Happy birthday to you

So, 2009. Did anything interesting happen?

• Matt Smith was named as the new Doctor in Doctor Who, taking over from David Tennant
• Captain Chesley Sullenberger crash-landed his airliner in the Hudson River after birds disabled the engines. All passengers and crew survived
• Peter Andre and Katie Price separated
• There was an epidemic of swine flu
• The funniest joke of this year's Edinburgh Fringe, as voted by viewers of TV channel Dave. came from comedian Dan Antopolski: "Hedgehogs. Why can't they just share the hedge?" 

Oh... and a TV quiz, name of Pointless, was broadcast. for the first time.

 

Today, 24th August 2017, is the eighth anniversary of that first show's broadcast, in a quiet little BBC2 daytime backwater. More than 1200 editions later, it's one of BBC1's top shows, complete with celebrity specials shown in prime time Saturday night slots.

And with another long recording block about to start, it looks like Pointless will be with us for a long time yet. Roll on the next anniversary!