The UK has broadcast several of the most popular game shows that have ever appeared on TV – some have even emerged as live casino games.
The Most Popular UK Game Shows on TV
In the UK, TV audiences have been watching game shows for years. While new formats emerge each year, it takes staying power to become a TV classic. As you can see below, some formats have even gone on to become live dealer games at the top online casino sites.
Deal or No Deal
Although hailing from the Netherlands, Deal or No Deal became an institution for UK TV viewers from autumn 2005 until winter 2016. Hosted by the eccentric Noel Edmonds, Deal or No Deal was a rocketing success when broadcast on Channel 4. In terms of the format, 22 contestants are each assigned a box with a hidden value.
The contestant who gets to play must then remove boxes and can receive phone calls from the Banker, who gives them offers to walk away with a cash prize that is smaller than the maximum potential prize. The drama stems from the random nature of the game, with a good round only a couple of boxes away from becoming bad. In the history of Deal or No Deal UK, only nine players have won £250,000, which is the maximum jackpot.
Deal or No Deal at Live Casinos
The sheer popularity of Deal or No Deal has made the game show an appealing property even for the online casino industry in the UK. New players at UK casinos can claim first deposit offers when they register, but unfortunately not no deposit bonus offers. The no deposit bonus concept has failed in the UK mostly due to defending gambling addiction issues among the public. Moving on, it’s exciting to discuss the existence of an officially licensed Deal or No Deal Game that can be played at live casino sites that are powered by Evolution Gaming.
Founded in 2006, Evolution toiled for a decade before finding success as the industry-leading provider of live dealer software. In the early days of the business, Evolution focused on producing mainstream live casino tables, such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker. As the company became more successful, it branched out by developing live gameshows within TV studio environments.
After developing in-house formats such as Dream Catcher and Side Bet City, Evolution diversified into licensed gaming formats. The first of these was Deal or No Deal Live, which has been streamlined for the online audience with a qualifying round that can lead to a more profitable main round. What’s also worth mentioning is that Evolution holds the rights to provide the live casino format of Monopoly.
The Chase
When looking for cult TV shows, viewers should check out The Chase, which began broadcasting in 2009. While Eggheads was the first to develop a game show that brought together a supergroup of trivia specialists, The Chase produced a more thrilling and more polished version that leaned on a more charismatic host in the form of Bradley Walsh.
Where The Chase was really clever was in creating personas for each of the trivia specialists, who were tasked with chasing down contestants who would start further ahead. Some of the examples include “The Beast”, “The Dark Destroyer”, and “The Governess”. The Chase has been a cult classic for more than a decade and has even spawned a specialist show called Beat the Chasers, which features a panel of five chasers who the contestant can choose to compete against all at once.
The Weakest Link
“You are the weakest link, goodbye,” was the iconic phrase that was uttered by host Anne Robinson, who hosted the show consistently from 2000 until 2012. During that time, she even appeared on an American version of The Weakest Link from 2001 until 2002. Despite producing one winner at the end of the show, the contestants were forced into an uneasy alliance in order to develop the prize fund.
Supermarket Sweep
Supermarket Sweep is a daytime classic from the 1990s, having been adapted from the US version and starring Dale Winton as the flamboyant host. While answering questions to generate time, the contestants were also challenged to find specific products within a TV studio supermarket. After a hiatus, Supermarket Sweep has since been revived as of 2019, though is now hosted by former X-Factor contestant Rylan Clark-Neal.
Pointless
While the majority of quiz shows aim for perfection, Pointless is one for the people out there who know obscure trivia, as the aim of the game is to give answers that haven’t been provided by the 100 people who have been polled for the show. Hosted by Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman, has been broadcast since 2009 across more than 1,300 episodes. Pointless is satisfying for the home viewer who can yell out their best answers during the show.
The Crystal Maze
The Crystal Maze was a Saturday night game show hosted by Richard O’Brien, who is famous for writing and appearing in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Based on a French game show called Fort Boyard, the Crystal Maze was shown on Channel 4 and featured a team of contestants who attempted to complete challenges and earn crystals. The crystals would then equate to an amount of time in the Crystal Dome, where they attempted to gather golden tickets towards earning a prize.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Created by Celador, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is a game show that originates from the UK. Originally hosted by Chris Tarrant, contestants battle to answer the quickest in a trivia round to appear on the main show. The contestant then attempts to answer 15 questions and is provided with lifelines that can help them along the way. Only a handful of contestants have won the UK version, with Major Charles Ingram even being convicted of cheating to win the show.
Countdown
Countdown is a brain-stimulating show that comprises a round in which two contestants attempt to make a word with the highest number of letters from a group of nine letters. Notably, there is also a numbers round in which the contestants attempt to figure out a group of random numbers that are calculated to give a final answer. Countdown is a high-pressure experience because each round contains only 30 seconds.