19Jan2012
Check Out Some New Game Show Podcasts and Tumblr Blogs
As always it's nice to see new content about the game show genre popping up. Since blogs have become more and more popular over the past few years, many about our genre are appearing. We've finally got a few on the newest popular blogging platform, Tumblr, which are incredibly entertaining to read and showcase a lot of different things you can't necessarily find here. Not only that, but a few new podcasts about game shows have appeared that deserve mention. In addition, we're finally announcing our newest firm-go for a new podcast today. Click here to learn about all our new favorite sites, podcasts, and for the announcement of our newest production.
Read MoreView Comments (2)06Jan2012
Bob Holness – 1928-2012
It has been reported today, with sad news that the game show presenter, Bob Holness has passed away at the age of 83. Bob is well known for hosting the Mark Goodson format, Blockbusters between 1983 and 1994 on ITV in the UK, as well as various other game shows on other networks throughout his life. Bob Holness, originally born in South Africa in 1928 moved to the UK in the early years of his life. Throughout three decades he worked on BBC Radio, working alongside Terry Wogan and Michael Parkinson. Whilst working certain shifts on the two main radio networks. He moved to the BBC World Service, where his voice would be heard all around the world. He also became one of the first people to portray Ian Flemming's famous spy, James Bond in a
Read MoreView Comments (26)03Dec2011
BuzzerUK: Christmas Game Show Preview
December has arrived! Christmas and New Year is upon us and this means one thing. Many UK networks produce and broadcast many game show specials for the festive period. Some of the regular specials are returning with some new ones. Here is our guide to what is on in throughout the Christmas period. As the New Year listings have yet to be released, keep watching this page as we will add any extra shows once we have received them. BBC One Winter Wipeout hits our screens for the first time in the UK. The obstacle course in Argentina has been changed to reflect the time of the year. 20 Brits will attempt the new course to become the Winter Wipeout champion and receive £10,000. The new winter course will be loosely based on the original ve
Read MoreView Comments (2)17Nov2011
Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me… comes to TV
National Public Radio is traditionally known for pledge drives, classical music and tote bags. One of the more entertaining hours on NPR is their news panel quiz show Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me. Hosted by Peter Segal and paneled every week with different B-list celebs like Paula Poundstone and Mo Rocca, Wait Wait is funny, timely and very interesting. Coming this Christmas, it's getting even more intriguing. BBC America is working with NPR to bring a one-hour Wait Wait end-of-year special, airing on December 23rd. The New York Times is reporting that the special won't stray far from the current radio format: Sagal, Wait Wait judge and NPR broadcaster Carl Kassel and a panel of guests will all remain on the BBC Special. A news release on We
Read MoreView Comments (7)13Nov2011
BuzzerUK: Challenge Confirms Blockbusters Revival
It was annouced earlier this week the cult quiz show Blockbusters is making a comeback to UK screens. Production company, Talkback THAMES announced they were looking for contestants aged 18 or over to take part on the show. It has now been revealed the revival series will be exclusively shown on the digital game show channel, Challenge. This is the first original comission for Challenge for over three and a half years since Take it or Leave It was recomissioned for a third series in 2008. This is also the fourth incarnation of Blockbusters since the show's debut in 1983. Originally hosted by Bob Holness. It was shown on ITV five/six days a week. Students from schools and colleges were able to take part where they could win prizes for the
Read MoreView Comments (6)05Jun2011
Who Dares Wins: Agony and Ecstasy
Whilst the UK viewing public was watching the final of Britain's Got Talent last night (which produced a shock result). Last night's edition of Who Dares Wins produced a very tense and extraordinary show. The current champions, Nat and Euan have won their sixth match (first match of last night) but failed to bank anything on the money list but their combined winnings from their previous five wins currently stands at £105,000. They face a seventh pair of challengers but they already won the first list by naming eleven characters from the TV show Friends. What you will see next is something rarely done on the show. Possibly, the first time it has been performed on the UK version. Check out the clip below before scrolling down to see the comme
Read MoreView Comments (13)12Mar2011
UK Millionaire Returns in 2011/The Cube Goes German
As mentioned on this site back in January. It was reported the civllian show of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? has been dropped after low ratings with their previous series. While the live celebrity special at Christmas securing above average ratings. More evidence came from The Sun newspaper earlier this week reporting that ITV have comissioned six live specials to be shown throughout 2011, featuring war heroes and celebrities playing for charity. Rather than having the specials airing over six weeks, the major commerical network will be broadcasting them throughout the year with each show to be based on a theme. Although the six themes have yet to be fully confirmed, TV insiders have confirmed the first one will be a Mothers Day specia
Read MoreView Comments (3)12Jan2011
ITV Axes Civillian Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
It has been announced today that after twelve years and four months since it's birth, ITV have decided to bring the civillian version of Who Wants to be Millionaire? to an end. Originally reported in the Daily Mirror this morning, ITV chiefs have decided to cancel the civllian version of the show due to low ratings. In March 1999 it was averaging 17-19 million viewers but in September 2010 it was averaging only 3 million viewers. Although the civillian version has been axed by the major commerical broadcaster, ITV have decided to continue with celebrity specials after their live celebrity experiment last month recorded over 6 million viewers, the biggest rating for the show for nearly five years. The show was launched in September 199
Read MoreView Comments (12)14Dec2010
New Britain’s Got Talent Judges Announced
ITV have released the new judging panel for the 2011 series of Britain's Got Talent. It was reported earlier in the summer the show would be looking for a refresh in 2011 after securing less than expected ratings, it was also reported the show's creator, Simon Cowell would be taking a break from the Auditions. Piers Morgan is also stepping down from the show due to his CNN commitments. ITV have announced that stand up comedian, Michael McIntyre and former American's Got Talent judge, David Hasselhoff will be replacing Cowell and Morgan at the auditions. Amanda Holden will keep her judging role on the show. Although Simon Cowell will not be attending the nationwide auditions, he will be attending the live semi finals and final in late May
Read MoreView Comments (3)06Dec2010
UK Christmas Game Shows Preview
As Christmas draws near, the UK networks go mad with their game shows, with many shows having celebrity specials. Here is a guide to what is happening on the major networks through Christmas and New Year. BBC One As a yearly Christmas tradition, Celebrity Mastermind will be shown from Monday 27th December through to Friday 7th January with ten celebrity specials. Some of the celebrities sitting in the famous black chair include Red Dwarf's Hattie Hayridge (Holly) and Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) who will be appearing on separate shows. Comedians Rhys Thomas, Kirsten O'Brien and Richard Herring. Decathlete Dean Macey, food critic and brother of Only Connect's Victoria Coren, Giles Coren and the inventor of Reggae Reggae Sauce (as shown on
Read MoreLeave a Comment26Nov2010
Chris Tarrant Speaks About US TV & Millionaire Live/Million Pound Drop News
It has been reported this week ITV will launch a one off celebrity special of Who Wants to be a Millionaire for Christmas. Unlike previous years, the £1 million pound quiz show will be broadcasted live for only the second time in their 12 year old run. The original host, Chris Tarrant was speaking to the Metro newspaper on Tuesday who was also taking about the state of US television with Simon Cowell's The X Factor launching in 2011. He went on to say "There is something ridiculous about the way Americans do shows. There seems to be a thousand people with clip boards shouting. It would drive me mad." Tarrant was offered to host the US primetime version in 1999 but turned down the role, which was later accepted by Regis Philbin. He explai
Read MoreView Comments (10)01Nov2010
“Wheel of Fortune” Announcer Charlie O’Donnell Passes Away
Sad news to pass along. The longtime announcer of Wheel of Fortune, Charlie O'Donnell, has passed away. The news has been confirmed by people close to Mr. O'Donnell. He passed away last night. Charlie was known for being the voice of Wheel of Fortune since 1988 and announced for various other shows such as To Tell The Truth, Pyramid, and others. You can read about all of them here. Charlie was born in Philadelphia, PA, and began his career working with Dick Clark on American Bandstand. Our condolences and best wishes to his family.
Read MoreView Comments (66)09Sep2010
The Cube Returns
British television listings have confirmed the second series of ITV's hit show, The Cube returns for their second series on Sunday 19th September, at 6.45pm on ITV1 and ITVHD. For those who don't know, The Cube features contestants who could win up to £250,000 by completing, simple but complex games inside a large persplex cube. The games can be anything, such as counting up to 10 seconds in your head, bouncing a ball into a container, walking in a straight line while blindfolded and counting red squares on the floor. The second series will once again be fronted by former Winning Lines and current This Morning host, Phillip Schofield. The new series will feature a mixture of brand new games and previous games from the first series. The e
Read MoreView Comments (4)29Aug2010
Returning British Game Shows
As the autumn/fall draws near, some popular British show are returning for new series. Here is a rundown of what is to come in the next few days. Pointless returns tomorrow (4.30pm BBC 2) for their third series. The popular BBC2 daytime quiz is returning with an extended fifty episode run. The third series will feature some format changes to the first and second series. While the first and jackpot rounds stays intact, the changes includes a new second round where contestants have to match items, such as a musician to their instrument or a movie to their tagline. While the head to head has now been reduced from best of five to best of three. Although the head to head will reduce some questions, there will be more time for Alexander Armst
Read MoreView Comments (7)22Jul2010
UK Millionaire’s New Format
Throughout the past few months there has been much speculation on the original version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? with the format having a revamp. TV listings have now confirmed the new format will appear on ITV1 from Tuesday 3rd August at 8pm. This has posed questions from the broadcaster that the 8pm Tuesday slot hasn't been performing well in recent months. Having a revived format being launched in the summer in a non-performing slot clearly shows that ITV are no longer interested in the twelve year old show. Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, hosted by Chris Tarrant peaked at 19.2 million viewers in 1999, while in recent months the show has now dropped to around 3-4 million. The new format features some elements from the US clock
Read MoreView Comments (4)