Memory Bank
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Three players take part in the studio game, and if any contestant gets their question wrong, the question is passed on to the next player. Should the second player also err, then the answer is revealed, the third player doesn't get a chance to play. Where there are two contestants of similar strength, the one sat on the left of the pair will win; there seems to be an advantage to sitting in the third seat, as scores in the opening round seem to be lower than elsewhere in the show. | Three players take part in the studio game, and if any contestant gets their question wrong, the question is passed on to the next player. Should the second player also err, then the answer is revealed, the third player doesn't get a chance to play. Where there are two contestants of similar strength, the one sat on the left of the pair will win; there seems to be an advantage to sitting in the third seat, as scores in the opening round seem to be lower than elsewhere in the show. | ||
| - | All rounds are played on a grid of 16 squares, and in this round the first fifteen are filled with similar pictures. We've had simple faces and national flags, amongst others. Twenty seconds to remember what you see, then the sixteenth square is filled by one of the other pictures. In turn, the contestants have to pair the squares. The final contestant has to describe the last shape to win their points - this question can't be passed on. | + | All rounds are played on a grid of 16 squares, and in this round the first fifteen are filled with similar pictures. We've had simple faces and national flags, amongst others. (Probably the hardest to remember were Roman numerals, the easiest tended to be road signs). Twenty seconds to remember what you see, then the sixteenth square is filled by one of the other pictures. In turn, the contestants have to pair the squares. The final contestant has to describe the last shape to win their points - this question can't be passed on. |
After that, a reminder of the Stunningly Easy Phone In Question. | After that, a reminder of the Stunningly Easy Phone In Question. | ||
Revision as of 21:54, 11 August 2006
Synopsis
Like its stablemate Brainteaser, Memory Bank is broadcast live, and pays its way by inviting viewers to call in and answer a screamingly easy observation question.
Three players take part in the studio game, and if any contestant gets their question wrong, the question is passed on to the next player. Should the second player also err, then the answer is revealed, the third player doesn't get a chance to play. Where there are two contestants of similar strength, the one sat on the left of the pair will win; there seems to be an advantage to sitting in the third seat, as scores in the opening round seem to be lower than elsewhere in the show.
All rounds are played on a grid of 16 squares, and in this round the first fifteen are filled with similar pictures. We've had simple faces and national flags, amongst others. (Probably the hardest to remember were Roman numerals, the easiest tended to be road signs). Twenty seconds to remember what you see, then the sixteenth square is filled by one of the other pictures. In turn, the contestants have to pair the squares. The final contestant has to describe the last shape to win their points - this question can't be passed on.
After that, a reminder of the Stunningly Easy Phone In Question.
Round two sees sixteen answers put up on the grid, and the host reads out the questions. The contestant gives the number, and if the answer is the one they're looking for, points are awarded. This round could almost be played with pictures.
For those who missed it, the first Stunningly Easy Phone In Question gets answered, only to be replaced by a Second Stunningly Easy Phone In Question For Double The Money. Then there's a commercial break. And another chance to see the SSEPIQFDTM.
The third round is exactly the same as the second, except it's with different answers and questions. As the show is live, if time is not on the contestants' side, this round can be curtailed early. Indeed, as the show is live, fluffs between the host (such as when they read out the answer to the question) and contestant aren't edited out.
These last two rounds suffer from a Really Silly Buzzer Finale: the contestants compete on the buzzer to name the last square, but have to wait until the host gives them permission to buzz, making it as much a test of reaction as memory.
The highest score after these three rounds goes through to the finale, but first has to sit through yet another chance to see the Second Stunningly Easy Phone In Question For Double The Money.
The grand final sees twenty words appear on screen, one each second. The host then witters on at the competitor, explaining what will happen. They'll have 45 seconds to remember as many words as possible: £50 for the first ten, £100 for the next five, £200 for the last five, so a potential jackpot of £2000.
Memory Bank briefly expanded to a one-hour format, involving further rounds along the same lines. The show aired for the last time on 1 October 2004.
