The most popular game shows in UK history
Watching TV has long been a national pastime in Britain. After all, how would shows like Coronation Street and Emmerdale be able to survive for half a century if Brits didn’t love their TV?
Watching TV shows, along with online casino gaming, is the preferred way for many people all over the UK to spend their free time. In fact, most gamblers do both. The great thing about online casino games, though, is that you can also play from your phone during your commute to and from work, or anywhere where you have a few minutes to spare.
And with cash bonuses on offer for signing up, it’s no wonder people are playing all the time. With that said, let’s take a look at a few shows that Brits enjoy when they’re in their living rooms.
The Chase
The Chase is currently the UK’s most popular game show and it’s easy to see why. Its fast-paced nature can make things feel nerve-racking while also appealing to those who like trivia. And it’s only been around since 2009.
If you haven’t seen an episode yet, The Chase involves a team of four contestants answering questions to try and evade ‘The Chaser’. The game starts with each contestant answering as many questions as possible within a minute, with each correct answer worth £1,000.
After a contestant amasses a sum of money, they must go head-to-head against The Chaser to secure the money for their prize pot. Failing to do so eliminates the contestant for the rest of the game and the money is forfeited. If all four contestants fail, they must choose one contestant to do the Final Chase alone.
The Final Chase is where most of the drama happens because what happens here determines whether the contestants win something. It requires quick thinking and excellent stress management.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has only been around since 2008 but its popularity has exploded since it first aired in the UK. It has been licensed in about 160 countries that create their own local versions of the game.
The show has a relatively straightforward premise: a contestant answers 15 questions, starting from £100 up to £1,000,000. There are two safe areas where a player can choose to keep their winnings and walk away. They also get three different ‘lifelines’ to help them answer a question.
Even though not everyone can answer along at home, a certain level of drama is involved when a contestant is about to lose their winnings. Not all lifelines are helpful, which can frustrate the viewer – especially someone who knows the answer! Commercial breaks at critical moments add to the suspense.
Bullseye
Most game shows, especially quiz-format types, require contestants to know a lot of trivia to have a chance at winning. Bullseye did that, too, but with a twist: darts.
First aired in 1981, Bullseye pitted three teams of two people against each other for cash and prizes. One player is usually the darts player, while the other answers the questions. Each player must rely on the other’s skill to win.
Each episode is divided into rounds:
- Round 1: Category Board
- Round 2: Pounds for Points
- Round 3: Bronze Bully (for charity)
- Round 4: Bully’s Prize Board
- Round 5: Bully’s Mystery Star Prize Gamble
Part of the show’s appeal is in its random nature. Because there’s always a risk of the darts player making a bad throw, there’s no guarantee that the current leading team will advance.
Blankety Blank
Although this show requires you to check the upcoming TV show schedule to determine whether it’s airing again or not, Blankety Blank from 1979 never fails to attract viewers.
That’s because the show doesn’t require special skills such as darts or trivia knowledge. Blankety Blank focuses on humour by attempting to make two people think similarly about finishing a sentence. It helps that most sentences have a tinge of double entendre, which could lead to laughs depending on how someone answers.
It might not be the safest show to watch with kids but it’s guaranteed to get a laugh or two from its viewers.
Countdown
Countdown has been airing since 1982 after it was adapted from a French game show. The format proved to be a hit, with several TV shows and video games referring to the game one way or another.
The format’s relative simplicity may have contributed to the show’s popularity. Here are the game’s three rounds:
- Round 1: Letters round – contestants try to make the longest word possible from a selection of nine letters.
- Round 2: Numbers round – contestants use maths on six given numbers to reach the specified number.
- Round 3: Buzzer round – contestants must solve a nine-letter anagram.
The show’s safe and relatively easy format (except for those who struggle with maths) appealed to a broad spectrum of audiences. They didn’t need vast trivia knowledge – anyone could participate by making words.
