The Format of Have a Go!
Wilfred’s almost invariable opening line in each show was “Ow do, Ow are yer?” and he would greet young unmarrieds with the question “Are yer courtin’?”. The venue was typically a village or town hall, a school, theatre or factory or suchlike. A handful of contestants from the local community would be up on a stage in front of microphones with Wilfred, facing a large seated audience. His wife Mabel would be behind, facilitating in various ways as the show went on. The producer from 1947 onwards was Colehan Barney. Musical accompaniment was often provided by Violet Carson, a fine pianist and soprano who later would become better known for acting the character of Ena Sharples in “Coronation Street”.
Wilfred would invite the contestants to relate anecdotes about their lives or experiences, bringing in audience participation as well, and would pose quiz questions to the contestants. Successful answers earned them modest amounts of prize money, which doubled each time. The final “jackpot” prize was under £2. As the show proceeded Wilfred would find opportunities to deploy his rhyming catch-phrases “Give ‘im the money, Barney” and “How much money on the table, Mabel?”
It is difficult to find any account of how the programme makers first approached a community targeted for the show and, in particular, how and at what stage the contestants were selected. Perhaps they first identified a suitable venue and invited its owners to host the event. Or, they may have first contacted leading figures in the community and relied upon them to come up with a venue. However this may, by one means or another Effingham was chosen in 1957 and its pre-selected contestants – six altogether – were assembled for the show at the Howard of Effingham Council Secondary School (as it was then called) at 7.30 on the evening of Tuesday February 5th, ready for the action to begin.
The event had been advertised in The Radio Times, in two slots: the live recording on the Light Programme on the 5th and a re-broadcast on the Home Service on the 9th: