Vernon Kay revealed that the former Family Fortunes host had telephoned him with a message of support when he took over the show08:55, 21 Jul 2026From humble beginnings as a stand-up in social clubs all over the north-west to becoming a household name with Family Fortunes, Les Dennis has enjoyed a long and colourful career in show business.‌But it’s been marked by sadness too. Les’s comedy partner Dustin Gee died suddenly at the age of just 43 in 1986, and he also suffered heartbreak when his marriage to Amanda Holden collapsed following her affair with Neil Morrissey.‌And while his career has taken in everything from Russ Abbot's Madhouse to Coronation Street, he will always be best-remembered for his 15-year stint on Family Fortunes and his catchphrase “If it's up there, I'll give you the money myself!"‌In a new interview, Vernon Kay, who took over the show’s “All Star” variation in 2006, told Les how starting work on the show gave him a real insight into his predecessor’s personality.“There was one moment for me which just really underlines the kind of person you are,” Vernon said. “It was when I got the Family Fortunes gig and you phoned me up and you personally handed me the baton."‌“Ever since that moment," Vernon said, "I’ve just thought that's how you've got to be in this wacky crazy world that they call showbiz.”Les revealed that the late Bob Monkhouse, the show’s original host, had made a similar call to him when he was announced as the long-running quiz show’ new host in 1987: “Bob, who was the host before Max Bygraves, called me and said, you know, I'm handing you the baton, and look after the show.”Bob had great affection for the show, which he had helped shape when it was first launched in the UK in 1980. He had insisted that its name was changed from the US original’s Family Feud because he thought the American title sounded “too aggressive,” and had coined the name “Mr Babbage” for the show’s computer.‌Vernon and Les reminisced about their great affection for the show, and how its Mr Babbage sound effect had become its own kind of catch-phrase. Les had warned Vernon to “be prepared” for members of the public calling out to him with Mr Babbage’s signature two-note buzz.“People can't help doing it and they always think they're the first ones to do it,” Les joked.‌But on a more serious note, Vernon expressed his immense gratitude for that call of support from Les, saying: “Thank you for that because I learned a lot about what it meant to say ‘I'm handing the baton to you’.“Showbiz is a it's cutthroat business, and it's crazy, but there are good people who walk amongst us and you are one of them.”Les did once have to make good on his Family Fortunes promise. In an episode aired in November 2000, a contestant was asked to "name a way of toasting someone.” Les thought the answer “over fire” was far too silly to be included in the lost of responses but to his immense surprise “grill” was up on the board.Article continues belowAs good as his word, Les did stump up the £12 prize money from his own pocket.