Double Your Money
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== Co-hosts == | == Co-hosts == | ||
| - | Organist: Alec Leader ( | + | Organist: Alec Leader (1955-6), Robin Richmond, Jackie Brown |
| - | Hostesses included: [[Monica Rose]], Alice Earrey (both former contestants), Nancy Roberts, Valerie Drew, Julie De Marco, Jean Clarke, Sabrina, Ann Anderson | + | Hostesses included: [[Monica Rose]], Alice Earrey (both former contestants), Nancy Roberts, Valerie Drew, Julie De Marco, Jean Clarke, "Sabrina" (Norma Sykes), Ann Anderson |
== Broadcast == | == Broadcast == | ||
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== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
| - | + | Monday night quiz, based on Green's popular Radio Luxembourg format. Contestants were given a free choice from different categories of questions which were the same for each series but evolved in variety and number (anything from 42 to 92) over time. For the first correct answer they won £1, and thereafter the could double their money with further correct answers up to a maximum of £32. A wrong answer would mean they lose everything. The most successful contestants came back to play for the Treasure Trail of up to £1000. | |
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<div class="image"><IMG src="/atoz/programmes/d/double_your_money/DYM2.jpg" width="250" height="188" border="0"> | <div class="image"><IMG src="/atoz/programmes/d/double_your_money/DYM2.jpg" width="250" height="188" border="0"> | ||
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The first contestant to enter the Treasure Trail was a Mr Plantagenet Somerset Fry, who became an overnight celebrity. He was a post-grad from Oxford, and had even asked a fellow student to act as "press officer", such was the media interest. However, he quit at £512, not wishing to risk it all for the £1000 jackpot. In today's money, £512 would be approximately £7,680. During his lifetime (he died in 1996), Mr Fry was a successful author of over 50 history books, the first of which was published while he was still an undergraduate. He traced his own family back to Edward III, one of the Plantagenet kings. He was also the first Editor of Books at the HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationery Office). | The first contestant to enter the Treasure Trail was a Mr Plantagenet Somerset Fry, who became an overnight celebrity. He was a post-grad from Oxford, and had even asked a fellow student to act as "press officer", such was the media interest. However, he quit at £512, not wishing to risk it all for the £1000 jackpot. In today's money, £512 would be approximately £7,680. During his lifetime (he died in 1996), Mr Fry was a successful author of over 50 history books, the first of which was published while he was still an undergraduate. He traced his own family back to Edward III, one of the Plantagenet kings. He was also the first Editor of Books at the HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationery Office). | ||
| - | In 1963, a 15-year-old | + | In 1963, a 15-year-old accounts clerk called [[Monica Rose]] appeared on the show. At the time she was working as a junior accounts clerk, and she won £8 answering questions on "Famous Women". [[Hughie Green]] took to the girl so much she was invited back as a hostess on the show the following year and his sequel show ''The Sky's the Limit''. Another contestant, 77-year-old tea lady Alice Earrey, also became a regular. |
The show was still hugely popular when it was taken off air in 1968 as a result of Associated-Rediffusion losing their franchise. | The show was still hugely popular when it was taken off air in 1968 as a result of Associated-Rediffusion losing their franchise. | ||
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== Theme music == | == Theme music == | ||
| - | The | + | The original theme was ''We're in the Money'' by Ted Lewis. |
| + | Later series had a specially-composed theme which went: | ||
:''Double Your Money and try to get rich, | :''Double Your Money and try to get rich, | ||
:''Double Your Money, without any hitch, | :''Double Your Money, without any hitch, | ||
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In 1962, a special one-off edition of the programme re-titled ''Double Your Yen'' took Hughie Green to Tokyo to put questions to Japanese contestants. | In 1962, a special one-off edition of the programme re-titled ''Double Your Yen'' took Hughie Green to Tokyo to put questions to Japanese contestants. | ||
| - | + | Here are 48 subjects displayed on a board at the start of one show. We believe this to be a full list, but there may be errors in transcription: | |
Astronomy, Architecture, Athletics, Army, Ballet, Bridge, Business, Biology, Chemistry, Cricket, Cooking, Dogs, English history, Fashion, Films, Farming, Football, General knowledge, Geography, Gardening, Good housekeeping, Gramophone records, History, Horse racing, Law (Criminal), Literature, London, Motoring, Music, Music hall, Meteorology, Navy, Opera, Painting, RAF, Shakespeare, Theatre, Tennis, Vocabulary, World religions, Zoology. | Astronomy, Architecture, Athletics, Army, Ballet, Bridge, Business, Biology, Chemistry, Cricket, Cooking, Dogs, English history, Fashion, Films, Farming, Football, General knowledge, Geography, Gardening, Good housekeeping, Gramophone records, History, Horse racing, Law (Criminal), Literature, London, Motoring, Music, Music hall, Meteorology, Navy, Opera, Painting, RAF, Shakespeare, Theatre, Tennis, Vocabulary, World religions, Zoology. | ||
Revision as of 10:17, 16 August 2007
Contents |
Host
Co-hosts
Organist: Alec Leader (1955-6), Robin Richmond, Jackie Brown
Hostesses included: Monica Rose, Alice Earrey (both former contestants), Nancy Roberts, Valerie Drew, Julie De Marco, Jean Clarke, "Sabrina" (Norma Sykes), Ann Anderson
Broadcast
Arlington Television & Radio Ltd. for Associated-Rediffusion / ITV, 26 September 1955 to 22 July 1968
Synopsis
Monday night quiz, based on Green's popular Radio Luxembourg format. Contestants were given a free choice from different categories of questions which were the same for each series but evolved in variety and number (anything from 42 to 92) over time. For the first correct answer they won £1, and thereafter the could double their money with further correct answers up to a maximum of £32. A wrong answer would mean they lose everything. The most successful contestants came back to play for the Treasure Trail of up to £1000.
As Max Bygraves would say, biiiig monnnney!The first contestant to enter the Treasure Trail was a Mr Plantagenet Somerset Fry, who became an overnight celebrity. He was a post-grad from Oxford, and had even asked a fellow student to act as "press officer", such was the media interest. However, he quit at £512, not wishing to risk it all for the £1000 jackpot. In today's money, £512 would be approximately £7,680. During his lifetime (he died in 1996), Mr Fry was a successful author of over 50 history books, the first of which was published while he was still an undergraduate. He traced his own family back to Edward III, one of the Plantagenet kings. He was also the first Editor of Books at the HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationery Office).
In 1963, a 15-year-old accounts clerk called Monica Rose appeared on the show. At the time she was working as a junior accounts clerk, and she won £8 answering questions on "Famous Women". Hughie Green took to the girl so much she was invited back as a hostess on the show the following year and his sequel show The Sky's the Limit. Another contestant, 77-year-old tea lady Alice Earrey, also became a regular.
The show was still hugely popular when it was taken off air in 1968 as a result of Associated-Rediffusion losing their franchise.
Hughie Green (left) seen with his quiz show rival Michael Miles (of Take Your Pick) on the cover of a TV listings magazineSee also
Weaver's Week - 5th April 2005
Key moments
In the first show, a rather enigmatic finance clerk working for Arsenal FC, won £32 based on his knowledge of the states of Canada.
Inventor
John Beard
Theme music
The original theme was We're in the Money by Ted Lewis.
Later series had a specially-composed theme which went:
- Double Your Money and try to get rich,
- Double Your Money, without any hitch,
- Double Your Money, it's your lucky day,
- Double Your Money and take it away!
Trivia
Like Michael Miles, Green brought his quiz to ITV from Radio Luxembourg.
The first £1000 winner was a young student from Pakistan called Robin Burke. She reached the jackpot by answering questions on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Bobby Charlton won £1,000 on the programme, answering questions on Pop Music.
In 1962, a special one-off edition of the programme re-titled Double Your Yen took Hughie Green to Tokyo to put questions to Japanese contestants.
Here are 48 subjects displayed on a board at the start of one show. We believe this to be a full list, but there may be errors in transcription: Astronomy, Architecture, Athletics, Army, Ballet, Bridge, Business, Biology, Chemistry, Cricket, Cooking, Dogs, English history, Fashion, Films, Farming, Football, General knowledge, Geography, Gardening, Good housekeeping, Gramophone records, History, Horse racing, Law (Criminal), Literature, London, Motoring, Music, Music hall, Meteorology, Navy, Opera, Painting, RAF, Shakespeare, Theatre, Tennis, Vocabulary, World religions, Zoology.
Merchandise
A board game was produced.
The DYM board game
Web links
Jez Rogers' site contains a short video clip of the very first edition.
Pictures
Picture 1 - Host, Hughie Green.
Picture 2 - Green and contestant stand in front of the categories board.