In the borderland between the old folkhem and the modern deregulated 90s Sweden, he drew in the squares and changed Swedish TV forever. With his lotteries, dot pens, dance bands, and jovial "tjöt" with viewers all over the country.
Leif "Loket" Olsson became synonymous with "Bingolotto" and created a phenomenon, which suddenly established the newly started advertising channel TV4 as the popular alternative to the slightly more strict SVT, and also created a new Swedish dance band wave. For "Loket" insisted on popular entertainment, and what suited better than Arvingarna, Vikingarna, and Sten & Stanley?
"Loket" got the Swedish people to change their habits on Saturday evenings. Cinemas, restaurants, and nightclubs despaired when several million Swedes suddenly chose to stay at home with lotteries in front of the TV instead of going out. You could miss the chance to play on "Stegen" or "Färgfemman"!
Bildt had to back down
Around Sweden, sports youth and pensioners stood in shopping centers and street corners selling lotteries for their teams' sake.
When then-Prime Minister Carl Bildt (The Moderate Party) declared that he didn't even know about "Bingolotto", he was quickly forced to back down and soon sat at home with his family with lotteries in front of the TV – allegedly, it's best to add.
The popular setup was tailor-made for Leif "Loket" Olsson. The program host had a solid background from the sports movement. Among other things, as a handball referee at the world level.
Few know that "Loket" actually refereed handball matches at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. His sports interest took him to journalism, where he quickly became a big local profile in Gothenburg thanks to the popular radio program "Ringlinjen".
During his journey, Leif Olsson got his nickname from his colleague Ingvar Oldsberg in 1978 – after another "Loket", football player Leif Ohlsson in Elfsborg.
It wasn't "Loket" who came up with "Bingolotto". The idea was borrowed from Danish TV. The program became an immediate local success when it started broadcasting locally over Gothenburg and was quickly picked up by the newly started TV4 in 1991.
Party leader interviews
The successes with "Bingolotto" made "Loket" one of Sweden's most popular people. An unusual situation for the man who didn't seek the spotlight but lived near his mother and perhaps enjoyed himself best at one of the country's racetracks.
Leif "Loket" Olsson got such status in the country that TV4 let him handle the party leader interviews ahead of the 1998 parliamentary election, which his colleagues on the channel didn't appreciate.
In 1999, "Loket" left "Bingolotto" after ten years. It was time. Instead, he continued to "tjöta" with people – as usual, but outside the TV frame, as a conference host, auctioneer, or song leader around the country.
"Bingolotto" continued, but the phenomenon cooled down. Others have taken over, but no one has been able to match the golden age of the 90s. The program was modernized with icons like David Bowie, Dolly Parton, and Phil Collins as guest stars in the early 2000s. But the viewers deserted.
In 2004, the program was moved to Sundays, and four years later, "Bingolotto" was placed in TV4 Plus, later Sjuan. Since the turn of the year, "Bingolotto" is back in TV4.
During its heyday, over 3 million viewers watched on Saturday evenings. But not everyone could predict the success of the program that started in local TV in Gothenburg.
A story about the start is well-known. "Loket" had to choose between a fixed salary or getting 50 öre per sold lottery. "Loket" chose the salary. It can in hindsight seem like the dumbest decision anyone has made. "Loket" himself has admitted it.
But in the beginning, only about 4,000 lotteries were sold per week, and "Loket" couldn't imagine that the program would become such a huge success.
In 2022, Folkspel announced that Bingolotto has brought in 17.5 billion kronor to the sports movement since its start.
Corrected: In an earlier version, an error occurred. Correct is that since the New Year, "Bingolotto" is back on TV4.
Born on July 12, 1942, in Örgryte, Gothenburg.
Was a referee in handball at the elite level. Refereed, among other things, at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Was chairman of the Gothenburg Handball Association and the Handball Association's referee committee.
Was a reporter, sports commentator, program host, and sports manager at Sveriges Radio in Gothenburg from 1978 to 1991.
Hosted "Bingolotto" between 1989 and 1999, as well as in the spring of 2004. First on the local Gothenburg channel Kållevisionen and from 1991 on TV4. Made a huge success. The viewer record was set when over 3.1 million Swedes sat down in front of Bingolotto's Christmas evening in 1995.
Sang on a Christmas album in the early 90s, including the rap duet "A Really Good Christmas" with Harald Treutiger.
Became the first to receive the award Årets Göteborgare in 1993.
