Quiz shows are enjoying their golden age. With glitzy shows like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire prospering in primetime, and daytime and early evening slots filled with Countdown, Pointless, Eggheads, Richard Osman’s House Of Games, University Challenge and more, armchair quizzers have never had so many opportunities to show off their knowledge on the screen. But it’s not just the prizes or the glamour that make these shows so popular. It’s the fact that they’re a fun way to stretch your brain muscle, putting random bits of information to use in a game.
The format of the modern television quiz has evolved out of its radio forerunner. In the 1930s, networks had few things to fill their airtime except music, comedy, soap operas and news. In the 1940s, though, they began to introduce a variety of prize-giving games and quizzes, such as Vox Pop, a man-on-the-street style show where contestants were asked questions and dropped jingling silver dollars as a reward for their answers.
It was easy to move these shows to TV, as static sets meant they could be produced cheaper than dramas and sitcoms. And the format was a hit: by the end of the decade, more than 50 quiz shows were on the air. Make sure you don’t miss your favourites through poor reception. For TV aerial repair Cheltenham, visit https://steveunettaerials.co.uk/our-services/aerial-services/tv-aerial-repair/tv-aerial-repair-cheltenham/
Despite the occasional scandal, the premise was solid: audiences love the idea of testing their own knowledge against other people. This is why quizzes have survived – and indeed thrived – for almost a century.
Some quizzes are more entertaining than others, but all share a few key ingredients. The best quiz shows have simple rules, regular participants, and a host who is charismatic. They also have a sense of humour and just enough twists to keep the viewer interested. That’s why venerable quiz shows still capture the public’s imagination and the interest of a new generation.
In Britain, quizzes are now so embedded in the culture that they’re found on pub screens across the country – and the nation has turned into a nation of compulsive and extroverted quizzers. The passion tapped by Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has proved bottomless: years on, more than a third of the nation would describe themselves as quizzaholics. It’s no wonder that trendy bar and pub quizzes are so popular. It has sparked quizzes in supermarkets and on the internet, not to mention spawned a whole raft of imitators. But which one will be the next big thing? Only time will tell.