Catchphrase (game show)
Encyclopedia
Catchphrase is a British game show based on a short-lived US game show of the same name. It ran on ITV
in the United Kingdom
between 12 January 1986 and 19 December 2002, originally hosted by Northern Irish
comedian
Roy Walker
.
Two contestants, one male and the other female, would have to identify the familiar phrase represented by a piece of animation. The show's mascot, a golden robot called "Mr Chips", appeared in many of the animations.
The computer would slowly draw a catchphrase on the screen. When it was done, a bell would ring; the contestants could then buzz in and try to guess the answer. If the player that buzzed guessed wrongly, the other player would be offered the chance to guess. If a player guessed correctly, he/she would win the predetermined amount and have a chance to solve the Bonus Catchphrase. When Nick Weir took over from Roy Walker in 2000, not only would he/she win money but would also win spot prizes if a sound rang when a Contestant got a Catchphrase right but in series 16 and 17, it was different because, a different sound rang meaning that prizes can be rewarded to the Contestant who answers a Catchphrase correctly. If one player got a normal catchphrase wrong and the other player misguesses the same catchphrase, the game would just continue with neither player getting the predetermined amount of money or a chance at solving the bonus catchphrase. There was no bell in the Weir/Curry series. If one Contestant could've kept that speed up in the Cash Countdown, then, they would win more money like thousands.
/Mark Curry
era). The contestant chose a square by hitting his/her buzzer to stop a randomiser on one of them. That square was then removed, and the contestant had five seconds to come up with an answer. If they were right, they won the amount of money in the Bonus Bank. If not, another normal catchphrase was played.
In series 1, the Bonus Bank would start at £100 and increase by £100 each round. From series 2 until series 9, it would start at £50 and increase by £50 each round. In series 10 (the first Carlton series), it would start at £150 and increase by £50 each round, but £10 would be deducted for each square removed. From series 11 until series 16, it would start at £200 and increase by £50 each round, again with £10 deducted for each square removed but in series 17 (Nick Weir's third and final series), in the first half of the game, the Bonus Bank still started at £200 and would increase by £200 in round 2. In round 1, it would still eliminate £10 for every random shape removed and in round 2, it would eliminate £20. In the second half, it would start at £1,000 and increase by £1,000 in round 4. In round 3, it would reduce by £100 and in round 4, it would reduce by £200. For the final series (with Mark Curry), the pound values were replaced with corresponding point values.
If the Bonus Catchphrase was not solved after all nine squares had been removed, normal catchphrases would be played without the bell, the first contestant to buzz in and answer correctly winning the amount of money remaining in the Bonus Bank.
Depending on how long it took to solve the bonus catchphrase, another game would be played with a higher possible amount in the randomiser and a larger amount in the Bonus Bank.
In 2000, when Nick Weir
took over as host, this round was replaced by the Cash Countdown, in which the amount for each normal catchphrase started at £250 (later £500) before quickly counting down towards zero. The quicker the contestants could answer, the more money they would win, when 20 (later 25) Seconds are up it's worth nothing and the game resumes with more Cash Countdown Catchphrases. This round was retained in the Mark Curry
series, but renamed the Catchphrase Countdown due to the show having abandoned pounds in favor of points.
The player with the most money won the game and played the Super Catchphrase. Both players kept their money. In one episode of Weir's second series, a contestant got over £4,000 when it was actually £4,234 and the opponent in that episode scored £1,087. In the Curry series, the player with the most points won £250 but the Player who didn't win was Rewarded a Special Prize.
In the TVS/Meridian years, if the contestant got five squares in such a way that they made a row or column (horizontally or vertically) on the board, they would win a prize such as a TV or a microwave oven. However, if they could make a row, column or diagonal through the central "M" square (which Walker often claimed was the most difficult), they would win a holiday somewhere in the world. If they ran out of time, they won a smaller prize (such as a camera or a food processor) for each correct square. In series 1, if the contestant failed to make a column, row or diagonal through the M Square they win £25 for each correct square.
When Carlton picked up the show in 1994, the top prize remained a holiday, but the lesser prizes were replaced by cash. Each correct square was worth £50, while any five at random that did not make a row, column or diagonal through the "M" square earned a bonus £50. In early 1998, the amount for a correct square was doubled to £100 and the bonus was also doubled to £100. In late 1998, the bonus was worth £500.
When Nick Weir took over as host in 2000, the format of the Super Catchphrase changed considerably. Now, in a similar fashion as on Blockbusters, the contestant had to make their way from the left-hand side of the board to the right (in a horizontal line), making adjoining moves and passing on a square meant that they would be blocked and would have to find an alternative path. This format was also used in the Mark Curry series. As before, the top prize was a holiday, but during the Curry series this would be one somewhere in Europe. Plus each square was worth £100 apiece.
If the contestant won the Super Catchphrase not only did they win a holiday but they also got the total of their prize winnings (From Series 10 til 17). In series 10 and 11, the contestant was given an extra £1,000 to spend, in series 12, it was £2,000, in series 13, 14 and 15 it was £3,000 in cash. If the contestant failed to win the Super Catchphrase, the money that the squares were worth was added to the Contestant's money he/she won in the main game.
with association with Action Time at their Northam studios in Southampton from 1986 to mid-spring 1988. The show was subsequently moved to their Maidstone facility, now known as The Maidstone Studios
in Kent in late 1988. In 1994, the format was picked up by Carlton Television
and was fully produced by Action Time Productions, In 1996, Catchphrase moved to Carlton's (formerly Central Independent Television
) Studios in Lenton Lane, Nottingham
where it stayed until its demise in 2002.
Walker left Catchphrase in 1999 and was replaced by Nick Weir, who presented three series of the show between 2000 and 2002. In 2002, Weir got fired because of unpopularity and left the show and gave way to ex-Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry, who presented the show for one series until its demise of the same year. Not only did Curry take over but the show had moved out of prime time and moved to daytime.
Catchphrase ended in 2002 after nearly 17 years because of the declining ratings. Many viewers felt that Roy Walker
's departure had seen the quality of the show suffer although some episodes which Nick Weir filmed in his third (and final) series in late 2001 were shown on the ITV network during 2003 and 2004, often on a Sunday evening or Bank Holiday Monday, in 2006, Challenge repeated his first and second series but were only on for a short time, it doesn't mean it won't be returning but Weir's episodes aren't, weren't and haven't been as popular as Walker's.
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 in 2000, 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 foot.
on BBC Radio 1
from January 2004 until December 2005. It returned to the airwaves on 8 January 2007. It was taken off the air again because of the phone-in competitions being suspended. The format in comparison to the TV show slightly changed 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.
for a head (for the catchphrase "Lemon Heads" on the episode broadcast 28 October 1994). Along with Walker, the Mr. Chips character was not featured in the 2000 series. Instead, a family of a father, mother, son, and daughter, appeared. These characters were also featured in the opening sequence, showing the family trying to 'catch' the 'letters' of the phrase "Catchphrase", the family themselves as the letters of "Catch". This family were not as popular as Mr. Chips, but despite this, the family appeared until the series finished in 2002. Mr Chips appeared only at the end credits during this time, but he appeared in the catchphrases as well in the last series in 2002, using his 1998-1999 guise.
, or perhaps being felated
by the snake, which caused the audience, contestant and Sean and eventually Walker himself to laugh uncontrollably as the puzzle was revealed. The answers given during these mishaps (in order) were: "Dumb Waiter", "Tip the Waiter" and "Song and Dance Man". Originally broadcast on ITV
on 18 November 1994, satellite channel Challenge sometimes broadcast this episode, and it has appeared on many "out-take" or "blooper" shows, such as It'll be Alright on the Night
. This episode had opening sequence catchphrases: "Happy Birthday!", "T-Shirt" and "Window Pane".
on 21 November 1998, Challenge sometimes broadcast this episode.
once recalled running out of catchphrases. The second show in a four-show day had eaten a huge number of phrases that neither contestant could identify. The files were flown in on a disc from the USA
so that the show could continue. A bike was used to transport the files from the airport to the studio. Walker noticed that one of the contestants was constantly disappearing to drink alcohol, and eventually became unfit to play. Walker phoned the reserve contestant, but he put the phone down (He didn't realize that he was needed urgently to keep the show running) and he carried on working on his allotment. A car was dispatched to find the contestant in his garden, but the car broke down on the way to the studio, and to cap the situation off the bike bringing the catchphrase computer files also suffered a mishap.
whose original version of the theme was used for the TVS and Meridian incarnation of the show up until 22 January 1994. It was also used on Family Catchphrase in 1994.
The show returned on 30 September 1994 with a brand new look and now being produced by Action Time for Carlton Television
. The show's theme and incidental music was re-tuned, and was composed by Simon Etchell whose version was used from 1994 to 1999, with some slight alterations made in late 1998.
From 2000 to 2002, a third version of the Catchphrase theme music was used. It was a re-mixed and "jazzed-up" version of the previous theme, composed by Simon Etchell and was used alongside a revamped title sequence followed by a new studio set.
replaced him in series two until series nine. Ted Robbins
took over the voiceover's mascot while Charles Foster took Robbins' place (later returned for series twelve) and Robin Kermode, Chris Jarvis
and Peter Dickson are the final three voiceovers.
had his own catchphrases that he often used during the show:
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.
Roy Walker also voiced the interactive play along version of Catchphrase on wedigtv.
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...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
between 12 January 1986 and 19 December 2002, originally hosted by Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Roy Walker
Roy Walker
Robert "Roy" Walker is a television personality and comedian from Northern Ireland, who worked for many years as both a television presenter and comedy actor...
.
Two contestants, one male and the other female, would have to identify the familiar phrase represented by a piece of animation. The show's mascot, a golden robot called "Mr Chips", appeared in many of the animations.
Main game
In the main game, at the start of each standard round, one contestant stopped a randomizer consisting of money amounts by hitting his/her button. The value landed on would be the amount for the normal catchphrases in that round. In the Nick Weir/Mark Curry series, there was no money randomizer: the cash prize was set as default to £100/100 points in Round 1 and £150/150 points in Round 2. In Weir's third and final series, however, in Round 2 the amount for a normal Catchphrase was doubled to £200 and for the final series with Curry, it was 200 points. From series 12 to 15, Contestants could also select a holiday destination from a choice of nine by hitting his/her buzzer. In series 16 and 17, contestants can choose where ever they want to go in the world. In the Curry series, before round 2 started, contestants can choose anywhere they want to go in Europe.Normal Catchphrase
The computer would slowly draw a catchphrase on the screen. When it was done, a bell would ring; the contestants could then buzz in and try to guess the answer. If the player that buzzed guessed wrongly, the other player would be offered the chance to guess. If a player guessed correctly, he/she would win the predetermined amount and have a chance to solve the Bonus Catchphrase. When Nick Weir took over from Roy Walker in 2000, not only would he/she win money but would also win spot prizes if a sound rang when a Contestant got a Catchphrase right but in series 16 and 17, it was different because, a different sound rang meaning that prizes can be rewarded to the Contestant who answers a Catchphrase correctly. If one player got a normal catchphrase wrong and the other player misguesses the same catchphrase, the game would just continue with neither player getting the predetermined amount of money or a chance at solving the bonus catchphrase. There was no bell in the Weir/Curry series. If one Contestant could've kept that speed up in the Cash Countdown, then, they would win more money like thousands.
Bonus Catchphrase
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 (or random shapes in the Nick WeirNick Weir
Nicholas "Nick" Weir is a former Entertainer, who was born in Australia. He is best known for presenting British game show Catchphrase. He is currently the Cruise Director on board the Celebrity Eclipse.-Entertainment career:...
/Mark Curry
Mark Curry (television presenter)
Mark Curry is an English television presenter most often in children's programmes.- Early career :He started his television career aged seven appearing on ITV's Junior Showtime and played the producer in the film Bugsy Malone .In 1981, Curry co-hosted the series Get Set For Summer on BBC1 with...
era). The contestant chose a square by hitting his/her buzzer to stop a randomiser on one of them. That square was then removed, and the contestant had five seconds to come up with an answer. If they were right, they won the amount of money in the Bonus Bank. If not, another normal catchphrase was played.
In series 1, the Bonus Bank would start at £100 and increase by £100 each round. From series 2 until series 9, it would start at £50 and increase by £50 each round. In series 10 (the first Carlton series), it would start at £150 and increase by £50 each round, but £10 would be deducted for each square removed. From series 11 until series 16, it would start at £200 and increase by £50 each round, again with £10 deducted for each square removed but in series 17 (Nick Weir's third and final series), in the first half of the game, the Bonus Bank still started at £200 and would increase by £200 in round 2. In round 1, it would still eliminate £10 for every random shape removed and in round 2, it would eliminate £20. In the second half, it would start at £1,000 and increase by £1,000 in round 4. In round 3, it would reduce by £100 and in round 4, it would reduce by £200. For the final series (with Mark Curry), the pound values were replaced with corresponding point values.
If the Bonus Catchphrase was not solved after all nine squares had been removed, normal catchphrases would be played without the bell, the first contestant to buzz in and answer correctly winning the amount of money remaining in the Bonus Bank.
Depending on how long it took to solve the bonus catchphrase, another game would be played with a higher possible amount in the randomiser and a larger amount in the Bonus Bank.
Ready Money Round/Cash Countdown/Catchphrase Countdown
From series 2, (The Roy Walker era) a new featured which was not seen in the US version, the Ready Money Round, was introduced, which followed a similar structure to a standard round except that all normal catchphrases were worth a fixed amount of money (originally £50) and there was no bell, so the contestants could buzz in and answer them whenever they wished and as many times until the puzzle is solved or time runs out. In the TVS/Meridian series, this round was played only once (normally after the commercial break, but sometimes before-hand), subsequent rounds being played as standard with the bell and money randomiser. In the Carlton series from 1994 to 1999, however, all of the rounds in part two (up until the end of game klaxon) were Ready Money Rounds. Between 3 January 1998 and 23 October 1999, the amount for a normal catchphrase increased to £125 but if there was still time for another round, it would increase to £150. If the end of game klaxon sounds and the Bonus Catchphrase had yet to be solved, the panels would be gradually removed until a player buzzed in with an answer. If neither player guessed correctly, a normal catchphrase would determine who won the Bonus Bank money.In 2000, when Nick Weir
Nick Weir
Nicholas "Nick" Weir is a former Entertainer, who was born in Australia. He is best known for presenting British game show Catchphrase. He is currently the Cruise Director on board the Celebrity Eclipse.-Entertainment career:...
took over as host, this round was replaced by the Cash Countdown, in which the amount for each normal catchphrase started at £250 (later £500) before quickly counting down towards zero. The quicker the contestants could answer, the more money they would win, when 20 (later 25) Seconds are up it's worth nothing and the game resumes with more Cash Countdown Catchphrases. This round was retained in the Mark Curry
Mark Curry (television presenter)
Mark Curry is an English television presenter most often in children's programmes.- Early career :He started his television career aged seven appearing on ITV's Junior Showtime and played the producer in the film Bugsy Malone .In 1981, Curry co-hosted the series Get Set For Summer on BBC1 with...
series, but renamed the Catchphrase Countdown due to the show having abandoned pounds in favor of points.
The player with the most money won the game and played the Super Catchphrase. Both players kept their money. In one episode of Weir's second series, a contestant got over £4,000 when it was actually £4,234 and the opponent in that episode scored £1,087. In the Curry series, the player with the most points won £250 but the Player who didn't win was Rewarded a Special Prize.
Super Catchphrase
In the Super Catchphrase, the winning contestant faced a 5x5 board of 25 squares, each marked with a letter from A to Y in ascending order. The contestant chose a square and attempted to solve a catchphrase behind it. During the Roy Walker era, the aim was to get five squares in 60 seconds.In the TVS/Meridian years, if the contestant got five squares in such a way that they made a row or column (horizontally or vertically) on the board, they would win a prize such as a TV or a microwave oven. However, if they could make a row, column or diagonal through the central "M" square (which Walker often claimed was the most difficult), they would win a holiday somewhere in the world. If they ran out of time, they won a smaller prize (such as a camera or a food processor) for each correct square. In series 1, if the contestant failed to make a column, row or diagonal through the M Square they win £25 for each correct square.
When Carlton picked up the show in 1994, the top prize remained a holiday, but the lesser prizes were replaced by cash. Each correct square was worth £50, while any five at random that did not make a row, column or diagonal through the "M" square earned a bonus £50. In early 1998, the amount for a correct square was doubled to £100 and the bonus was also doubled to £100. In late 1998, the bonus was worth £500.
When Nick Weir took over as host in 2000, the format of the Super Catchphrase changed considerably. Now, in a similar fashion as on Blockbusters, the contestant had to make their way from the left-hand side of the board to the right (in a horizontal line), making adjoining moves and passing on a square meant that they would be blocked and would have to find an alternative path. This format was also used in the Mark Curry series. As before, the top prize was a holiday, but during the Curry series this would be one somewhere in Europe. Plus each square was worth £100 apiece.
If the contestant won the Super Catchphrase not only did they win a holiday but they also got the total of their prize winnings (From Series 10 til 17). In series 10 and 11, the contestant was given an extra £1,000 to spend, in series 12, it was £2,000, in series 13, 14 and 15 it was £3,000 in cash. If the contestant failed to win the Super Catchphrase, the money that the squares were worth was added to the Contestant's money he/she won in the main game.
Production history
It was originally made by TVSTelevision South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
with association with Action Time at their Northam studios in Southampton from 1986 to mid-spring 1988. The show was subsequently moved to their Maidstone facility, now known as The Maidstone Studios
The Maidstone Studios
The Maidstone Studios, formerly called TVS Television Centre is a television studio complex with radio studio facilities based at Vinters Park in Maidstone, Kent UK...
in Kent in late 1988. In 1994, the format was picked up by Carlton Television
Carlton Television
Carlton Television was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties including the cities of Solihull and Coventry of the West Midlands, south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire,...
and was fully produced by Action Time Productions, In 1996, Catchphrase moved to Carlton's (formerly Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
) Studios in Lenton Lane, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
where it stayed until its demise in 2002.
Walker left Catchphrase in 1999 and was replaced by Nick Weir, who presented three series of the show between 2000 and 2002. In 2002, Weir got fired because of unpopularity and left the show and gave way to ex-Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry, who presented the show for one series until its demise of the same year. Not only did Curry take over but the show had moved out of prime time and moved to daytime.
Catchphrase ended in 2002 after nearly 17 years because of the declining ratings. Many viewers felt that Roy Walker
Roy Walker
Robert "Roy" Walker is a television personality and comedian from Northern Ireland, who worked for many years as both a television presenter and comedy actor...
's departure had seen the quality of the show suffer although some episodes which Nick Weir filmed in his third (and final) series in late 2001 were shown on the ITV network during 2003 and 2004, often on a Sunday evening or Bank Holiday Monday, in 2006, Challenge repeated his first and second series but were only on for a short time, it doesn't mean it won't be returning but Weir's episodes aren't, weren't and haven't been as popular as Walker's.
The UK version's second host, Nick Weir
Nick Weir
Nicholas "Nick" Weir is a former Entertainer, who was born in Australia. He is best known for presenting British game show Catchphrase. He is currently the Cruise Director on board the Celebrity Eclipse.-Entertainment career:...
, became more famous for falling down the studio steps and breaking his foot while recording his first series in 2000, 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 foot.
Original series
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Celebrity specials
| Date | Celebrities featured: |
|---|---|
| Matthew Kelly Matthew Kelly is an English television presenter and Olivier-award winning actor. Having been trained as a theatre actor, he first came to public prominence as a television presenter of ITV light entertainment shows such as You Bet! and Stars in Their Eyes... , Jessica Martin Jessica Martin Jessica Martin is an actor and comedian. She is probably best known for her work as an impressionist and voice artist on the television series Spitting Image, impersonating the voice of Her Majesty The Queen. She also appeared on Yorkshire Television's 3-2-1 in the 1980s with impressionist Aiden J... Bob Holness, Debbie Greenwood Debbie Greenwood Debbie Greenwood is a British television presenter and a former beauty queen who won the title of Miss Great Britain in 1984.-Career:... |
|
| Chris Tarrant Christopher John "Chris" Tarrant, OBE is an English radio and television broadcaster, now best known for hosting the first version of the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United Kingdom and later Ireland, as the two national versions of the show merged in 2002.Chris... , Maggie Moone Maggie Moone Maggie Moone is a singer best remembered for her role on the UK version of Name That Tune.In 1980 she participated in A Song For Europe, aiming to become the United Kingdom's entry to that year's Eurovision Song Contest to be staged in The Hague, The Netherlands... Lionel Blair Lionel Blair Lionel Blair is a British actor, choreographer, tap dancer and television presenter. He is the son of Myer Ogus and Deborah Greenbaum... , Anita Harris Anita Harris Anita Harris is an English actress, singer and entertainer.... |
|
| Su Pollard Susan Georgina "Su" Pollard, 7 November 1949, Nottingham) is an English comedy actress, most famous for her roles in the sitcoms Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord?. She is also well known for her unusual and flamboyant dress sense and her abrupt voice.... , Ruth Madoc Ruth Madoc Ruth Madoc is a British actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Gladys Pugh in the 1980s BBC television comedy Hi-de-Hi!, and as Daffyd Thomas's mother in the second series of Little Britain.-Early life:... , Paul Shane Jeffrey Holland Jeffrey Holland Jeffrey Holland is an English actor well known for roles in television sitcoms, as well as BBC Radio comedy, including Week Ending.-Early life and career:... , Debbie Rix, Nick Owen Nick Owen Nicholas "Nick" Corbishley Owen is an English television presenter and newsreader, best known for presenting the breakfast television programme TV-am and the BBC's local news show Midlands Today since 1997... Christopher Biggins Christopher Biggins Christopher Kenneth Biggins is an English actor and media personality.-Career:Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England and brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he took elocution lessons and participated in local drama groups... , Steve Nallon Steve Nallon Steve Nallon is a British actor, writer and impressionist, best known for impersonating Margaret Thatcher on television throughout her time as British prime minister .... |
|
| Tessa Sanderson Theresa Ione Sanderson CBE is a former British javelin thrower and heptathlete who competed in the javelin competition in every one of the six Olympics from 1976–1996 winning the Gold medal in 1984... , Barry McGuigan Barry McGuigan Finbarr Patrick McGuigan MBE , known as Barry McGuigan and nicknamed The Clones Cyclone, is a former Irish and British professional boxer who became a world featherweight champion.-Background:... Wayne Dobson Wayne Dobson Wayne Dobson is an award-winning British magician who became well-known through various television appearances in the late 1980s and 1990s. At the height of his fame he had his own television series Wayne Dobson - A Kind of Magic... , Linda Lusardi Linda Lusardi Linda Lusardi is an English actress, television presenter and former Page Three Girl. She is married to the actor Samuel Kane; they have two children, both born in Enfield, London: Lucy Anne and Jack Francis .... June Brown June Brown June Muriel Brown, MBE is a British actress, best known for her role as the busy-body, chain-smoking gossip Dot Cotton in the long-running British soap opera EastEnders and for making other high profile television appearances on shows such as Doctor Who, Coronation Street, Minder, The Bill and... , Peter Dean Pamela Power, Kenneth Waller Kenneth Waller Kenneth Waller was an English actor.-Career:His first role was in the 1959 production Room at the Top, but it was not until 1981 when he played the part of "Old" Mr. Grace in Are You Being Served? that he found real fame. He played the elder of the Grace brothers, after the departure of "Young"... |
Family specials (Roy Walker era)
| Date | Families featured: |
|---|---|
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Car Park Catchphrase
In homage to the show, a popular radio spoof of Catchphrase, entitled Car Park Catchphrase was broadcast on The Chris Moyles ShowThe Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show is the current BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in the UK, and has been since Chris Moyles became the station's breakfast show presenter on 5 January 2004. From 2004 to 2007, the show was broadcast 6:55–10:00 am each weekday, but since 15 October 2007 it has started from...
on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
from January 2004 until December 2005. It returned to the airwaves on 8 January 2007. It was taken off the air again because of the phone-in competitions being suspended. The format in comparison to the TV show slightly changed and required callers to play from their cars and 'honk' their horns when they knew the catchphrase being described. Roy Walker
Roy Walker
Robert "Roy" Walker is a television personality and comedian from Northern Ireland, who worked for many years as both a television presenter and comedy actor...
himself recorded voice samples for the game.
Mr. Chips
The series' original mascot was a golden robot called "Mr. Chips". The figure often appeared in the animations for the catchphrases. Mr. Chips was originally depicted as being quite tall, but as the series progressed, he became a smaller figure. Variations of the mascot sometimes appeared in the animations, such Mr. Chips with a lemonLemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
for a head (for the catchphrase "Lemon Heads" on the episode broadcast 28 October 1994). Along with Walker, the Mr. Chips character was not featured in the 2000 series. Instead, a family of a father, mother, son, and daughter, appeared. These characters were also featured in the opening sequence, showing the family trying to 'catch' the 'letters' of the phrase "Catchphrase", the family themselves as the letters of "Catch". This family were not as popular as Mr. Chips, but despite this, the family appeared until the series finished in 2002. Mr Chips appeared only at the end credits during this time, but he appeared in the catchphrases as well in the last series in 2002, using his 1998-1999 guise.
"Snake Charmer"
One of the most famous moments of the show's history included a Ready Money bonus catchphrase where the answer to the puzzle was "snake charmer". However, the puzzle was revealed in such a way it appeared to show the partially-revealed Mr Chips masturbatingMasturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
, or perhaps being felated
Fellatio
Fellatio is an act of oral stimulation of a male's penis by a sexual partner. It involves the stimulation of the penis by the use of the mouth, tongue, or throat. The person who performs fellatio can be referred to as the giving partner, and the other person is the receiving partner...
by the snake, which caused the audience, contestant and Sean and eventually Walker himself to laugh uncontrollably as the puzzle was revealed. The answers given during these mishaps (in order) were: "Dumb Waiter", "Tip the Waiter" and "Song and Dance Man". Originally broadcast on 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...
on 18 November 1994, satellite channel Challenge sometimes broadcast this episode, and it has appeared on many "out-take" or "blooper" shows, such as It'll be Alright on the Night
It'll be Alright on the Night
It'll be Alright on the Night is a British television bloopers show screened on ITV and produced by London Weekend Television. It was one of the first shows created with the specific purpose of showing behind the scenes bloopers from film and TV and it has been running since 18 September 1977...
. This episode had opening sequence catchphrases: "Happy Birthday!", "T-Shirt" and "Window Pane".
"Frost Bite"
In the first episode of series 14 in 1998, the answer to the third bonus catchphrase was "frost bite". However, contestant Daniel gave a series of hilarious nonsensical answers that forced the audience and Roy Walker to laugh uncontrollably. The funny answers given (in order) were: "Throbbing Ice" (repeated by Roy later on), "Pool of Ice Water", "Ice Spider Monkey" (staggered) and "Drawbridge". Originally broadcast on ITVITV
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...
on 21 November 1998, Challenge sometimes broadcast this episode.
"Booby Trap"
In another episode of series 14, the answer to the third bonus catchphrase was "Booby Trap", but the gradually-revealed catchphrase depicted a bear trap snapping at a woman's bosum, forcing Roy, contestants June and John and the audience to laugh uncontrollably. Although no one answered it correctly, the answers given (in order) were: "Jaws", "Iron Mask", "Man Trap", "Caught in a Trap", "Brace Yourself", "Man-Eater", "Bra Strap", "Heaving Bosum" and "Chest Bite". Challenge sometimes broadcast this episode.Running on empty
Roy WalkerRoy Walker
Robert "Roy" Walker is a television personality and comedian from Northern Ireland, who worked for many years as both a television presenter and comedy actor...
once recalled running out of catchphrases. The second show in a four-show day had eaten a huge number of phrases that neither contestant could identify. The files were flown in on a disc from the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
so that the show could continue. A bike was used to transport the files from the airport to the studio. Walker noticed that one of the contestants was constantly disappearing to drink alcohol, and eventually became unfit to play. Walker phoned the reserve contestant, but he put the phone down (He didn't realize that he was needed urgently to keep the show running) and he carried on working on his allotment. A car was dispatched to find the contestant in his garden, but the car broke down on the way to the studio, and to cap the situation off the bike bringing the catchphrase computer files also suffered a mishap.
Theme music
Catchphrase's original theme tune and incidental music were composed by prolific television composer Ed WelchEd Welch
Edward William "Ed" Welch is an English television composer.-Career:In 1971, he recorded an album, Clowns, including songs he had co-written with Tom Paxton, and session musicians including Mike de Albuquerque and Cozy Powell. In 1972, acted as producer on a version of “I Don't Know How to Love...
whose original version of the theme was used for the TVS and Meridian incarnation of the show up until 22 January 1994. It was also used on Family Catchphrase in 1994.
The show returned on 30 September 1994 with a brand new look and now being produced by Action Time for Carlton Television
Carlton Television
Carlton Television was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties including the cities of Solihull and Coventry of the West Midlands, south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire,...
. The show's theme and incidental music was re-tuned, and was composed by Simon Etchell whose version was used from 1994 to 1999, with some slight alterations made in late 1998.
From 2000 to 2002, a third version of the Catchphrase theme music was used. It was a re-mixed and "jazzed-up" version of the previous theme, composed by Simon Etchell and was used alongside a revamped title sequence followed by a new studio set.
Voiceovers
The first series voiced by Andrew Lodge. Nick JacksonNick Jackson
For the professional wrestler, see The Young BucksBroadcaster Nick Jackson has presented successful stints on commercial radio stations in the UK including Original 106, Absolute Radio, BRMB 100.7 Heart FM & done occasional stints on 105.7 Smooth Radio...
replaced him in series two until series nine. Ted Robbins
Ted Robbins
Ted Robbins is an English comedian, actor, broadcaster, radio DJ, radio personality, voice-over artist and television personalityRobbins currently presents a morning show on BBC Radio Lancashire from 9am - 11am on weekdays....
took over the voiceover's mascot while Charles Foster took Robbins' place (later returned for series twelve) and Robin Kermode, Chris Jarvis
Chris Jarvis (presenter)
Chris Jarvis is a television actor and presenter and has appeared on BBC television since 1992 - apart from 2001-02 when he was with ITV and Channel 4....
and Peter Dickson are the final three voiceovers.
Catchphrase catchphrases
Appropriately, Roy WalkerRoy Walker
Robert "Roy" Walker is a television personality and comedian from Northern Ireland, who worked for many years as both a television presenter and comedy actor...
had his own catchphrases that he often used during the show:
- Say what you see! ("Say What You See!" was used as a Bonus Catchphrase itself in early 1998, but no one guessed it correctly.)
- If you see it, say it!
- An elongated Riiiiiiiiiiight! - used upon a Bonus Catchphrase being solved or completion of the Super Catchphrase. This was subsequently adopted by Dr. Evil in the popular Austin Powers movie franchise.
- 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 the one! - 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 right!, arguably more used than the original), (It's a good answer, but it's not right!), (It's good, but it's not great!). Roy Walker stated in an interview that a contestant, frustrated with his lack of success, had threatened him if Walker said "You're wrong" one more time. As a consequence Walker developed the catchphrase he used for the rest of his tenure.
- A Word of Warning: "Please don't buzz in until you hear this sound." - Then, a bell sounds.
- Just before the bell, I can't ask you. - If, when or as soon as the contestant buzzes in before the bell sounds, it goes across to his/her opponent.
- You can't win if you don't buzz in!
- What's Mr Chips doing there?
- There's no such expression. - Said after the contestant says a catchphrase that doesn't make sense.
- Keep pressing and guessing.
- The M Square, That's a difficult one.
- You're back in play, here's a catchphrase. - When one player misguesses a bonus catchphrase, Walker would normally say this to the other player.
- Pick a Square. - When a contenstant picks a square from the bonus catchphrase to remove. Walker would normally say the contestant's name before the phrase.
- Answer me five in a straight line — which, the computer's showing you, and you could win this prize.
- It's very good, but it's not the one.
- ...and you can win tonight's star prize. - Used as a suffix to a sentence when walker is talking to the player who has got through to the Super Catchphrase. Following the phrase, Walker would normally say "Tell us a little more about our star prize.", followed by a short film discussing the star prize would appear on the screen. Walker would normally say the name of the narrator before the latter phrase.
- The first one to press — gets the first guess. - Used briefly in the early 1998 series.
- In 2009, Roy Walker appeared on a television advert for Churchill Car Insurance alongside the famous Churchill dog. When the waiter brings his curry, Roy declares, "It's good but it's not right — I ordered a korma!".
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.
Interactive DVD game
In November 2007, Walker returned to host an all new interactive DVD game of Catchphrase, complete with original theme music and Mr. Chips.Roy Walker also voiced the interactive play along version of Catchphrase on wedigtv.