Over here in the UK the big Saturday Night variety shows were usually headed by a comedian. Leslie Crowther, Jimmy Tarbuck, Des O'Connor and of course Bruce Forsyth were the 'usual suspects', though they did give Lenny Henry and Marti Caine a shot in the dying days of the form.

The smaller Sunday evening ones (the ones that filled the half-hour between 'Songs of Praise' and 'The Black and White Minstrel Show' (I may be the only living person who dares to mention that one), were headed up by singers: Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, Harry Secombe and (endlessly, eternally) Val Doonican. In later years, of course, game shows, sketch shows and chat shows took over. The biggest rivalry was between ITVs 'Morecambe and Wise' and BBCs' 'The Two Ronnies'. Nothing like that any more, but at least we have 'QI'.