THEY have waited for over a year to see it on the small screen.

Now the Hardy family from York are preparing to relive their one brush with fame as Family Fortunes goes out on air tonight.

The family, headed by Jayne Cook, nee Hardy, from Woodthorpe, filmed the gameshow in June last year in Nottingham and had almost given up hope of it being screened.

But now the big day has arrived Mrs Cook, who celebrates her 38th birthday today, said she is nervous about her friends and colleagues seeing her performance.

She said: "It was brilliant fun, we had a really good day.

"There were three shows being filmed that day and there was a really good team spirit, with everyone willing each other to do well.

"It was around the time that Les Dennis was going through all his traumas but he was really nice and tried to make everyone feel relaxed."

But the team, which also included Mrs Cook's husband Rob, 38, her sister Pauline Walker, 47, her niece Rebecca Walker, 18, both from Wigginton, and her brother Anthony Hardy, 42, from Haxby, sometimes felt a little out of place.

Mrs Cook said: "They made us dance and put our thumbs up at the beginning, which we wouldn't have chosen to do.

"Then when we say if we wanted to play or pass we had to put our arms up and shout play.

"It looked so ridiculous that we had to stop doing it after a while.

"I'm a bit worried about people thinking we look naff at the beginning."

Despite knowing the outcome of the show, the family are gathering together to watch the programme, which is screened tonight on ITV at 8pm.

Updated: 08:53 Tuesday, August 21, 2001