to expand this entry, please provide as much information as possible, using the feedback form below.

Champion

Martin Hoffman

Theme music

An instrumental cover of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again”. Bobby Lamb was credited for the arrangement.

Trivia

As the end credits helpfully told us, host Nicola Gardener was a tutor from the London School of Bridge, though that was rather underselling her credentials as a champion player even at the time. Now known as Nicola Smith, she's gone on to a long and distinguished career as a player; as of summer 2020 she's still the #2 ranked women's player in the world and her trophy cabinet has recently been classified as a dwarf planet by the IAU.

Producer David Elstein went on to become Director of Programmes for Thames Television, until it lost its franchise due to the Broadcasting Act 1990.

Pictures

The presentation studio.
Guess who?
Guess who? (2)
A game in progress.
Top half of the leaderboard, partway through the series.

Feedback

To correct something on this page or post an addition, please complete this form and press "Send":
If you are asking us a question, please read our contact us page and FAQ first.

Name: E-mail:   
A Labyrinth Games site.
Design by Thomas.
Printable version
Editors: Log in