Michael Miles

Michael John Miles (1919, Wellington, New Zealand – 17 February 1971) was a TV presenter in Britain, best known for the game show Take Your Pick from 1955 to 1968, produced by Associated Rediffusion and later by Rediffusion London.

Born in New Zealand, Miles left school to become a broadcaster after persuading his local station to hire him. He then travelled to Australia, before moving on to Singapore as a newsreader, leaving only days before the island was invaded by the Japanese Army during the Second World War.

Although he produced radio shows during the war years, it was with the transfer of his quiz show 'Take Your Pick' to television that he made his name. The programme, which had already been heard on Radio Luxembourg for three years, was one of the first game shows on ITV when the channel started in 1955. The other quiz show that was popular at the time was Double Your Money presented by Hughie Green. 'Take Your Pick', which was masterminded by Miles (who was reputed to earn the phenomenal sum of £20,000 a year) relied on public participation. The show was axed in 1968, when producers Associated Rediffusion were forced to become Thames Television in the ITV franchise reshuffle. However, the show was revived in the 90s, but this time the presenter in the hot seat was singer Des O'Connor.

Miles then hosted a similar show called Wheel of Fortune, not to be confused with the later game show of the same name, for Southern Television. Rumours of an alcohol problem were unfounded; he in fact was an epileptic who often locked himself in his dressing room, ashamed of his condition. He died prematurely in 1971 aged 52, whilst on business in Spain. Miles was married with one son and a daughter.

Miles and Take Your Pick were parodied in a Monty Python sketch (titled "Spot the Brain Cell" in its LP version), in which John Cleese as a quizmaster called Michael cheerfully mocks the stupidity of a female contestant played by Terry Jones.

Preceded by N/A

Host of Take Your Pick 1955-1968

Succeeded by Des O'Connor

Persondata
Name	Miles, Michael John
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Date of birth	1919
Place of birth
Date of death	17 February 1971
Place of death