Finders Keepers (2)
Contents |
Host
Neil Buchanan (1991-6)
Jeff Brazier (2006)
Co-hosts
Diane Youdale (1996)
Jeremy Stockwell (Voiceover, 1991-6)
Broadcast
TVS for ITV, 12 April 1991 to 1 April 1992 (26 episodes in 2 series)
Scottish TV for ITV, 23 March 1993 to 6 August 1996
The Foundation for CITV, 6 January to April 2006 (14 episodes in 1 series)
Synopsis
"Whose house is it?"
"Scottish Television's House!"
...is what children didn't cry during the ultimate kids fantasy gameshow.
In the studio is a huge house, and hidden inside each of the rooms is an object. Two teams of kids have to find the objects causing as much mess as possible whilst machines blow around lots of paper and fake snow and stuff. A memorable recurring object from the show is the big blue arrow that was shown on the screens to the audience to indicate the location of the item to be found.
In early series kids use to have to play for rooms by playing a memory game. For the final series of the original run, (when Diane Youdale was co-host) the kids had to find things in 'The Garage' first, which involved wading through a thick pool of "motor oil" to find mechanics' tools to match up on the wall. (The 2006 revival has reverted back to the original game.)
The team that did the best went through to the Supersearch, a sort of Treasure Hunt throughout the eight rooms in the house and if they can find all eight objects within four minutes they usually win a trip to Alton Towers or something. If not, at least the losers go home with a Finders Keepers Goodie Paaaaaack!
Catchphrases
"It could be anywhere!" (Obvious statement, really.)
"Let's raid the room!" - 1991 to 1998
Host: "Whose house is it?"
Audience: "Our House!"
Host: "What time is it?" Audience: "Room-raiding time!"
Announcer: "And here is the owner of the Finders Keepers house...Neil Buchanan!"
Trivia
Production got picked up by Scottish TV after TVS lost its franchise at the end of 1992.
The 2006 revival not only didn't last, but was moved around everywhere. At first, it started at a simple 4:30pm Friday slot on ITV1, but before long was moved to Saturday Showdown, a show where somehow Jeff Brazier got to appear every week as 'special guest'. Then after just a few episodes, it got moved to the digital graveyard of the CITV Channel, before finally disappearing altogether.
Merchandise
A board game was produced.
Inventor
Based on the US Nickelodeon show of the same name.
Theme music
Composed by Simon Etchell.
2006 version: Mr Miller and Mr Porter.
