Catchphrase (British game show)
British game show where contestants guess phrases from animations.
Catchphrase is a British game show based on the short-lived American game show of the same name, created by Steve Radosh. It originally aired in the United Kingdom between 12 January 1986 and 23 April 2004, and a revival premiered on ITV1 on 7 April 2013, still running as of 2026. The show is notable for its longevity and its distinctive format in which contestants identify familiar phrases represented by animation.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Game show
- Based On
- Catch Phrase · Steven Radosh
- Presenter
- Roy Walker / Nick Weir / Mark Curry / Stephen Mulhern
- Theme Music Composer
- Ed Welch (1986–92) / Simon Etchell (1994–2004) / Marc Sylvan (2013–) / Richard Jacques (2013–)
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 17 (Original) / 13 (Revival)
- Num Episodes
- 348 (Original) / 121 (Revival)
- Location
- The Maidstone Studios (1986–87, 1989–92, 2014–15, 2018–21, 2022–) / TVS Television Theatre (1988–89) / Television House (1994–2004) / The London Studios (2012–13, 2016–17) / dock10 studios (2022)
- Runtime
- 30 minutes (1986–2004) / 45–60 minutes (2013–)
- Network
- ITV
- First Aired
- 1986-01-12
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Catchphrase was presented by Northern Irish comedian Roy Walker from its 1986 premiere until 1999. Nick Weir took over hosting in 2000 and hosted until the end of the original run on 23 April 2004. Mark Curry hosted a separate daytime spin-off series that aired from 24 June to 19 December 2002, not the final series of the original run. In 2012, the series was revived with new host Stephen Mulhern and later commissioned for a full series broadcast in 2013. The original format remains, although there are now three contestants instead of two, and the show has been updated with new 3D graphics and a new concluding game.
The show's mascot, a golden robot called 'Mr. Chips', appears in many of the animations. Mr. Chips was repurposed from the original US version where he was known as 'Herbie'. After Nick Weir took over, Mr. Chips was semi-retired and replaced with the 'Catchphrase Family', but Mr. Chips returned for the Mark Curry series and the revival version hosted by Stephen Mulhern, where he is animated in 3D computer animation.
Reader's Guide
Catchphrase has been a staple of British television game shows for decades, spanning multiple eras and presenters. Its core concept—identifying a familiar phrase from a piece of animation—remained consistent, though the format evolved. The show's original theme tune and incidental music were composed by Ed Welch, with later versions by Simon Etchell, Tim Laws, Marc Sylvan, and Richard Jacques. Notable moments include the 'Snake Charmer' incident in 1994, where an animation appeared to depict a sexual act, causing laughter; a similar incident in a 2014 Mother's Day celebrity special; and a 2019 episode where a dog's head shaking caused humorous reactions. The show's significance lies in its enduring popularity and its ability to adapt to changing times while retaining its core gameplay. It has also inspired comparisons to other game shows, such as Waffle (1998).
Did You Know?
- The show's mascot Mr. Chips was originally called 'Herbie' in the American version.
- A 1994 episode featured a Bonus Catchphrase that appeared to show Mr. Chips and a snake performing a sexual act, causing uncontrollable laughter.
- The show had four different versions of its theme music, composed by Ed Welch, Simon Etchell, Tim Laws, and Marc Sylvan (with Richard Jacques contributing to one version).
- After Nick Weir took over as presenter, Mr. Chips was semi-retired and replaced with the 'Catchphrase Family'.
More in British television series revived after cancellation 1-24
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