There were so many quiz shows back in the 80s that I absolutely loved watching. They were a big part of my TV schedule when I was younger. Particularly the list below, but also loads more. Sadly most of them had to come to an end sooner or later. So when the show ends, how can we relive the excitement, drama and fun of this genre of TV programme? Read on…

Big shout out to the website Board Game Geek where I found links to a lot of the board games mentioned here.

Bullseye
A great show, made even greater by the hilarious Jim Bowen. Working class people playing under extreme pressure, often falling to bits under the studio lights as their darts partner looks on in agony. Great TV. One of the bits of the show I really loved though was the animated Bully appearing on screen going ‘Moooooo’. So many catchphrases. “Look at what you could have won”. “Super, smashing, great”. “Stay out of the black and in the red, there’s nothing in this game for two in a bed.”

There was a board game, which has had two editions released, that had a velcro darts board to play along with. I need to get a copy of that to play with the kids.

And this website has several versions of Bullseye games listed. I have put far too much money into the pub video game version over the years. It’s just too much fun.

Island Wall entertainment have also made an app version that you can find here.

I also once got a PC CD-Rom game as well, which I accidentally bought thinking it was a DVD of the show, but I’ve never been able to play it as I’m a Mac owner!

A Question of Sport
Just hearing this theme tune reminds me of arriving home from school rugby training and watching this with my family, guessing ‘What happened next’ and laughing along at Willie Carson or Emlyn Hughes. A classic British show and one that is still going strong today.

This board game was an ever-present item in the Argos catalogues, but I’ve actually only played it once. Playing the 80s board game today would be a fascinating snapshot into the sporting trivia of the time. I’m guessing they may have released update question packs over the years like Trivial Pursuit.

You can view the board game here and read some more information about it here.

I’ve just discovered there was also an arcade game. Never heard of this one before but you can see a short clip here.

Blankety Blank
Another classic British show. Hosted by the late greats, Terry Wogan and Les Dawson. It makes me think of thin microphones, Kenny Everett causing trouble, the Blankety Blank cheque book and pen, and an incredibly catchy four note theme tune.

There was a board game made by MB and I can imagine that the game would be just as much fun to play today and it’s probably great fun for drunken parties. Must try that sometime.

There was also an interactive DVD game that you can buy on Amazon.

Countdown
Still going strong to this day. A mainstay of retired pensioners and students alike. This was a show that would always lend itself to game form very well in my opinion. Simple English and Maths puzzles.

There have been a few versions of the board game but I think the most popular or most common was this one. It’s such a simple premise for a game so it’s no wonder the concept was used several times in different formats.

There’s also a smartphone app that you can download here from the ITV website.

Jeopardy!
The remaining shows on this list all originated in the US. Most of them were remade for UK audiences, but Jeopardy was one that wasn’t. It wasn’t even aired in the UK. But even though it was only shown in the US it still permeated popular culture in the UK by appearing in, and being referenced in, a ton of movies and TV shows in the 80s and 90s. I think most people in the UK totally get the ‘What is’ and ‘Who is’ nature of the answers. There are several versions of Jeopardy! board games you can buy (including a Simpsons version) and to play an online version of the Jeopardy! game see bgo’s slot game based on the gameshow. With 5 reels and the Jeopardy! Board Bonus, you’ll find plenty of familiar faces.

The Price is Right
I can still remember when The Price Is Right first aired. It was billed as this big new American game show format. And boy was it that. We hadn’t seen anything like it. Audience members screaming and waving their hands in the air as they’re told to ‘Come on down!’. Great stuff, and a very fun show as well.

There have apparently been seven different versions of the Price is Right board game, so it’s obviously a popular one. I’d be interested to see if they are just based around the guessing of the prices of objects and also how many sub games they have.

Blockbusters
I always felt Blockbusters was a bit unfair. You had one person on their own, facing up against a team of two. How did that work?! Did the people on their own think they were super smart or did they just have no friends? I think the due had to answer one more question so perhaps that evened it out. Obviously everybody would ask, “Can I have a P please Bob?”. And one of the most bizarre urban myths of recent years was that the host, Bob Holness, had played the saxophone solo on the song Baker Street. Apparently it was just a spoof article in the NME.

This quiz show is perfect fodder for a board game. General knowledge quiz questions and a very simple board game structure. In fact the board game version is probably just as exciting as the TV show, as there’s nothing really else that you need.

There’s also a great Blockbusters smartphone app available from Island Wall again.

Family Fortunes
This is called Family Feud in the US but it’s one of our oldest game shows in the UK, starting in 1980 and having 5 hosts in total (including the rebooted version with Vernon Kay). The mistake sound when the big ‘X’ appears on screen, and the catchphrase “Our survey says…!” are engrained into the psyche of most Brits.

This one is very much going strong at the moment with a board game of the All Star Family Fortunes which is currently on TV but there was also a classic, retro version made by Drummond Park. And one version of it even comes with a buzzer to make the ‘X’ noise!

Catchphrase
This one did start in the US but wasn’t hugely successful, unlike its UK counterpart. This was one of my favourites. Roy Walker was so chilled and some of the animations were hilarious. We all remember this one right? Obviously Catchphrase had to have a catchphrase of its own. “It’s good, but it’s not right”. “Just say what you see”.

I don’t know if there was a board game version back in the 80s but there’s certainly a new version to go along with the new version of the TV show.

Fusebox Games have an app version of Catchphrase that you can download, complete with the awesome noise when you buzz in.

Wheel of Fortune
A classic American show which had a good stint on ITV over here. Hosted by the Scottish duo of Nicky Campbell with the help of Carol Smillie it was a fun show. I imagine it does make for a very good board game, complete with working wheel. Exciting stuff.

There have been several versions of the board game over the years but they all involve a wheel and lots of excitement.

The above are all just such classic game shows. I’ve even recreated a few of them myself, including Family Fortunes, Countdown, Blockbusters and Catchphrase, in Flash (back before Apple effectively killed Flash) for game nights at work etc. Great fun for all the family. So check out any of the above if you want to either relive some old memories or create new ones with your friends or families.

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