Game Show Facts That May Surprise You

[Philip A]

This isn’t exhaustive, so feel free to add your own jaw-dropping facts about game shows. Here are some of my favourites:

1. The theme tune to Going For Gold was composed by the famous film composer Hans Zimmer. Perhaps a lesser known and more surprising fact is that the theme tune to Paul Daniels-fronted quiz show Wipeout was composed by Dave Arch of Strictly Come Dancing.

2. William G Stewart had a long and successful career as producer in TV. Prior to 15 years of hosting and producing Fifteen-to-One, he was the producer of 1970s sitcom Bless This House. He then produced early series of Family Fortunes and The Price Is Right.

3. Now-McLaren Racing CEO was a contestant on a teenager edition Wheel Of Fortune in the US in 1984. He won $3,050 and spent it on a go-kart to start his racing career.

4. Prizes on UK game shows had to be rubbish by law. Until 1993, the maximum amount of value in prizes or money was capped at £3,000 (later £6,000) per episode. When this was dropped, game shows could then award as much as they like. That all changed in 1998 with the launch of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? For some reason though, 1991 game show The $64,000 Question hosted by Bob Monkhouse had a jackpot of £6,400.

5. David Elias, a late Countdown series champion and question writer for multiple shows, was a contestant on the pilot editon of Blockbusters. After it was commissioned, it was decided that only sixth form or college students should take part. Therefore, Elias is in a way the oldest ever contestant in the Holness-era. When it was revamped in 1997 and 2012, the contestants were adults.

Oh, and Bob Holness was the second person to portray James Bond, not the first: that honour goes to Barry Nelson.

[Steve Hyde]

The Deal or No Deal theme tune was composed by Mat Osman, Suede bassist and brother of Richard

[Philip A]

The Deal or No Deal theme tune was composed by Mat Osman, Suede bassist and brother of Richard

8 Out Of 10 Cats, actually, not Deal.