Your Top 10 Quiz/Puzzle Show Formats

[Philip A]

What are your top 10 TV game shows involving puzzles OR general knowledge questions? You can have currently-running or no-longer-running shows, either separately or mixed into one list.

Quiz shows intermingled with either a sport or arcade machine, I’ll allow, so Bullseye and Tipping Point are eligible.

No talent shows or any kind, so no Bakeoff, no BGT.
No reality formats, so no Big Brother, no Traitors.
No physical or sports shows, so no Gladiators, no Robot Wars. I’ll allow Crystal Maze as there were puzzles in it, and I will also allow Krypton Factor.
No panel shows, so no Have I Got News For You, no Taskmaster.
No variety shows, so no Saturday Night Takeaway, no Big Show.
No games purely of chance or estimation, so no Play Your Cards Right, no Deal Or No Deal.

My Current Top 10:
1. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
2. The 1% Club
3. University Challenge
4. The Chase
5. Only Connect
6. Mastermind
7. Richard Osman’s House of Games
8. Countdown
9. Beat The Chasers
10.Pointless

Honourable mentions: Bridge of Lies, The Finish Line, The Wheel.

My All-time Top 10:
1. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
2. Bullseye
3. The 1% Club
4. University Challenge
5. Catchphrase
6. Blockbusters
7. Fifteen-to-One
8. The Krypton Factor
9. Only Connect
10.The Weakest Link

Honourable mentions: Mastermind, Countdown, A Question of Sport

Hall of shame: Shafted, Distraction, Cheat

[Ben Wilson]

1. House of Games
2. Blockbusters
3. Countdown
4. Bullseye
5. Fifteen-to-One
6. Going for Gold
7. Pointless
8. Crystal Maze
9. Every Second Counts
10. Mastermind

Assuming they're not discounted for being too physical, I'd put The Interceptor (a brilliant ITV rip-off of Treasure Hunt that sadly only lasted for 7 episodes) 5th and Incredible Games (a CBBC version of the Crystal Maze for kids with David Walliams as a talking lift- it makes sense in context) just below Crystal Maze.

[Marc Meakin]

Good topic.
I have been watching quizzes for over 50 years so my knowledge is extensive but my lists are based on enjoyment.
10. University Challenge , though it's been dumbed down more recently (ditto Only Connect just outside the top 10 )
9. Mastermind though mainly for the general knowledge part

8.Wipeout (certain nostalgia as me and my dad watched it too )
7.The Krypton Factor (liked tge early ones with a young Steve Coogan providing the footage for the observation round )

6.Bobs Full House ( I chose this other other Monkouse helped quizzes which were always inferior after he left like Family Fortunes)
5. Blockbusters (Bob Holness years were the best )


4 The Pyramid Game ( not so much when Donny Osmond was doing it )

3.Headhunters , a combination of quizzing and personalities , it's no coincidence this has been repeated 3 times since
2019

2. FIfteen to one (William G Stewart the master )

1. The Weakest Link (great concept still flawed after the 3 player level but still)

I'm not including celebrity based ones though The Pyramid Game kinda did.

I will give my top 10 celebrity ones.

10 Blankety Blank

9.The Wheel

8.Celebrity Juice

7.Big Fat Quiz of The Year

6.They Think It's All Over

5 Never Mind The Buzzcocks

4 A league of Their Own

3 A Question of Sport

2. Pop Quiz

1.Celebeity Squuares

[David Harrison]

1. Mastermind
2. University Challenge
3. Beat The Chasers
4. The Chase
5. Countdown
6. Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
7. Pointless
8. Catch Phrase
9. Blockbusters
10.Bullseye

[Philip A]

On the subject of Bullseye, it would rank No. 1 in most British game show. Most game shows on UK TV in the 1980s came from abroad, mainly the USA. Countdown was created by a Belgian who took the idea from France. 3-2-1 was based on a Spanish format.

But Bullseye was created in Britain, and never got an American version, nor any overseas version AFAIK, making it even more British. Andrew Wood, the creator and owner of the format, spent years studying what made game shows successful. The initial format flopped but after some adjustments to the game, it became a Sunday teatime staple (later Saturday) for the next 10 years, attracting audiences up to 18 million. Wood even brought the show to an end, as ITV demanded the show to be revamped for 1996, and he wouldn’t allow it.

[Marc Meakin]

On the subject of Bullseye, it would rank No. 1 in most British game show. Most game shows on UK TV in the 1980s came from abroad, mainly the USA. Countdown was created by a Belgian who took the idea from France. 3-2-1 was based on a Spanish format.

But Bullseye was created in Britain, and never got an American version, nor any overseas version AFAIK, making it even more British. Andrew Wood, the creator and owner of the format, spent years studying what made game shows successful. The initial format flopped but after some adjustments to the game, it became a Sunday teatime staple (later Saturday) for the next 10 years, attracting audiences up to 18 million. Wood even brought the show to an end, as ITV demanded the show to be revamped for 1996, and he wouldn’t allow it.

The best thing about Bullseye is that even the the third place couple/pairing could win the jackpot.
If the winning pair won lots of prizes on the prize board
I think it happened at least twice.
It was both amateurish and brilliant in equal measures.
I'm looking forward to its return .
I wonder who will take over scoring duties.....Kirk maybe?

Maybe Big Break might get a revival too

[Philip A]

On the subject of Bullseye, it would rank No. 1 in most British game show. Most game shows on UK TV in the 1980s came from abroad, mainly the USA. Countdown was created by a Belgian who took the idea from France. 3-2-1 was based on a Spanish format.

But Bullseye was created in Britain, and never got an American version, nor any overseas version AFAIK, making it even more British. Andrew Wood, the creator and owner of the format, spent years studying what made game shows successful. The initial format flopped but after some adjustments to the game, it became a Sunday teatime staple (later Saturday) for the next 10 years, attracting audiences up to 18 million. Wood even brought the show to an end, as ITV demanded the show to be revamped for 1996, and he wouldn’t allow it.

The best thing about Bullseye is that even the the third place couple/pairing could win the jackpot.
If the winning pair won lots of prizes on the prize board
I think it happened at least twice.
It was both amateurish and brilliant in equal measures.
I'm looking forward to its return .
I wonder who will take over scoring duties.....Kirk maybe?

Maybe Big Break might get a revival too

The referee for the upcoming Xmas edition of Bullseye with Freddie Flintoff will be Richard Ashdown, who previously did Alan Carr’s version.

[Marc Meakin]

I don't think I've seen Alan Carrs version , I assume it was a one off ?
Edit: just checked the wiki and there were 3 episodes and a celebrity special az part of Alan Carrs Epic Gameshow.
I will have to check ITVX

[Jojo Apollo]

1. Bullseye
2. The Crystal Maze
3. Going For Gold
4. 3-2-1
5. Eggheads
6. 100%
7. Fifteen to One
8. Countdown
9. Jeopardy
10. Turnabout