Catchphrase (British game show)

*Catchphrase*
Catchphrase
	File:Catchphrase.jpg
Created by	Pasetta Productions inc. & Stephen Radosh
Starring	Roy Walker,; (1986-1999); Andrew O'Connor, ; (1994) (Family Catchphrase); Nick Weir,; (1999-2001); Mark Curry; (2002)
Production
Producers	TVS, later; Action Time for Carlton Television
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	ITV1
Release	January 1986 –; September 2002

Catchphrase was a game show which ran on ITV in the United Kingdom between January 1986 and September 2002, it was originally hosted by Roy Walker who presented the show until 1999 when it was announced on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast, by guest presenter Phil Jupitus who said that Roy Walker has been given the chop by the producers of Catchphrase, as the show was being revamped for the millennium.

Roy was replaced by Australian Nick Weir, who presented the show from 2000-2001. In 2002 Nick Weir gave way to ex Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry, who presented the show in 2002.

It was originally made by TVS and the show was filmed at The Maidstone studios in Kent. After Television South lost their licence to broadcast it was picked up by Carlton Television and produced by Stephen Leahy's Action Time Productions in 1994.

In 1996 Catchphrase moved out of its original home The Maidstone Studios and moved to Carlton (formerly Central Independent Television) Studios in Lenton Lane Nottingham where it stayed until 2002. The show was based on a short lived American game show of the same name.

Two contestants would have to identify the familiar phrase represented by a piece of animation, with the show's mascot — a character called "Mr Chips" — often appearing.

Repeats of the show can currently be seen on Challenge.

The Main Game

In the main game, at the start of each round, one contestant stopped a randomizer which consisted of money amounts by hitting his/her button. The value that was landed would then be the amount for the normal catch phrases. On each normal catch phrase, the computer would draw it on the screen. When it was done, a bell would ring, signifying the contestants to buzz-in when they think they know the answer. A correct answer won the contestant the predetermined money amount, plus a chance to solve the Bonus Catchphrase which was hidden behind nine squares with the show's logo on each. To choose a square, the contestant had to hit their button to stop a randomizer from flashing around the board after which the square was revealed, and they had a chance to guess. A correct answer won bonus money for the player. Unlike the US version there was also the Ready Money Round, in which contestants didn't have to wait for the bell to buzz-in and answer. When Nick Weir and Mark Curry hosted the series, this was replaced by the Cash Countdown, in which each catchphrase had a maximum prize of £500, which very quickly counted down towards zero. The quicker the contestant answered, the more money they could win.

The player with the most money won the game and played the Super Catchphrase.

Super Catchphrase

The final round involved a game board with 25 lettered squares with catchphrases hidden behind each. The winning contestant had the task to capture five random squares in 60 seconds. If they could do that by identify five such phrases, that player won £50 for each square (later £100 1997 onwards), but if the winning player went through the centre "M" Square in either a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line, they won a holiday.

In the Nick Weir/Mark Curry era, the Super Catchphrase was changed so the contestant to win had to get from the left hand side of the screen to the right making adjoining moves (ala Blockbusters). Passing on a catchphrase meant that they were blocked and had to find an alternative path.

Family Catchphrase

In 1994, the Family Channel (now Challenge) produced a spin-off called Family Catchphrase, hosted by Andrew O'Connor. The game was played by teams of 2 related players (normally parent and child) and featured slightly different rules to the normal game. The teams played for points rather than prizes, and the second round would feature the players taking alternative turns, rather than answering the phrases as a team. The Ready Money Round was renamed the Fast and Furious Round (as there was no money involved).

The Family Channel was fairly new at this time, and so the prizes were not as expensive as they were on the main show although the M Square prize was not revealed unless it had actually been won. It was not uncommon to see prizes such as a Sega Master System or a daytrip to Thorpe Park given away as prizes.

Although produced in 1994, the graphics and music were taken from the TVS version of the show whilst the set was a modified version of the same one from that era.

One episode of Family Catchphrase featured a guest appearance from Stephen Radosh - creator of Catchphrase.

Notes

One of the most famous moments of the show's history included a bonus catchphrase where the answer to the puzzle was 'snake charmer'. The puzzle was revealed in such a way it appeared to show Mr Chips masturbating. This episode was aired in 1994.

In homage to the show a popular radio spoof of Catchphrase, entitled Car Park Catchphrase was broadcast on The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 between January 2004-December 2005, and returned after a one year break on 8 January 2007. The format in comparism to the TV show changed slightly, and required callers to play from their cars and 'honk' their horns when they knew the catchphrase being described. Roy Walker himself recorded voice samples for the game.

"Say What You See" was used as a Bonus Catchphrase itself in 1997, but surprisingly no one guessed it!

The UK version's second host, Nick Weir, became more famous for falling down the studio steps and breaking his foot while recording his first series, than for actually hosting the show. Several episodes show him wearing a cast, and once on the programme they actually showed when it happened, he was running down to present when he fell and broke his leg.

Catchphrase is now shown on the British television channel Challenge. However, these episodes are around 1994-1999 Roy Walker versions, Nick Weir versions, and on rare occasions, Mark Curry versions.

Catchphrase Catchphrases

Appropriately, Roy Walker had his own catchphrases he often said during the show:

Say what you see

An elongated right! - Upon a Bonus Catchphrase being solved.

Five seconds, here we go - When the contestant chose a square, and had five seconds to guess the Bonus Catchphrase.

It's good, but it's not right! - Said after some close guesses, or just sarcastically after obvious wrong answers. There were actually several variations of this catchphrase (It's good, but it's not the one), (It's a good answer, but it's not right), (It's good, but it's not great).

You can't win if you don't buzz in

Mark Curry made a point of the fact he didn't have a catchphrase when he was presenting, and made a different one up on each show.

Theme Music

Catchphrase's original theme tune & Incidental music were composed by profilic television composer Ed Welch whose original version of the theme was used for the Television South incarnation of the show up until 1992.

When the show returned in 1994 with a brand new look and now being produced by Carlton Television for Action Time Productions. the show's theme music & Incidental Music composed this time by Simon Etchell whose version was used from 1994-1999

From 2000-2002 a third version of the Catchphrase theme music was used. Once again it was composed by Simon Etchell the new theme music was used alongside a revamped title sequence followed by a new studio set.

Series End

Catchphrase finally ended in September 2002 after 19 years because of declining ratings the show was moved from its regular prime time slot and into a daytime slot airing at 5:00 pm.

External links

Videos

Catchphrase Intro (1986-1994)