The British television industry is mourning the loss of Andrew Wood, the co-creator of the beloved darts-themed game show Bullseye, who has died at the age of 91.
His daughter, Laura Wood, confirmed the sad news in an emotional statement shared on the professional networking site LinkedIn, revealing he passed away on Sunday, November 16.
A Daughter's Moving Tribute
In her heartfelt post, Laura Wood expressed the profound grief she and her mother are experiencing. "On Sunday morning, my Mum and I said a goodbye that we always knew was coming, but so desperately never wanted to," she wrote.
She distinguished between the public figure and the man she knew as father, stating, "Most people will know him as the man (the legend) who created Bullseye. I simply know him as Dad." She described struggling to articulate the scale of her loss, emphasising her immense pride in being his daughter.
Laura celebrated her father's extraordinary life, which included:
- Working with music mogul Don Arden.
- Cutting the hair of Formula 1 drivers.
- Owning the first record shop in Kingston-upon-Thames.
- Creating the iconic television show Bullseye.
She recalled his unwavering self-belief, noting, "He knew with Bullseye that he had a hit on his hands, and my goodness, he was right." Her tribute concluded with a piece of his foundational advice: "He taught me that you have to believe in yourself, your goals, and your dreams, because if you don't, no one else will."
The Enduring Legacy of Bullseye
Andrew Wood co-created Bullseye with comedian Norman Vaughan in 1980. The show became a staple of British television, airing for 13 series on ITV from 1981 to 1996, primarily hosted by the late Jim Bowen.
The show was famous for its unique consolation prizes, which every contestant received. These included:
- A tankard for men or a silver goblet for women.
- A bendy rubber doll of the show's bull mascot, 'Bully'.
- Chalk holders.
Wood's legacy was recently reintroduced to a new generation when ITV rebooted Bullseye for a Christmas special last year, with former cricketer Freddie Flintoff taking the helm as host. Flintoff had remarked, "I love the darts, Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid. You can't beat a bit of Bully!"
According to reports, Andrew Wood had also recently applied to trademark the Bullseye name for a range of merchandise, including aftershave, jewellery, clothing, and chocolates.
A Father's Protective Love
Beyond his professional achievements, Laura's tribute painted a picture of a fiercely protective and supportive father. She shared a touching personal memory: "'Call me if anyone gives you any ****,' he would say before every meeting I ever went to about Bullseye. His fatherly protectiveness is fiercely present right up until the very end."
She signed off with a final, loving message: "I will miss those words and the security of knowing that no one ever had my back more than he did. Thank you for being my Dad. Enjoy your new chapter and the party in the stars that you are no doubt having tonight. I'll see you again one day."
Since the announcement, tributes have flooded in for Andrew Wood, remembered by colleagues and fans as a "wonderful person" and a "great man" who left an indelible mark on British popular culture.
