Wheel of Fortune (UK game show)
Encyclopedia
Wheel of Fortune is a British television game show
created by Merv Griffin
. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman
, to win cash and prizes. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that contestants spin throughout the course of the game to determine their cash and/or prizes.
The programme ran between 19 July 1988 and 21 December 2001 and was produced by Scottish Television
for the ITV
network and mostly follows the same general format from the original version of the programme
from the United States.
Although this method of scoring was similar to the Australian version, the Australian version had scores from all three players carried on to future rounds but still vulnerable to Bankrupts for those who didn't solve the previous puzzle.
In the grand finale, just like in America, the contestant could pick from envelopes to chose which prize there would win, but there were only three ("A", "B", or "C"), later reduced to two ("A" or "B"). As in the original American version though, the contestant had 15 seconds to solve the puzzle to win the prize.
Just after the prizes limit were dropped, the prizes became the car and £10'000 before coming £20,000 during 1995. In 1999 Bill Smithson became the first person in the UK to guess no letters on the final prize board.
During the daytime series, winners of each round were able to chosen from an array prizes laid out in the studio, such as a CD player, dishwasher etc. The cash prize for the final was dropped to £2000. As with most international versions of Wheel (and the American version until 1988), rather than being given "R, S, T, L, N, and E," the contestant picked five consonants and a vowel.
, who left the show after the 1996 series and was replaced by Bradley Walsh. Walsh only lasted one series and was succeeded in 1998 by John Leslie
, who stayed with the show through the 2000 series before being replaced by Paul Hendy for the final year. Repeats of Leslie's episodes can be seen on Challenge.
Co-hosts (or "Board ladies" as they were frequently referred to on the show) were Angela Ekaette, Carol Smillie
, Jenny Powell
and Terri Seymour
.
The programme was announced by Steve Hamilton.
Unlike the board used on the American version since 1997, the United Kingdom version's puzzle board was never electronic, so the regular puzzle would be placed at the top portion of the board while the puzzler would fill any unused lines below. The puzzle board's shape from 1995 to 2001 was the same as the current American puzzle board. From 1988 to 1993, its border was styled like the one on the American puzzle board used from 1981-1993. The background color for unused trilons on the UK's puzzle board was green from 1988 to 1994, after which it was changed to blue.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
created by Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman
Hangman (game)
Hangman is a paper and pencil guessing game for two or more players. One player thinks of a word and the other tries to guess it by suggesting letters.-Overview:...
, to win cash and prizes. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that contestants spin throughout the course of the game to determine their cash and/or prizes.
The programme ran between 19 July 1988 and 21 December 2001 and was produced by Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
for the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network and mostly follows the same general format from the original version of the programme
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
from the United States.
Gameplay
Unlike the American version, where the numbers on the wheel correspond to the amount of money won by each contestant, the British version instead referred to these amounts as 'points' – they had no cash value, their only purpose was to determine the grand finalist, or to choose a winner for a particular round. Points earned from all players carried on to proceeding rounds, and were susceptible to Bankrupts, meaning a winner could be crowned that never solved a puzzle, but acquired a large amount of points. This rule would actually encourage sacrificing a player's turn if he or she didn't know the puzzle rather than risking his or her points by spinning again, especially if he or she had a large amount of points.Although this method of scoring was similar to the Australian version, the Australian version had scores from all three players carried on to future rounds but still vulnerable to Bankrupts for those who didn't solve the previous puzzle.
In the grand finale, just like in America, the contestant could pick from envelopes to chose which prize there would win, but there were only three ("A", "B", or "C"), later reduced to two ("A" or "B"). As in the original American version though, the contestant had 15 seconds to solve the puzzle to win the prize.
Prizes
Unlike the original American version, instead of cash prizes, successful spinners from each round were rewarded with a choice of 3 prizes which might contain household appliances, holiday, etc. From 1988 - 1993, the prizes for the final were a trip, £3,000, or a new car.Just after the prizes limit were dropped, the prizes became the car and £10'000 before coming £20,000 during 1995. In 1999 Bill Smithson became the first person in the UK to guess no letters on the final prize board.
During the daytime series, winners of each round were able to chosen from an array prizes laid out in the studio, such as a CD player, dishwasher etc. The cash prize for the final was dropped to £2000. As with most international versions of Wheel (and the American version until 1988), rather than being given "R, S, T, L, N, and E," the contestant picked five consonants and a vowel.
Special prizes
- During the Nicky CampbellNicky CampbellNicholas Andrew Argyll "Nicky" Campbell is a Scottish radio and television presenter and journalist. He is known for his time presenting on programmes such as the consumer affairs programme Watchdog...
and John LeslieJohn Leslie (television presenter)John Leslie is a Scottish former television presenter. He has presented BBC One's Blue Peter and ITV's This Morning and the ITV gameshow Wheel of Fortune. He was also the roving reporter for the first series of the UK version of Survivor...
runs, there was a special prize for landing on a certain space. - During Bradley Walsh's run, if a contestant landed on a certain space and also got a letter on the board, they could win the contents of "Brad's Box". This bonus carried over into the John Leslie era and was renamed "Leslie's Luxury".
- One puzzle would contain a "red letter" that would net players £100 if they solved the puzzle immediately after finding the letter.
Hosts and hostesses
The series was originally hosted by Nicky CampbellNicky Campbell
Nicholas Andrew Argyll "Nicky" Campbell is a Scottish radio and television presenter and journalist. He is known for his time presenting on programmes such as the consumer affairs programme Watchdog...
, who left the show after the 1996 series and was replaced by Bradley Walsh. Walsh only lasted one series and was succeeded in 1998 by John Leslie
John Leslie (television presenter)
John Leslie is a Scottish former television presenter. He has presented BBC One's Blue Peter and ITV's This Morning and the ITV gameshow Wheel of Fortune. He was also the roving reporter for the first series of the UK version of Survivor...
, who stayed with the show through the 2000 series before being replaced by Paul Hendy for the final year. Repeats of Leslie's episodes can be seen on Challenge.
Co-hosts (or "Board ladies" as they were frequently referred to on the show) were Angela Ekaette, Carol Smillie
Carol Smillie
Carol Patricia Smillie is a Scottish television personality, model and actress. Smillie is well-known for presenting the award winning BBC series Changing Rooms, which won her a National Television Award for Most Popular Factual Programme in 1998.She became the hostess of the British version of...
, Jenny Powell
Jenny Powell
Jenny Powell , is a British television presenter.-Early life:Powell's parents are from South Africa, she attended Woodford County High School for Girls in Woodford Green and the Italia Conti school in London.-Career:...
and Terri Seymour
Terri Seymour
Terri Seymour is a British television presenter and sometime actress.-Early life:She was born as Terri Louise Seymour in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, England in 1974...
.
The programme was announced by Steve Hamilton.
Wheel configurations
The top point space was 1000 points, with one such space in round 1. One more space was added in round 2, along with a second Bankrupt, and a third 1,000-point space was added in round 3. Also, values were doubled beginning from round 3 onward, making the top point spaces worth 2,000 points.Unlike the board used on the American version since 1997, the United Kingdom version's puzzle board was never electronic, so the regular puzzle would be placed at the top portion of the board while the puzzler would fill any unused lines below. The puzzle board's shape from 1995 to 2001 was the same as the current American puzzle board. From 1988 to 1993, its border was styled like the one on the American puzzle board used from 1981-1993. The background color for unused trilons on the UK's puzzle board was green from 1988 to 1994, after which it was changed to blue.
External links
- Wheel of Fortune (UK) at BFI