Wipeout (UK game show)

Wipeout was a British game show based on the original US format that aired on BBC1 from 25 May 1994 to 9 May 2003. The show was originally hosted by Paul Daniels from 1994 to 1997, then Bob Monkhouse took over from 1998 to 2003.

Format

During the game, correct answers would be replaced by a golden star, where as, "wipeouts" (wrong answers) would be replaced by the blue and yellow Wipeout "W" (in the Monkhouse version, green ticks for correct answers and red Xs for wipeouts were used).

Three boards were played in Round 1, with £10 awarded for the first answer plus an additional £10 for each subsequent correct answer (up to £110 for the eleventh). In the Monkhouse version, only two boards were played and each correct answer was worth £50.

In Round 1, the "Hot Spot" prize would be determined based on whether it was hidden behind a correct answer or a Wipeout. If it was hidden behind a Wipeout, the player was awarded a cheap prize, usually one to do with the answer (e.g. a can of oil and a lollipop). If it was hidden behind a correct answer, the player was awarded a much better prize (e.g. designer handbags). The contestant who revealed the prize kept it regardless of the game's outcome.

A tiebreaker was not played at the end of Round 1 should a tie present itself. Instead, the player to proceed was the one who had given the most correct answers up to that point. If this was also tied, the player with the fewest wipeouts was accepted into Round 2.

Round 2 was known as "Wipeout Auction". The contestants would be offered a subject, and twelve possible answers on the grid. Eight of these would be correct, and four of these would be Wipeouts. The contestant with the highest amount of money would have the opportunity to bid first on how many correct answers they think they could find in the grid, or to pass the opening bid onto their opponent. Whoever offered the highest bid was given the opportunity to choose that number of answers. The player remained in control until they had achieved the number of correct answers with which they won the bid, or until they hit a Wipeout. If they hit a Wipeout, the opposing player would only have to get one answer right to head into the next round; play switches back to the first player if the second player also discovers a Wipeout.

Round 3 was known as "The bonus round" (called "The Monkhouse Minute", with the main button the contestant had to hit "Bob's Button" during the second era) was exactly the same as in America, except that the contestant pressed a button attached to the monitor they wished to activate (in the Daniels version, answers were entered on an oversized keypad). Victory awarded a holiday to a specific location, which changed on occasion. This round was like one of the famous games in The Price Is Right the Race Game where the contestant had to select six answers and run and hit a button which would then show on the screen how many correct answers he or she had selected. The contestant kept doing this until either the time had run out or they found all six correct answers. Daniels did the running on the contestant's behalf on several occasions such as once when they had a wheelchair-bound winner and another when the winner was pregnant and therefore preferred not to risk running. The contestants were told in advance where the holiday would be in the Daniels era, but when Monkhouse took over they could choose where they wanted to go provided that it was within Europe.

Filming

When Daniels hosted, the show aired in primetime (like Daniels' two previous BBC quiz shows Odd One Out and Every Second Counts) and was taped in London. When Monkhouse took over, it aired in daytime and was taped in Manchester.

External links

• Wipeout at the Internet Movie Database.
• Wipeout at BFI.
• Wipeout at UKGameshows.com.