The $64,000 Question (British game show)

The $64,000 Question is a British quiz show based on the American format of the same name. The show originally ran from 19 May 1956 to 18 January 1958 produced by ATV and was originally hosted by Jerry Desmonde, and called simply The 64,000 Question with the top prize initially being 64,000 sixpences (£1,600), later doubling to 64,000 shillings (£3,200). After a successful pilot was shot on 15 November 1989, the programme was revived from 1 June 1990 to 29 August 1993 with Bob Monkhouse as the host and a higher £6,400 top prize.

Format

Original

Jerry Desmonde was the host and former Detective Superintendent Robert Fabian was "custodian of the questions". Each contestant answered questions based on their subject of expertise. The first question earned 100 sixpences (£2/10/-), correctly answering the next question increased the player's winnings to 500 sixpences, or £12/10/-. Each of the next two questions featured two parts and answering both parts doubled the player's winnings to 1,000 sixpences (£25) and 2,000 sixpences (£50) respectively. The remaining questions featured three parts, then four parts, five parts, six parts, and the final question required at least seven parts to be answered correctly to win the top prize of 64,000 sixpences, or £1,600. In late 1956, while the values remained the same, the money increased from sixpences to shillings, for a top prize of £3,200 (64,000 shillings). £3,200 was higher, in real terms (i.e.