The show was first presented by TV critic and journalist Clive James between 1982 and 1988, followed by celebrity chef Keith Floyd in 1989.
The series popularised the Japanese show Endurance which followed numerous contestants as they underwent painful tasks around the world.
After James joined the BBC in 1988, celebrity chef Keith Floyd was brought in for a six-episode series in 1989 before Chris Tarrant took over in 1990.
In 1997, Clive James returned as host for two series, produced by Watchmaker Productions for Carlton Television, in 1997 and 1998.
[citation needed] On Christmas Day 2020, a revival of the show was broadcast, with Jeremy Clarkson hosting a review of the year's television.
[5][6][7] Now produced for ITV by Expectation Entertainment,[8] the series has moved away from featuring as many foreign television clips (such as Japanese game show Endurance) as its predecessors, with British dramas such as White House Farm, Quiz and Des critiqued alongside English-language shows on streaming services, such as Love is Blind and Selling Sunset.