THERE'S one sure-fire way to irritate Chris Tarrant if you bump into him on the street - and that is to quote one of his own catchphrases to him.
The Who Wants to be a Millionaire? presenter has lost count of the number of times strangers have asked if they can phone a friend, or Is that your final answer?' It says much for the show that such phrases have entered the language - the show's creators have even trademarked "50:50", "Phone A Friend" and "Ask The Audience".
TV quizzes and gameshows are rife with catchphrases - and the greatest-ever has now been identified by a poll.
"Nice to see you, to see you... nice,'' uttered every Saturday night by Bruce Forsyth at the start of The Generation Game, scooped more than 20% of the votes in a survey for www.
ace4entertainment.com.
Brucie first used the words in 1972 and took them with him when he left the BBC five years later to host ITV's You Bet!
His other famous catchphrase, "Didn't they do well?", also from The Generation Game, made it in at number six.
In second place was Mastermind's "I've started so I'll finish'', which was said by host Magnus Magnusson, and in third place was "Can I have a P please Bob?", from Blockbusters.
The top 10 was completed by Jim Bowen's "Look what you could have won'' (Bullseye), Roy Walker's "Say what you see'' and "It's good - but it's not right" (Catchphrase), "Is that your final answer?", Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer's "What are the scores, George Dawes?" (Shooting Stars) and Anne Robinson's terminal "You are the Weakest Link...Goodbye."
Other well-worn catchphrases include "Don't panic!" and "They don't like it up em!" from Dad's Army and Dick Emery's camp, "You are awful ... but I like you!"
What is your favourite catchphrase? And no, you can't phone a friend for help. JUNE BREEN, catering assistant, Kirkintilloch: Bruce Forsyth had some great catchphrases and I always liked him. My favourite was Didn't they do well'. CHRIS RITCHIE, 21, student, Carntyne Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer's What's the scores' would be my favourite catchphrase. CATHERINE MURPHY, retired, Glasgow: Magnus Magnusson was nice and my favourite catchphrase would be the one he used to use, I've started so I'll finish'. PAUL MATHESON, 27, forklift driver, Glasgow: You are the Weakest Link Goodbye' is my favourite. I think Anne Robinson is a good presenter and can be quite cheeky at times. HELEN MCLEAN, retired, Glasgow: Bruce Forsyth's Didn't they do well' was a good catchphrase and would be my favourite. NICKY WOODWARD, 16, student, Hamilton: Bruce Forsyth's Nice to see you, to see you nice' is my favourite TV gameshow catchphrase. TOMMY MORRISON, 25, call centre worker, Milton of Campsie: My favourite would be Say what you see' by Roy Walker. VICTORIA CRANSTON, people support worker, City Centre: I liked the catchphrase Nice to see you, to see you nice' by Bruce Forsyth.
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