Game Guru

Game Guru was launched in December 2001 on the Game Network.
The show was a live daily phone-in video gaming show originally presented by one "guru" presenter via webcam. After October 2003 (Series 2) the format changed to two presenters, one working on Phone Calls while presenting on camera, while the other worked on Texts (He/she often could be heard in many episodes).
Members of the public would ring or text in and ask for cheats or walkthroughs to various video games such as Bubble Bobble on the Commodore 64, after which the Gurus would explain how and/or post up the solution on television via a chatroom like text program. Viewers could also ask for game release dates, opinions on what game/console to buy next or for news about the gaming industry.
Making History
Game Guru was the longest consecutively running games TV show with the most episodes made of any video game show in TV history, with an estimation of over 1,300 programs broadcast during the show's four year run. (Although another British gaming TV series, GamesMaster Ran for 7 years, it took a six - eight month break between seasons).
The final episode of Game Guru aired on 27 February 2006, presented by Guru Larry and Guru Ed. Many fans were upset by the show's demise as it was their only source of cheats. There have been rumours and the possibility of a similar show appearing on another channel, but there are currently no plans for the Game Gurus return.
Original Version
9 December 2002 - 15 October 2003
The original Game Guru television program was conceived, developed and produced by AlienPants and debuted on the Game Network channel on 9 December 2002. It was a live daily video gaming show presented by a live "guru", originally working from home via webcam. Members of the public sent in requests for game hints, tips or cheats via Short Message Service (SMS), and the "guru" responded verbally, whilst also displaying the original cheat request or text chat on screen. Alongside Game Guru was a text-reply only cheat service called GTIP, which allowed Game Guru viewers to request and receive cheats via Short message service while the program was off air. The GTIP service later appeared as the GuruGold cheat service for Gamezville, another British television computer games show.
The original version of Game Guru ran until October 15th, 2003, when the Game Network decided to take over production of the program, although AlienPants retained the trademark in the name Game Guru and the program concept.
Original Presenters
(In alphabetical order)
Outside Gurus (Image fed to studio via webcam, usually from the presenter's home)

*Guru Boogaloo (AKA Tom Salter)
*Guru Chris C (AKA Chris Cartwright)
*Guru Cro (AKA Tom Gordon, the first Guru and the show's original creator)
*Guru Kali (AKA Sophie Blakemore)
*Guru Starman (AKA Peter Batten)
*Guru StOo (AKA Stuart Macdonald)
*Guru Sydrik (AKA Gregg Syder)
*Guru Billinge Boy (AKA Barry Foy)

Off-Camera Gurus (2002 - 2003)

*Guru Appl (AKA Joel Bowers, who acted as an off-camera Guru from his home in Toronto, Canada)
*Guru Qoreq (AKA Greg Bristol, who acted as an off-camera Guru from his home in Washington, USA)
Cellcast Version

16 October 2003 - 27 February 2006
(Though Cellcast started taking over production mid September)

Around the middle of September 2004, the Game Network changed the format of Game Guru, replacing the original single "guru" format, with two "guru" presenters, One hosted while the other worked on texts (and occasionally could be heard) Members of the public rang or texted in and asked for cheats or walkthroughs to various video games, in which the Guru's explain how and/or post up the solution on television, although in later years the show also returned to supporting requests for release dates for forthcoming games as well as the latest news in the industry.
Chris Cartwright took over presenting and producing the show when Game Network took over. Hired Guru Chris and Guru Vagus, When Guru Vagus took over the show, he in turn hired Guru Ben, Guru Billinge Boy, Guru Larry, Guru Boidster, Guru Paul and Guru Phil. Bizarelly He did offer Guru Ed a job at the time, but he was unable to join he had just started university, he was hired a year later by Daniel Scammell/Guru NES.
Cellcast Presenters

(In alphabetical order)
*Guru Ben (AKA Ben Parfitt)
*Guru Billinge Boy (AKA Barry Foy)
*Guru Boidster (AKA Duncan Simpson)
*"The Chad"/Guru Maggot (AKA Mike Rushton)
*Guru Chris (AKA Chris Jeffery)
*Guru Ed (AKA Edwin Jones)
*Guru Fil (AKA Phil Collins)
*"Henchman A"/Guru "A" (AKA Mark Nesmith)
*Guru Janice (AKA Janice Careddu)
*Guru Larry (AKA Larry Bundy Jr (The Longest Serving Guru))
*"Man in Bush" (AKA Dominic Lawler)
*"Uncle Drew" (AKA Drew Stearne)
*Guru NES / DJ NES / Corporal NES (AKA Daniel Scammell)
*Guru Olly
*Guru Paul (AKA Paul Sunter)
*Guru Stu (AKA Stuart Headlam)
*Guru Vagus (AKA Gareth Williams)
*Guru Wez (AKA Wesley Lock)

Guru Larry, Guru Wez, Guru Janice and Guru Ed presented the final set of shows. With Guru Larry and Guru Ed presenting the actual final ever episode.

The show's final Game Network producers were Peter Browning and Daniel Scammell.
Game Guru Italy
Game Guru was also adapted for the Italian version of Game Network (which even aired occasionally on the UK version albeit in Italian), although the series failed to become as popular as the UK version because they also incorporated it with a Live TV Text Chat room.
Game Guru vs. The Gamez Guru
The Gamez Guru from the Sky One series Gamezville was renamed "The Guru" in the second series, due to a complaint from Game Network owners Cellcast, as it infringed on the copyright of their own long running gaming cheat TV show Game Guru.
When the first series re-aired on Sky One in the early mornings, all "Guru" graphic sequences were replaced with the second series, to keep in line with the new character, even though they clearly call him the "Gamez Guru" in the live-action sequences.
Ironically, the Guru Gold SMS cheat service, that was made available to viewers towards the end of the program's run was provided by the same company that developed the early Game Guru episodes.
Last show
On the final ever show, Guru Billinge Boy spent the whole show showing the audience how to complete Double Dragon, Wrestlefest and Skool Daze. This was done on 1 credit with no cheats. The last show recorded is an internet meme due to this unique behaviour.

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See Also

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