The Colour of Money (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Colour of Money was a British
game show, broadcast on ITV
between 21 February and 11 April 2009. The programme was produced by 12 Yard Productions, and hosted by Chris Tarrant
and Millie Clode
. The format was originally devised by Paul Brassey and Daniel Moody in 2006, and developed by Jim Cannon, Samuel Pollard, Andy Culpin and David Young.
A total of eight episodes were produced but only seven of these were broadcast, due to poor viewing figures. Subsequently, the programme was axed by ITV on 18 April 2009. The game-show later survived as a board game manufactured by games-giant Drummond Park.
", each with a different coloured screen (hence the title of the show). Before each game, each machine is loaded with a different amount of money. These amounts range from £1,000 to £20,000 in increments of £1,000. The contestant, hosts, audience and viewers are all unaware of which amount of money is in which machine.
At the beginning of the game the contestant is given a choice of three "cash cards
", each of which has been credited with a cash value from £50,000 to £100,000. The value on the card the contestant selects becomes their target for the game.
The contestant proceeds to select cash machines one at a time. The host starts each machine, at which point the money inside begins counting upwards on the screen, at a rate of £1,000 per second. When this figure passes the total amount that the machine contains it 'locks down', signified by an alarm and flashing screen. The contestant must stop each machine before it locks down by shouting the word "Stop". If the contestant stops the machine then the amount displayed on the screen at that point is added to a running total. If, however, they fail to stop the machine before it locks down then no money is added to the total.
The contestant can select up to ten of the twenty machines. If they add enough money to their total to reach their target then they win the game, and get to take the money home. If they fail to reach their target after selecting ten machines, or if at any point in the game it becomes mathematically impossible for them to do so, then the game ends, and the contestant gets relegated from the show with nothing.
Co-host Millie Clode provided contestants with a statistical rundown between the machines being played - informing them of their running total, how much money they still needed to take, how many machines they could still select and how much money they needed to take, on average
, from each of these remaining machines to reach their target.
Each episode of the show featured two consecutive games.
, with the first episode airing at 6:35pm on Saturday 21 February 2009. The second, third and fourth episodes were broadcast at the slightly later time of 6:45pm. The fifth episode, on Saturday 28 March, aired at 8:20pm. The sixth episode, on Saturday 4 April, aired at 7:55pm. The seventh episode, on Saturday 11 April, aired at 9:15pm. The eighth and final episode, that was scheduled to air on 18 April, was rescheduled for 29 December, but again was not shown.
:
Prior to the show going on air, former ITV Controller of Entertainment Duncan Gray, writing in The Independent
, suggested that ITV executives were hoping for an audience of around 5 million viewers.
said that it was "tedious", while The News of the World branded it "exactly the kind of cynical crowd-pleasing guff we’ve come to despise ITV for". One of the few positive reviews came from Charlie Brooker
, writing in The Guardian
, who called the show "so compelling, tense and yet ultimately random, it's likely to be a huge worldwide hit." In his review of 2009, Brooker described this as the "Most Off-The-Mark Prediction" of the year. Readers of UKGameshows.com
named it their worst new game show of 2009 in their "Hall of Shame" poll.
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...
game show, 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...
between 21 February and 11 April 2009. The programme was produced by 12 Yard Productions, and hosted by Chris Tarrant
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...
and Millie Clode
Millie Clode
Millie Clode is an English television presenter. Since January 2006 she has worked for Sky Sports News, while also providing statistical analysis on ITV's The Colour of Money. In 2009, Clode was named Top TV Sports Babe by The Sun and shortlisted for FHM’s Sexiest Women of the Year prize. In July...
. The format was originally devised by Paul Brassey and Daniel Moody in 2006, and developed by Jim Cannon, Samuel Pollard, Andy Culpin and David Young.
A total of eight episodes were produced but only seven of these were broadcast, due to poor viewing figures. Subsequently, the programme was axed by ITV on 18 April 2009. The game-show later survived as a board game manufactured by games-giant Drummond Park.
Format
In the studio are twenty stylised "cash machinesAutomated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
", each with a different coloured screen (hence the title of the show). Before each game, each machine is loaded with a different amount of money. These amounts range from £1,000 to £20,000 in increments of £1,000. The contestant, hosts, audience and viewers are all unaware of which amount of money is in which machine.
At the beginning of the game the contestant is given a choice of three "cash cards
ATM card
An ATM card is a card issued by a bank, credit union or building society that can be used at an ATM for deposits, withdrawals, account information, and other types of transactions, often through interbank networks.Some ATM cards can also be used:* at a branch, as identification for in-person...
", each of which has been credited with a cash value from £50,000 to £100,000. The value on the card the contestant selects becomes their target for the game.
The contestant proceeds to select cash machines one at a time. The host starts each machine, at which point the money inside begins counting upwards on the screen, at a rate of £1,000 per second. When this figure passes the total amount that the machine contains it 'locks down', signified by an alarm and flashing screen. The contestant must stop each machine before it locks down by shouting the word "Stop". If the contestant stops the machine then the amount displayed on the screen at that point is added to a running total. If, however, they fail to stop the machine before it locks down then no money is added to the total.
The contestant can select up to ten of the twenty machines. If they add enough money to their total to reach their target then they win the game, and get to take the money home. If they fail to reach their target after selecting ten machines, or if at any point in the game it becomes mathematically impossible for them to do so, then the game ends, and the contestant gets relegated from the show with nothing.
Co-host Millie Clode provided contestants with a statistical rundown between the machines being played - informing them of their running total, how much money they still needed to take, how many machines they could still select and how much money they needed to take, on average
Average
In mathematics, an average, or central tendency of a data set is a measure of the "middle" value of the data set. Average is one form of central tendency. Not all central tendencies should be considered definitions of average....
, from each of these remaining machines to reach their target.
Each episode of the show featured two consecutive games.
Series
The series was filmed at The London StudiosThe London Studios
The London Studios is a television studio complex which is owned by London Weekend Television and has been home to the London Weekend ITV provider since 1972...
, with the first episode airing at 6:35pm on Saturday 21 February 2009. The second, third and fourth episodes were broadcast at the slightly later time of 6:45pm. The fifth episode, on Saturday 28 March, aired at 8:20pm. The sixth episode, on Saturday 4 April, aired at 7:55pm. The seventh episode, on Saturday 11 April, aired at 9:15pm. The eighth and final episode, that was scheduled to air on 18 April, was rescheduled for 29 December, but again was not shown.
Contestants
| Show | Date | Contestant | Target | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 February 2009 | Diane Dawson | £64,000 | |
| Ryan Goode | £66,000 | |||
| 2 | 28 February 2009 | Nick Rotherham | £72,000 | |
| |
|
|||
| 3 | 14 March 2009 | Sumera Shahaney | £75,000 | |
| Rachael Marsh | £57,000 | |||
| 4 | 21 March 2009 | Alison Thompson | £74,000 | |
| Phil Morris Phil Morris (speedway rider) Phillip William Morris is a retired British motorcycle speedway rider who has appeared on several UK television game shows.-Career:... |
£63,000 | |||
| 5 | 28 March 2009 | Angela Baker | £73,000 | |
| Michael Appia | £79,000 | |||
| 6 | 4 April 2009 | Peter Rose | £55,000 | |
| Hannah Byers | £77,000 | |||
| 7 | 11 April 2009 | Diane Middleton-Perkiss | £78,000 | |
| Andrew Barnes | £67,000 |
Ratings
Episode viewing figures from BARBBarb
Barb may refer to:* A backward-facing point on a fish hook or similar implement, rendering extraction from the victim's flesh more difficult* Wind barbs for each station on a map of reported weather conditions...
:
| Show | Date | Audience (millions) | Viewing share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 February 2009 | 3.99 | 18 |
| 2 | 28 February 2009 | 4.43 | 20 |
| 3 | 14 March 2009 | 4.24 | 20 |
| 4 | 21 March 2009 | 4.23 | 20 |
| 5 | 28 March 2009 | 2.71 | 12.3 |
| 6 | 4 April 2009 | 2.5 | 12.1 |
| 7 | 11 April 2009 | 2.86 | 12.5 |
Prior to the show going on air, former ITV Controller of Entertainment Duncan Gray, writing in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, suggested that ITV executives were hoping for an audience of around 5 million viewers.
Critical reaction
The programme received a largely negative response from critics. The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
said that it was "tedious", while The News of the World branded it "exactly the kind of cynical crowd-pleasing guff we’ve come to despise ITV for". One of the few positive reviews came from Charlie Brooker
Charlie Brooker
Charlton "Charlie" Brooker is a British journalist, comic writer and broadcaster. His style of humour is savage and profane, with surreal elements and a consistent satirical pessimism...
, writing in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, who called the show "so compelling, tense and yet ultimately random, it's likely to be a huge worldwide hit." In his review of 2009, Brooker described this as the "Most Off-The-Mark Prediction" of the year. Readers of UKGameshows.com
UKGameshows.com
UKGameshows.com is a website dedicated to British game shows. The site currently provides information on more than 1,500 British game show formats from 1938 to the present day, over 500 mini-biographies of hosts, along with numerous other background articles....
named it their worst new game show of 2009 in their "Hall of Shame" poll.