Family Fortunes a large electronic board, known as "Mr. Babbage", which famously sounds a wrong answer "Eh-uhh" sound effect and its accompanying X to signal the strike, as well as a "ding" (for a right answer). "Family Fortunes" was first hosted by comedian Bob Monkhouse (1980–83) then by singer and entertainer Max Bygraves (1983–85). After being rested for the whole of 1986, the show returned on 27 June 1987 with Les Dennis as presenter, and had a consistently successful run for the next 15 years. It was then moved out of peak time and became a daily daytime show hosted by Andy
Les Dennis team, with host Michael Aspel coming onto the set just at the conclusion of one episode to present Les with the "big red book" and to say "This is your life" to a shocked Dennis. Aspel had arranged for the "Family Fortunes" buzzer to keep sounding at the end of the episode where Dennis usually says goodbye to the viewers, and to have the words "Les Dennis Tonight..." appear on the "Family Fortunes" big studio screen, much to the bewilderment of Dennis, who realised what was happening only when he turned around and saw Michael Aspel walking onto the set.