Crikey dick, Auntie took the bag

ROBERT KITCHIN/The Dominion Post

PEELS OF LAUGHTER: Keikei Blackler finds out she has won a potato peeler from 'It's In The Bag' co-host Stacey Morrison-Daniels at Otaki Memorial Hall yesterday.

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Otaki kuia Auntie Keikei Blackler burst into fits of giggles when she took the bag over the money and won a booby prize of a potato peeler.

The 77-year-old was one of the contestants on the first day of shooting the comeback of classic Kiwi game show It's In The Bag yesterday.

Spurred on by an 100-member enthusiastic, vocal audience at Otaki Memorial Hall, she was one of several tempted to take the bag rather than the money in her case $150.

Her ill-fated decision was met with a loud "Crikey dick, mate" from presenter Pio Terei.

Yesterday's two shows, presented by Terei and Stacey Morrison-Daniels, were booked out.

Audience member Wehi Royal said the show was a fantastic memorial to Selwyn Toogood who presented the show in its heyday in the seventies while his wife, Hira, said it was a special day for Otaki.

Toogood, renowned for Kiwi expressions including "by hokey", excited audiences throughout provincial New Zealand for 30 years. He died in 2001.

It's In The Bag started in the 1950s as a radio game show, presented by Toogood. He fronted the show when it moved to TV in the seventies.

Otaki-based Blue Bach Productions is filming in North Island towns including Otaki, Shannon, Bulls, Foxton, Halcombe, Waikanae and Palmerston North.

The show will run on Maori Television in May.

Publicist Sarah Wilson said Blue Bach had been overwhelmed with the response.

"It has been fantastic ... we had to turn people away."

If contestants give three correct answers to general knowledge questions they can chose an instant cash prize or pick one of 14 bags or kete.

Prizes in the kete include cars, holidays, televisions, outdoor furniture, as well as a handful of booby prizes.

Getting the show off to an exuberant start, Morrison-Daniels asked the audience what was the best town in New Zealand, which prompted a resounding "Otaki", and a confirming "by hokey" from Terei.

Entry is a gold coin and proceeds go to local charities. It was the Otaki Foodbank yesterday.