Glowing floor panels, pulsing lights, futuristic furniture, people standing at consoles with a look of intense concentration on their faces as information is displayed across a gigantic viewscreen. It all brings to mind one question – are you watching the latest big budget space opera, or have switched on a mid-afternoon weekday quiz show?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re watching Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel or Warwick Davis’ Tenable, there is something about the current generation of game show sets that leaves you never quite certain if the presenter is going to ask you what Madonna’s biggest selling single was, or order you to go to Warp 5.
Of course, it wasn’t always this way. There was a time where game shows looked more like faded end-of-pier variety shows, with velvet curtains and palettes of drab oranges, browns and beige.The lighting was as flat and boring as possible,...
It doesn’t matter whether you’re watching Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel or Warwick Davis’ Tenable, there is something about the current generation of game show sets that leaves you never quite certain if the presenter is going to ask you what Madonna’s biggest selling single was, or order you to go to Warp 5.
Of course, it wasn’t always this way. There was a time where game shows looked more like faded end-of-pier variety shows, with velvet curtains and palettes of drab oranges, browns and beige.The lighting was as flat and boring as possible,...
- 3/23/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
ITV has hit a mighty milestone - first launched on September 22, 1955, the home of The X Factor, Downton Abbey and more is 60 years old today.
In its six decades, ITV has produced some of the biggest, best and most memorable TV shows in British broadcasting history.
But while everyone else is talking up Gladiators, Coronation Street and Blind Date, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate a few of the channel's less celebrated gems.
1. The Krypton Factor (1977-1995)
"Television's Toughest Quiz!" boomed the announcer back when the show launched in 1977. And even almost forty years later, nothing has quite matched Granada's brutal search for a UK superperson since.
Resembling a cross between a byzantine parlour game and a Soviet-era punishment for shoplifting, each week saw four more contestants subjected to a variety of cruel and unusual tests – from terrifying memory tests to landing a Boeing 747 (albeit on a simulator).
But worst of all?...
In its six decades, ITV has produced some of the biggest, best and most memorable TV shows in British broadcasting history.
But while everyone else is talking up Gladiators, Coronation Street and Blind Date, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate a few of the channel's less celebrated gems.
1. The Krypton Factor (1977-1995)
"Television's Toughest Quiz!" boomed the announcer back when the show launched in 1977. And even almost forty years later, nothing has quite matched Granada's brutal search for a UK superperson since.
Resembling a cross between a byzantine parlour game and a Soviet-era punishment for shoplifting, each week saw four more contestants subjected to a variety of cruel and unusual tests – from terrifying memory tests to landing a Boeing 747 (albeit on a simulator).
But worst of all?...
- 9/22/2015
- Digital Spy
ITV has hit a mighty milestone - first launched on September 22, 1955, the home of The X Factor, Downton Abbey and more is 60 years old today.
In its six decades, ITV has produced some of the biggest, best and most memorable TV shows in British broadcasting history.
But while everyone else is talking up Gladiators, Coronation Street and Blind Date, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate a few of the channel's less celebrated gems.
1. The Krypton Factor (1977-1995)
"Television's Toughest Quiz!" boomed the announcer back when the show launched in 1977. And even almost forty years later, nothing has quite matched Granada's brutal search for a UK superperson since.
Resembling a cross between a byzantine parlour game and a Soviet-era punishment for shoplifting, each week saw four more contestants subjected to a variety of cruel and unusual tests – from terrifying memory tests to landing a Boeing 747 (albeit on a simulator).
But worst of all?...
In its six decades, ITV has produced some of the biggest, best and most memorable TV shows in British broadcasting history.
But while everyone else is talking up Gladiators, Coronation Street and Blind Date, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate a few of the channel's less celebrated gems.
1. The Krypton Factor (1977-1995)
"Television's Toughest Quiz!" boomed the announcer back when the show launched in 1977. And even almost forty years later, nothing has quite matched Granada's brutal search for a UK superperson since.
Resembling a cross between a byzantine parlour game and a Soviet-era punishment for shoplifting, each week saw four more contestants subjected to a variety of cruel and unusual tests – from terrifying memory tests to landing a Boeing 747 (albeit on a simulator).
But worst of all?...
- 9/22/2015
- Digital Spy
The Krypton Factor could be making a return to the small screen.
SyFy is developing a Us version of ITV's classic gameshow, according to Broadcast.
SyFy president Dave Howe, who worked for the BBC for 15 years, recently revealed that The Krypton Factor was the one show that he would like to bring back.
The Krypton Factor was presented by Gordon Burns and aired in the UK between 1977 and 1995 for 300 episodes. It was later revived for two series in 2009 and 2010.
The gameshow was also shown in the Us as a five-week limited series on ABC in 1981, hosted by Dick Clark.
The game saw contestants compete in a series of rounds made to test both physical and mental ability.
Watch a clip below:...
SyFy is developing a Us version of ITV's classic gameshow, according to Broadcast.
SyFy president Dave Howe, who worked for the BBC for 15 years, recently revealed that The Krypton Factor was the one show that he would like to bring back.
The Krypton Factor was presented by Gordon Burns and aired in the UK between 1977 and 1995 for 300 episodes. It was later revived for two series in 2009 and 2010.
The gameshow was also shown in the Us as a five-week limited series on ABC in 1981, hosted by Dick Clark.
The game saw contestants compete in a series of rounds made to test both physical and mental ability.
Watch a clip below:...
- 8/24/2015
- Digital Spy
The news of the BBC’s axing of Shooting Stars is incredibly sad for long-time fans of the surreal panel show fronted by Vic and Bob. While it’s probably fair to say that recent episodes were becoming a little stale, they were still punctuated by moments funnier than anything else on TV. If this is indeed the definitive end of the show, it’s a very sad day for fans of Vic and Bob’s unique style of comedy.
I’d also have to ask the BBC why Shooting Stars is the first show to go and not all the guff they shove out onto BBC Three….. But that’s another matter. We can only hope that with Shooting Stars being seen as redundant by the BBC, Vic and Bob will go onto bigger and better things and become inspired to do something a little different.
Join us as...
I’d also have to ask the BBC why Shooting Stars is the first show to go and not all the guff they shove out onto BBC Three….. But that’s another matter. We can only hope that with Shooting Stars being seen as redundant by the BBC, Vic and Bob will go onto bigger and better things and become inspired to do something a little different.
Join us as...
- 11/16/2011
- by Stephen Leigh
- Obsessed with Film
The return of The Krypton Factor earlier this year should have been a momentous TV occasion. A classic piece of TV gold dug out of the ITV archives, revived and polished for a new generation of fans. However, the show was lacking one vital element to make it a success - the original show host and gameshow king Gordon Burns. Currently working as a presenter for BBC North West Tonight, The Krypton Factor just isn't the same without him at the helm. Burns famously wrote all his own scripts during his 18 years on the show and was even involved in producing some of the mind-boggling (more)...
- 2/27/2009
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
GMTV's Ben Shephard has been confirmed as the new host of The Krypton Factor. The original show, which was presented by Gordon Burns, ran for 18 years between 1977 and 1995. It tested contestants' memory, logic and general knowledge before concluding with an army assault course challenge. "The Krypton Factor is an iconic UK show and I'm really excited to be picking up the mantle from the legend, Gordon Burns," said Shephard. "As a kid, I was desperate to have a go on the assault course and make a mess of the puzzles. (more)...
- 11/26/2008
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
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