''Bonkers!'' is a British television variety show from

ATV ATV may refer to: Broadcasting * Amateur television *Analog television Television broadcaster * Andorra Televisió * Anguilla Television * Ayna TV, Afghanistan * ATV (Armenia) * ATV (Aruba), NBC affiliate * ATV (Australian TV station), Melbourn ...

, and distributed by

ITC Entertainment The Incorporated Television Company (ITC), or ITC Entertainment as it was referred to in the United States, was a British company involved in the production and distribution of television programmes. History Incorporated Television Programme C ...

in the United States for syndication during the 1978–79 television season. The show aired later in 1979 on ITV in the United Kingdom. A total of 24 episodes were produced.''Bonkers!'' at TV Guide
/ref> The show was filmed at ATV's Elstree studios near London. Starring

Bob Monkhouse Robert Alan Monkhouse (1 June 1928 – 29 December 2003) was an English comedian, television presenter, writer and actor. He was the host of television game shows including '' The Golden Shot'', '' Celebrity Squares'', '' Family Fortunes'' and ' ...

and the

Hudson Brothers The Hudson Brothers were an American musical group formed in Portland, Oregon, consisting of brothers Bill, Brett and Mark Hudson. They were discovered by a record producer while recording music at a local studio, and offered a recording contr ...

–

Bill Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Pl ...

, Brett and

Mark Mark may refer to: In the Bible * Mark the Evangelist (5–68), traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark * Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic gospels Currencies * Mark (currency), a currenc ...

– the show featured sketches, guest stars and musical numbers from the chorus dancers known as The Bonkerettes. While not a big hit for ATV, it gained a cult audience in the United States where it was compared to ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

''. After four episodes the show was curtailed in the United Kingdom by the 11-week-long ITV strike of 1979. When ITV returned only a small number of companies mainly Border Television, ATV, Granada and UTV broadcast a few additional episodes, however the series was not fully broadcast in the United Kingdom.

References

External links

Comedy Guide – ''Bonkers!''
at

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* 1970s British television series 1978 British television series debuts 1979 British television series endings British variety television shows British English-language television shows Television shows produced by Associated Television (ATV) Television series by ITC Entertainment Television shows shot at ATV Elstree Studios {{ITCDistributions-stub