Vernon Kay has publicly thanked Les Dennis for a heartfelt gesture that occurred 20 years ago when Kay took over as host of the ITV game show Family Fortunes. Speaking on his BBC Radio 2 show, Kay recalled how Dennis personally called him to offer support and pass the baton.
Les Dennis inspired by Bob Monkhouse
Dennis revealed that his call to Kay was inspired by a similar gesture from comedian Bob Monkhouse in 1987. Monkhouse, who hosted the show before Max Bygraves, called Dennis when he took over, saying, "I'm handing you the baton, and look after the show." Monkhouse had a deep fondness for the programme, having helped develop it when it first launched in the UK in 1980. He insisted on changing the title from the American original, Family Feud, because he felt the name sounded "too aggressive," and also created the character Mr Babbage for the show's computer.
Family Fortunes legacy
Dennis hosted Family Fortunes for 15 years, making it his most famous role. His catchphrase, "If it's up there, I'll give you the money myself!" became widely known. He once had to honour that pledge during a November 2000 episode when a contestant answered "grill" to the question "name a way of toasting someone." Dennis paid the £12 prize money from his own wallet after being convinced the answer would not be on the board.
Dennis continues to perform
Now in his 70s, Dennis shows no signs of slowing down. Beyond Family Fortunes, he has appeared in shows such as Russ Abbot's Madhouse, Coronation Street, and Extras, and has headlined theatres across the country. In 2024, he played Malvolio in Twelfth Night at Shakespeare North Prescot, fulfilling a dream he had since seeing the Royal Shakespeare Company's production at age 17. He told the Liverpool Echo: "I was expecting him to say Feste because that's the clown, but he said Malvolio and I was really thrilled."
