The UK’s Top Game Shows Paying Out Cash to Contestants
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Want to win some serious cash? Many British game shows offer top jackpots worth thousands of pounds. Most are games of skill – or knowledge – while others are all about luck. If you’re a quiz whizz, these shows will give you the chance to win the most cash:
UK Game Shows to Win the Most Cash
Pointless BBC
On the BBC’s Pointless game show, contestants choose the most obscure answer to questions. The game is played in teams of two. Before the show, every question is asked to 100 random people. Contestants have to come up with an answer that none of the 100 people did.
To win the jackpot in the final round, the contestant has to get at least one of the Pointless answers.
In that final round, contestants can choose five topics of Pointless game show questions. They are then given three sub-categories related to the topic and have to give answers in 60 seconds.
The game’s jackpot starts at £1,000, but £250 is added every time a contestant gives a “pointless” answer. The highest Pointless jackpot to date was £24,750.
Pointless is one of the most popular BBC game shows, and it’s still going strong.
The Chase
The Chase tops the list as one of the most famous game shows in the UK. It’s unique among British quiz shows because contestants face professional quizzers, called “chasers,” to win a cash prize.
Contestants have 60 seconds to answer each question. Each correct answer adds £1,000 to the prize fund. To beat the “chaser,” contestants have to move money along a board by answering questions correctly. If the casher catches up, it’s game over.
Four contestants face up against the chasers. Those who make it through the first round have to beat the chaser by providing more correct answers. If they succeed, the prize fund is split between the contestants.
The biggest solo jackpot win was £70,000 (all other contestants were wiped out). In another episode, all four contestants made it through and split a jackpot of £100,000.
The Wall Game Show UK
The Wall is a BBC One game show that’s similar to the panchinko game on the American game show The Price is Right.
The bottom of the game board is divided into 15 slots, each marked with pound sterling amounts. Some of these amounts increase as the game progresses.
Contestants play in teams of two to compete for a top prize of £687,495. Teams drop green balls on the board, and whatever amount they land on will add to the jackpot. Red balls are also dropped, and these subtract from the jackpot.
Richard Osman Game Show
Richard Osman’s House of Games is one of the many weekly UK gameshows. In each of the week’s episodes, four famous contestants put their general knowledge skills to the test in a series of games:
- Buzzer games
- Individuals games
- Random games
- Pairs games
- Tablet games
- The final round
The prizes are everyday items – like driving gloves, sunglasses or shower curtains – with the game show’s logo on them.
Impossible
Impossible is one of the lesser-known quiz shows, but the format is similar to other TV quiz shows. There are three rounds:
- Round 1: Contestants are asked several multiple-choice questions. Some of the answers will be wrong, right or impossible. Impossible answers are ones that don’t make sense.
- Round 2: Contestants have to identify the impossible questions, or questions that don’t make sense.
- Round 3: Avoid the impossible answers.
Only one contestant will make it through to the final round and the chance to win the £10,000 jackpot prize.
Catchphrase
One of the best game shows of the 80s was revived in 2013. Catchphrase is all about guessing catchphrases, which can include film names and song titles, based on animations and pictures on the screen.
The game starts with three contestants. Along with the jackpot, there are also spot prizes, like festival tickets, experience days and holidays.
There’s no set amount for the jackpot. Each catchphrase that is correctly guessed will add £100 to the pot. Guessing the bonus catchphrase will add £500. In the second round, all of these amounts are doubled.
In the final round, there is a chance to grab the total jackpot of £50,000, but only five contestants have ever managed this.
Popular Old Game Shows
These classic UK quiz shows are worth watching for the excitement and to relive those moments when guests took home the prize money.
Interceptor (Game Show)
The Interceptor game show had a short run in the late 80s, but it was a popular game during its stint. Contestants had to do everything they could to reach their goal whilst avoiding the “interceptor” who followed behind.
Teams raced against time to meet their goal wearing heavy backpacks – one of which contained £1000 cash.
It was one of those shows that left you on the edge of your seat until the end.
Blockbusters (UK Game Show)
Blockbusters was a UK game show that was based on the American show of the same name. A solo player and a two-person team answered trivia questions. They’re given a clue – an initial letter of the answer – and the goal is to make a path down or across the board.
The programme ran from 1983 through 1993 on ITV. It was recently revived in 2019 for four additional series.
Wheel of Fortune (UK Game Show)
The UK version of the American game of the same name. Wheel of Fortune ran from 1988 through 2001 on ITV. Players spin a wheel to earn points and make it through to the final round.
Unlike the American version, there were no cash prizes. Winners of each round were given the option to choose between three prizes, which could have included holidays, household appliances and more.
The UK has several quiz shows that offer high jackpots or the chance to win big prizes. If you want to try your hand at winning one of these games, make sure that you’ve mastered the topics for each game type.
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