60 Fun Facts About British Quiz Shows

In which year was Mastermind first broadcast on the BBC?

Creator Bill Wright drew on his experience of being interrogated by the Gestapo in World War II.

Who was the original presenter of Mastermind?

He hosted from 1972 to 1997; Humphrys took the revived BBC Two version in 2003 and Myrie took over in 2021.

Complete the Mastermind catchphrase: 'I've started so I'll ...'

It is said when the buzzer goes mid-question; the contestant is allowed a few seconds to answer.

Mastermind's creator drew inspiration for the format from being interrogated by whom?

Bill Wright's wartime experience explains the spotlight, the black chair and the relentless questioning.

Who was the original quizmaster of University Challenge, from 1962 to 1987?

Only three people have hosted the show in more than 60 years.

Who succeeded Jeremy Paxman as host of University Challenge in 2023?

Paxman had hosted since the BBC revived the show in 1994.

University Challenge was based on which American quiz show?

The British version is still produced under licence from the College Bowl Company.

David Nicholls' novel and film about a University Challenge contestant is called what?

James McAvoy starred in the 2006 film, with Mark Gatiss playing Bamber Gascoigne.

Who presented Countdown for 23 years until his death in 2005?

It was the first programme ever broadcast on Channel 4, on 2 November 1982.

Countdown is based on which long-running French show?

The French original ran almost continuously from 1965 to 2024.

What is the name of Countdown's final buzzer round, a nine-letter anagram?

Contestants also play ten letters rounds and four numbers rounds.

Which lexicographer became a permanent fixture in Countdown's Dictionary Corner in 2003?

She first appeared in June 1992 and became the permanent Dictionary Corner lexicographer in 2003.

What prize does the reigning champion's conqueror receive on Countdown?

The programme's famous 30-second clock has been part of the set since 1982.

Who hosted Pointless from its launch in 2009?

Richard Osman was his co-presenter for 27 series before stepping down in 2022 to focus on writing.

What was Pointless originally going to be called?

The 2009 concept came from Endemol producers including Richard Osman, who only became co-host after filling in for a BBC demonstration.

By how much does the Pointless jackpot rise for each pointless answer given outside the Final?

If nobody wins it, the jackpot rolls over and grows by £1,000.

Who hosted The Chase when it launched on ITV in 2009?

By 2025 the show had six Chasers, including Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace, who had been there since series one.

Which Chaser is known as 'The Beast'?

He was a runner-up on Brain of Britain and part of a winning Only Connect team before joining The Chase.

Who presented Only Connect from its launch in 2008?

The show ran on BBC Four for six years before moving to BBC Two in 2014.

Only Connect's questions are chosen using symbols from which ancient writing system?

Two reeds, lion, twisted flax, horned viper, water and the eye of Horus replaced the Greek letters in series 4.

Only Connect takes its title from a line in which novel?

E. M. Forster's 1910 epigraph reads 'Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted'.

Which Egghead was the first Briton to win £1,000,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

She won on 20 November 2000 and sat on the Eggheads panel from 2003 to 2022.

Who chaired Eggheads when it began in 2003?

Jeremy Vine shared the job from 2008 and later became sole presenter.

Who presented QI from its start in 2003 until 2016?

Palin was the original choice; Fry took over as host with Davies as the only regular panellist.

Who was QI's only regular panellist from its 2003 launch?

He sits to the immediate right of the host and joins three rotating guests each episode.

What are QI's researchers known as?

They decide how many points are given and, more often, taken away.

Who hosted the original run of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? from 1998 to 2014?

Jeremy Clarkson fronted the 2018 revival for the show's 20th anniversary.

How did Charles Ingram cheat his way to £1 million on Millionaire in 2001?

Fellow contestant Tecwen Whittock coughed on the correct answers; one cough came from Ingram's wife Diana.

How many contestants had won £1 million on the British Millionaire by the end of 2025?

Judith Keppel was the first, on 20 November 2000.

Who presented the original British Weakest Link, saying 'You are the weakest link. Goodbye!'?

She also hosted the American version; Romesh Ranganathan fronted the 2021 celebrity revival.

How many contestants started each game in the original Weakest Link?

They vote off the 'weakest link' each round until two remain for a head-to-head.

Who was the original host of Blockbusters, famous for requests like 'Can I have a P please, Bob?'

The ITV show ran from 1983 to 1993; players crossed a board of hexagons using answers starting with a given letter.

Which tough Channel 4 quiz (1988-2003) was hosted by William G. Stewart?

Stewart only meant to host the pilot; Sandi Toksvig fronted the 2014 revival.

Bullseye combined general knowledge questions with which pub game?

Jim Bowen hosted the original 14-year run; Andrew Flintoff fronted the 2024 revival.

What is the name of Bullseye's cartoon mascot?

Losing contestants took home 'Bendy Bully' rubber dolls of the bull.

On Family Fortunes, what did original host Bob Monkhouse name the big answer board?

Monkhouse also changed the show's name from the American 'Feud' because it sounded too aggressive.

Who presented Catchphrase from its 1986 premiere until 1999?

Stephen Mulhern revived it in 2012; the show's robot mascot is Mr Chips.

Which Gordon Burns-hosted show tested mental agility, fitness and an army assault course?

It ran from 1977 to 1995 and returned briefly with Ben Shephard in 2009.

On Tipping Point, contestants use their counters on what kind of machine?

Ben Shephard presents; a 'ghost drop' is when a counter drifts and touches the plastic front.

Who created Taskmaster and serves as the Taskmaster's assistant?

The idea began at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010 and reached TV on Dave in 2015.

Who hosted Have I Got News for You from 1990 until being sacked in 2002?

Sandi Toksvig and a pre-fame Chris Evans were tried out for the chair before Deayton got it.

Which end-of-show feature of The Generation Game had contestants recall prizes such as a cuddly toy?

Bruce Forsyth's winners had 45 seconds to remember as many passing prizes as they could.

Who was the first host of Blankety Blank in 1979?

Les Dawson took over in 1984, Paul O'Grady's Lily Savage revived it in 1997 and Bradley Walsh in 2020.

Which future film composer wrote the theme to the pan-European quiz Going for Gold?

Henry Kelly hosted the BBC1 show, which usually followed the lunchtime Neighbours.

Sale of the Century's introduction, 'And now, from ..., it's the quiz of the week', named which city?

Anglia Television made it, and the line became a much-mocked catchphrase because Norwich seemed such a backwater.

What was the booby prize on Ted Rogers' 3-2-1?

Losers received a real new dustbin, and eliminated couples got a ceramic model of the mascot.

Which BBC Radio 4 general knowledge quiz began as a slot in What Do You Know? in 1953?

Robert Robinson hosted it for most of its life.

Which comedian hosted The 1% Club when it launched on ITV in 2022?

The show launched in April 2022 with a top prize of £100,000.

Which Chaser is nicknamed 'The Governess'?

Hegerty joined in series 2 and also chases on the Australian and New Zealand versions.

Which two Chasers have been on The Chase since series 1 in 2009?

The show has been nominated seven times at the National Television Awards, winning in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2024.

Which show was the very first programme broadcast on Channel 4, on 2 November 1982?

More than 90 series have aired since, now hosted by Colin Murray with Rachel Riley.

What is the title of Mastermind's theme music, composed by Neil Richardson?

Creator Bill Wright based the show's intimidating format on being interrogated by the Gestapo.

Who took over as presenter of Mastermind in 2021?

The show relocated to Belfast for the 2019–20 series after years at dock10 studios.

Pointless debuted in August 2009 on which channel before moving to BBC One in 2011?

Richard Osman co-presented the first 27 series before stepping down in 2022 to focus on his novels.

Which comedian hosted the 2014 revival of Fifteen to One?

In its original 1988–2003 run William G. Stewart asked nearly 350,000 questions to almost 34,000 contestants.

Which broadcaster became sole chair of Eggheads after starting as joint host in 2008?

The show later left the BBC in 2021 and took its most recent Eggheads with it.

Which actor was named to succeed Richard Osman as host of House of Games from late 2026?

Osman had hosted since 2017; every week ends with the round 'Answer Smash'.

Which actor presented the ITV list quiz Tenable from 2016 to 2024?

Five contestants filled in top-ten lists for up to £125,000; Sally Lindsay briefly deputised.

In which round of House of Games do celebrities also lose points for wrong answers?

Answer Smash always closes the show, with Friday's points doubled.

The Chase shares similarities with The Master, a short-lived 2006 quiz from which country?

The British show went on to be adapted in Australia itself, with Hegerty and Wallace guesting.