Blockbusters host Bob Holness dies aged 83

Legendary ‘Blockbusters’ host Bob Holness has died at the age of 83.

In a statement his family said that he died peacefully in his sleep early on Friday morning having suffered a series of strokes over the years.

He is survived by his wife Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.

Holness was born in South Africa but his family moved to the UK shortly afterwards, where he would spend his childhood.

He met his wife when he moved back to South Africa. There he played James Bond in a radio production of ‘Moonraker’ before returning to the UK in 1961 to further his career.

In the 60s he joined the BBC and presented Radio One and Radio Two shows alongside the likes of Sir Terry Wogan and Michael Parkinson.

From 1971 to 1982 he was the announcer on BBC One’s ‘The Generation Game’ but moved in front of camera for ITV, where he went on to present his most famous show ‘Blockbusters’.

Holness presented ‘Blockbusters’ for its entire first run on ITV between 1983 and 1994. He continued to present the show briefly when it moved to Sky.

He also presented ‘Call My Bluff’ for the BBC from 1996 until he suffered a major stroke in 2002.