''Family Catchphrase'' was a family

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or Let's Play, demonstrative and are typically directed b ...

broadcast on The Family Channel. Presented by Andrew O'Connor, it was a spin-off of the popular UK

prime-time Prime time or the peak time is the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for a television show. It is mostly targeted towards adults (and sometimes families). It is used by the major television networks to ...

game show ''

Catchphrase A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass ...

''.

History

A one-off edition of ''Family Catchphrase'' was made by TVS in 1992 & broadcast on ITV on 1 January 1994, hosted by regular ''Catchphrase'' presenter Roy Walker, in which teams of family would play ''Catchphrase''. In early 1994, The Family Channel (now Challenge) produced a spin-off series of ''Family Catchphrase'', hosted by Andrew O'Connor. The game was played by teams of two related players (normally parent and child) and featured slightly different rules to the normal game. The teams played for points rather than pounds and the second round would feature the players taking alternative turns, rather than answering the phrases as a team. As The Family Channel was an early satellite and cable channel, prizes were not as expensive due to a smaller budget although the M Square prize wasn't revealed unless it had been won. However, it wasn't uncommon to see prizes such as a

Sega Master System The is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and ...

games console or a daytrip to

Thorpe Park Thorpe Park Resort, commonly known as Thorpe Park, is an amusement park located in the village of Thorpe between the towns of Chertsey and Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, England, southwest of Central London. It is operated by Merlin Entertai ...

given away as prizes. The graphics and music were taken from the normal version of the show.

Main game

The main gameplay was the same as the normal ''Catchphrase'', but each player played for points instead of money.

Round One

The team that won the coin toss before the show would select the point value of the catchphrases in that round (10 to 50). The computer would draw a catchphrase, a bell would ring and the team that guessed correctly would win the points.

Bonus Catchphrase

The team that guessed the catchphrase correctly would get a chance at solving the Bonus Catchphrase. The catchphrase value doubled each round (50, 100, 200 etc.). The point drop also increased in value by five each round (5, 10, 15 and so on).

Solo Shoot

The teams played as a one-on-one battle, with first the children playing and then the adults. Beforehand, one of the teams decided the point value (60 to 100). The rest of the rules were the same for that round.

Fast and Furious

Based on Roy Walker's Ready Money Round, O'Connor's version was renamed "Fast and Furious" because there was no money involved. Unlike Walker's round, the randomiser could select any amount on the screen from 110 to 150 points. There was no bell for this round.

Super Catchphrase

The final round was the same as Walker's series except the M square's prize was "a mystery prize" according to O'Connor.

Famous guests

One episode of ''Family Catchphrase'' featured a guest appearance from Steven Radosh, creator of ''Catchphrase''. Another episode featured an appearance by the then unknown comedian

Simon Amstell Simon Marc Amstell (born 29 November 1979) is a British comedian, writer and director. He wrote and directed the films '' Carnage'' (2017) and ''Benjamin'' (2018). His work on television has included presenting ''Popworld'' and ''Never Mind the ...

and his aunt as contestants. Amstell was only about 14 years old at the time.Simon Amstell on Family Catchphrase, Part 3
on YouTube.

Transmissions

100 episodes were transmitted on The Family Channel in 1994, including a Christmas special broadcast on Christmas Day 1993 and New Year's Day 1994.

References

External links

* *{{UKGameshow, Family_Catchphrase, Family Catchphrase 1990s British game shows 1993 British television series debuts 1994 British television series endings English-language television shows