National Lottery shows
Contents |
Host
"Voice of the balls": Alan Dedicoat
Broadcast
BBC1, 1994 to 2016
BBC iPlayer, 2017
Official website, 2017 to present
Synopsis
Hard to imagine now, but when the National Lottery launched in 1994, it was just about the most exciting thing ever. Of course its appeal waned somewhat once we all realised we were never going to win the thing. Anyway, being stuck with it, the BBC has deigned to build a few game show formats around the draws, which is nice - or would be, if they were any good. Here they are, in chronological order, and if you click on the links you can read all about them.
- The National Lottery Live (1994)
- The National Lottery Big Ticket (1998)
- We've Got Your Number (1999)
- Winning Lines (1999-2004)
- The Third Degree (midweek, 1999-2000)
- Red Alert (1999-2000)
- On the Spot (2000)
- Jet Set (2001-7)
- In It to Win It (2002-16)
- Wright Around the World (2003-5)
- Come and Have a Go (2004-5)
- Millionaire Manor (2005-6)
- Everyone's a Winner (2006, one off)
- 1 vs 100 (2006-9)
- People's Quiz (2007)
- The National Lottery Big 7 (annual specials, 2007-9)
- Who Dares Wins (2007-)
- This Time Tomorrow (2008)
- Guesstimation (2009)
- Secret Fortune (2011-2)
- Break the Safe (2013-4)
- Win Your Wish List (2014-6)
- 5-Star Family Reunion (2015-6)
There was also an unofficial lottery-related show on ITV:
- The Big Call (2005)
Trivia
Among the gameshow celebrities who've presented non-gameshow lottery formats are Anthea Turner, the great Bob Monkhouse ("I know I'm a sinner, but make me a WINNER!") and Ulrika Jonsson. Shauna Lowry and Claudia Winkleman have both hosted the midweek show. For a while Carol Vorderman was a regular on the main Saturday night show, giving advice on mathematical strategies for winning, none of which were any of use at all as it's a lottery, for crying out loud. You'd think she might have noticed that.
A show ran on Wednesdays, showing that night's draw, from the draw's launch in 1997 until 2013. Some of the midweek draws were enhanced by extra rounds of Jet Set and Winning Lines.
The Saturday show left BBC One at the end of 2016, and now goes out through the BBC's "iPlayer" internet service.
