Strike It Lucky
| Strike It Lucky | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Michael Barrymore |
| Production | |
| Producers | Thames Television (1986-1994) (Strike It Lucky) London Weekend Television (1996-1999) (Strike It Rich) |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV1 |
| Release | 1986 – 1999 |
Strike It Lucky was a popular British television game show of the 1980s and 1990s, produced by Thames Television for ITV, and presented by the British comedian Michael Barrymore.
In its formative years, it became well known for the outlandish and often highly eccentric contestants it featured - Barrymore would often spend over 5 minutes talking to them. The introductory footage of the prizes on offer were also noteworthy, often filmed in black-and-white with a slapstick style. In 1987, it was the fifth most watched programme on UK television.
In its later years it aired under the title Strike It Rich; this being the title of the popular American game show on which it was based. Apparently, the reason for this was that, by this time, the show had changed its production company (to London Weekend Television) and the original producers held an exclusive copyright to the name Strike It Lucky, forcing the show to change to the American title. There is also the factor that when the show was first exported to the UK, the Independent Broadcasting Authority's prize limits were still in place, and "Rich" was probably dropped from the title because of the relatively low value of prizes on offer; by the time it returned as Strike It Rich the limits had been lifted and it was giving away a substantially higher value of prizes.
The Main Game
Three couples compete to win cash & prizes by going across an archway of TV monitors on stage. On a team's turn, one member of that team was given a category with six possible answers. That player then must decide how many answers he/she must give (either two, three, or four) for two, three or four moves on their respective 10 monitored archway. If the player can complete the contract, the other player gets to move across their archway, otherwise the opposing team gets to complete the contract.
Each monitor, bar the last, hides a prize or a 'hot spot'. There was always between five to eight 'hot spots' hidden between all three teams montiors, but by later series there was normally two per team. Each time the team in control reveals a prize, they win that prize & can decide to either bank the prize(s) & pass control to their opposing team or reveal another monitor. Deciding to keep playing is a risk because if at anytime they reveal the hot spot, they lose all the prizes earned at that point and control goes the opponents. But if they can make their required number of moves without hitting the hot spot, not only they bank their prizes but they also keep their turn and answering another question.
The last monitor of the ten for each team is a question. The team can decide to answer it then or bank their prizes. (The monitor before the question normally is a holiday). A wrong answer forfeits the prizes not banked and the game continues, while a right answer wins the game. The question normally begins with 'Who struck it lucky/rich...?'.
The Bonus Game
The game begins by having the winning couple bidding on how few 'hot spots' they will hit with a bid of fewer 'hot spots' earning more money if completed, but being more difficult to achieve.
Instead of playing the game across the board they now play top, middle or bottom, choosing on of the three montiors in each row to play.
Hidden throughout the 30 monitors are 10 arrows signifying a free move, another 10 are 'hot spots' and the final 10 are true or false questions earning a move on a correct answer or a 'hot spot' on an incorrect one. These are randomly allocated through out the board.
On each column of monitors, the winning couple elects to hit the top, middle or bottom one. The aim of the game is for the couple to get from one side to the other without hitting more 'hot spots' then they bid. If they get to the other side the board without hitting more 'hot spots' then they bidded, they win £10,000 if they bidded two, £7,000 for three and £5,000 for four. In later series if they failed to match or beat their bid they won one-twentieth of the prize they were aiming for (£500, £350 and £250 respectively), with every move without a 'hot spot' they made, before they went over their bid.
DVD Release
An interactive DVD of Strike It Lucky went on sale throughout the UK on November 13, 2006. Produced by Fremantle Home Entertainment, and with over 2,000 questions available, the original host of the show, Michael Barrymore, will provide links to the game play, which stays loyal to the format of its television equivalent. [1]