Sale of the Century (British game show)
From Norwich, the quiz of the week.
The British version of Sale of the Century, adapted from an American format, debuted on ITV on 9 October 1971 with Nicholas Parsons as host, running until 6 November 1983. Its popularity led to the frequently parodied line, "And now, from Norwich, it's the quiz of the week."
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Game show
- Creator
- Reg Grundy
- Presenter
- Nicholas Parsons
- Steve Jones (1981 celebrity special)
- Peter Marshall
- Keith Chegwin
- Announcer
- Peter Marshall
- John Benson
- Mitch Johnson
- Martin Buchanan
- Robin Houston
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- 11 (ITV)
- 1 (Sky Channel)
- 2 (Challenge TV)
- Episodes
- 411 (ITV)
- ??? (Sky Channel)
- ??? (Challenge TV)
Facts from the source article.
Rules (1971–83; 1997–98)
Three contestants began with £15 (£10 during the first four series). Questions increased in value from £1 to £3 after the second instant bargain, then to £5 after the fourth; in the late 1970s values started at £3 and rose to £5 after the fourth instant bargain. Players could buzz in at any time; correct answers added money, incorrect answers subtracted it, and only one player could buzz per question. A contestant who ran out of money was eliminated but could remain seated. At four points (later five) an instant bargain offered merchandise; the first to buzz after the prize was revealed purchased it at a discount deducted from their score. Early series used pounds and pence, rounded to the nearest pound; later values were whole pounds. Buzzing before the prize was revealed disqualified that player but still cost the price. An "Open Sale" before the commercial break offered small gifts under £5 each, with any player able to buy any or all; by 1977 it was replaced by an instant bargain. The Challenge TV version kept these rules except no Open Sale, players started with £15, and five rounds had questions worth £1, £3, £3, £5, and £5, followed by 60 seconds of £5 questions; the leader after that round became champion.
Rules (1989–91)
The Sky Channel version used rules based on Australia's 1980–1988 and America's 1983–1989 formats. Each player started with £20, and every question was worth £5. There were only three "Gift Shops" (renamed instant sales), and only the leading player could buy. The "Fame Game" presented increasingly large clues to a famous person, place, or event; players could buzz in at any time, and an incorrect answer shut them out for that question. A correct answer let the contestant choose from a nine-square board, revealing either a small prize or a bonus money card (£10, £15, or £25). The third round included a "Wild Card" offering £100 or another pick. The game ended with a 60-second Speed Round; the player with the most money won. A tie was broken by one question: a correct answer added £5 and the win, a miss deducted £5 and lost the game.
Shopping
The winning contestant could spend their cash total on at least one of four grand prizes, almost always including a new car. Originally, champions could return the next week or purchase and retire; returning champions had to retire upon winning again. From 1977 to 1983, a champion with £140 or more could either buy a lesser prize or answer up to five questions with no risk to win a car. On the 1989–1991 and 1997–1998 versions, six prizes (five in 1997–1998) increased in value; wins added money to the champion's bank, allowing purchase of the highest affordable prize. The final prize was a car, available for £585 (£500 in 1997–1998). Defeated contestants kept any money and prizes they had earned.
Other background information
Sale of the Century was one of the highest-rating entertainment shows of the 1970s, with peak viewing figures of 20 million. Prize amounts were restricted by national agreements; cars had to be below limits that rose from £1,000 to £2,000 in 1977 and £3,500 in 1981, so producers often used foreign manufacturers such as Lada. Other prizes averaged no more than £1,000 in the 1970s or £1,750 in the 1980s. On 22 December 1978, a BBC strike led to 21.2 million viewers, the highest rating for an ITV game show. By the original version's end, it had awarded over £500,000 in prizes to 500 contestants. Celebrity specials began on 2 January 1981, with prizes going to charities. Record producer Simon Cowell made his television debut on the 1990 version, winning £20 worth of cooking utensils. The theme tune "Joyful Pete" honored producer Peter Joy and was written by Peter Fenn, who also provided live Hammond organ cues. The Sky One revival's theme later became the theme for the German adaptation Hopp Oder Topp.
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