The 64,000 Question
Contents |
Host
Robin Bailey (The 64,000 Challenge)
Broadcast
64,000 Question: ATV, 19th May 1956 to 18th January 1958 (80 episodes)
64,000 Challenge: ATV, 15th June 1957 to 31st August 1957 (7 episodes)
Synopsis
A phenomenally successful version of the American original, which ran live every week and helped cement the new ITV's place as Britain's favourite channel.
Contestants would choose a specialist subject, and answer questions of increasing value - a single question on their subject for 100 and 500, a two-part question for 1000 and 2000, three parts for 4000, four for 8000, five parts for 16,000, six for 32,000, and a question of no fewer than seven parts for the 64,000 top prize.
With each contestant returning on up to six shows, audience interest built to a frenzy, or the 1950s equivalent.
In summer 1957, the most successful contestants to date faced The 64,000 Challenge. Members of the public would challenge them head-to-head on their specialist subjects for cash prizes.
Inventor
Based on The $64,000 Question
Trivia
The original prize was 64,000 sixpences (£1,600), doubling late in 1956 to 64,000 shillings (£3,200).
Actor Bruce Seton, who played the title role of the 1955 ITV drama Fabian of Scotland Yard, was the "Guardian of the Questions" for the original version.
