Catchphrase is a British game show based on guessing well known phrases based on visual clues.
Format
Main game
In the main game, at the start of each standard round, one contestant stopped a randomiser consisting of money amounts by hitting their button. The value landed on would be the amount for the normal catchphrases in that round. At first, the minimum value for the first two rounds was £10 and £20 in each round thereafter. After the second episode, the minimum value reduced to £5 until 1994. The maximum value started at £50 in round one and increased £50 for each round thereafter. During the first five series, the maximum value remained at £150 from round three onward. In series 10, the values were £35 to £75 in the first round and £35 to £100 in round two. From series 11 to 13, the values were £50 to £100 in round one and £60 to £125 in round two.
In the Nick Weir series, there was no money randomiser; the cash prize was set as default to £100 in round 1 and £150 in round 2. In Weir's third and final series, the round 2 amount for a normal catchphrase was doubled to £200, and for the final series with Mark Curry, these were replaced with the corresponding points values.
The cash prizes of £100 and £200 respectively for the two standard rounds were retained for the revived Mulhern series in 2013. A third round was played in the celebrity special, where the cash prizes were worth £300.
Qualifying round
For the revived 2013 series, three contestants start the game instead of two. An extra round was therefore added in which the three contestants compete to guess catchphrases on the screen. The first two contestants to correctly guess three catchphrases would advance to the main game. This round is not used in the celebrity specials. In the first three revival series, contestants were frozen out or not frozen out if they gave an incorrect catchphrase.
Normal Catchphrase
For the first round, the computer would slowly draw a catchphrase on the screen accompanied by background music (the 2013 series uses CGI computer animation). When most of the catchphrase had been revealed, a bell would sound and the contestants could then buzz in and try to guess the answer. If the player that buzzed in guessed incorrectly, the other player would be offered the chance to guess. If a player guessed correctly, he/she would win the predetermined amount and then have a chance to solve the bonus catchphrase.
When Nick Weir took over as host in 2000, not only would contestants win the money allocated but they would also win spot prizes if a sound was played after the contestant guessed a catchphrase correctly. During the 2001 series, this new feature was changed, with the (now different) sound to indicate a spot prize could be won being played before the catchphrase was shown, this was carried over into the revived Mulhern series. In Weir's last series, the spot prizes were removed and instead, one catchphrase in the first half of the game was also worth a 'Travel Bonus' prize, which was generally a weekend/short break away in a European city. If one player got a normal catchphrase wrong and the other player incorrectly guesses the same catchphrase, the game would just continue with neither player getting the predetermined amount of money or a chance at solving the bonus catchphrase. There was no bell used for the first half of the game for the Weir/Curry/Mulhern era.
Bonus Catchphrase
A correct answer won the contestant the predetermined money amount, plus a chance to solve the bonus catchphrase, which was hidden behind nine squares with the show's logo on each (or random shapes in the Nick Weir/Mark Curry era). The contestant chose a square by hitting their buzzer to stop a randomiser on one of them. That square was then removed, and the contestant had five seconds to come up with an answer. If they were right, they won the amount of money in the bonus bank.
In series 1, the bonus bank would start at £100 and increase by £100 each round for the first two episodes and for the rest of that series, it would start at £50 and increase by £50 each round. However, in series 2, the bonus bank increased with each regular round, not counting the Ready Money Round. This format carried on from series 2 until series 9. In series 10 (the first Carlton series), it would start at £150 and increase by £50 each round, but £10 would be deducted for each square removed. From series 11 until series 15, it would start at £200 and increase by £50 each round, again with £10 deducted for each square removed but in series 16 (Nick Weir's third and final series), the bonus bank still started at £200 in round 1 and £400 in round 2. In rounds 1 and 2, it would still eliminate £10 for every random shape removed (Mark Curry's round 2 would deduct by 20 points on the 400 points bonus). In rounds three and four, the bank would start at £1,000 and reduce by £100 increments. For the final series (with Mark Curry), the pound values were replaced with corresponding point values.
Depending on how long it took to solve the bonus catchphrase, another game would be played with a higher possible amount in the randomiser and a larger amount in the bonus bank.
In the revived 2013 series, the bonus catchphrase is set at £500 for round 1 and £1,000 for round 2, but does not reduce when a square is removed (just like in the TVS years). If the end of round klaxon sounds and the bonus catchphrase had yet to be solved, the panels would be gradually removed until a player buzzed in with an answer. If neither player guessed correctly, a normal catchphrase would determine who won the bonus bank money. On the celebrity specials, a third bonus catchphrase earned £1,500.
Ready Money/Countdown/Quickfire Round
From series 2, (the Roy Walker era) a new feature which was not seen in the US version, the "Ready Money Round", was introduced. This round followed a similar structure to a standard round, except that all catchphrases were worth a fixed amount of money (originally £50) and there was no bell, so the contestants could buzz in and answer them whenever they wished and as many times until the puzzle is solved or time runs out. In the TVS series from 1986 to 1994, this round was played only after the second normal round, subsequent rounds being played as standard with the bell and money randomiser. In the Carlton series from 1994 to 1999, however, all of the rounds in part two (up until the end of round klaxon) were Ready Money rounds. The amount for a normal catchphrase in the first Ready Money round increased to £100 for series 11 and £125 for series 12–13. From series 11–13, each catchphrase would be worth £150 in the second Ready Money round. As with the first half of the game, if the end of round klaxon sounds and the bonus catchphrase had yet to be solved, the panels would be gradually removed until a player buzzed in with an answer. If neither player guessed correctly, a normal catchphrase would determine who won the bonus bank money.
In 2000, when Nick Weir took over as host, this round was replaced by the "Cash Countdown", in which the amount for each normal catchphrase started at £250 before quickly counting down £1 every 0.08 seconds that passed. The quicker the contestants could answer, the more money they would win. In 2001, the starting value was increased to £500 minus £1 for every 0.04 seconds that passed (£25 per second).
This round was retained in the Mark Curry series, but renamed the "Catchphrase Countdown" due to the show having abandoned pounds in favour of points.
The Mulhern series adopts a similar format to the "Ready Money Round", renaming it as the "Quickfire Round". All catchphrases in this round are worth £500, but no bonus catchphrase is played in this part of the game. The round instead ends straightaway upon the sounding of the time out klaxon. This was not played for money, and was only played on civilian episodes, the last of which aired in 2019. In celebrity episodes, the first round is a normal round, played for money (to give to a charity), and with a bonus catchphrase.
The player with the most money won the game and played the Super Catchphrase. Both players kept their money. In the Curry series, the player with the most points won £250 but the player who didn't win was given a consolation prize, usually a digital camera.
Super Catchphrase
In the Super Catchphrase, the winning contestant faced a 5 × 5 board of 25 squares, each marked with a letter from A to Y in ascending order. The contestant chose a square and attempted to solve a catchphrase behind it. During the Roy Walker era, the aim was to get five squares in 60 seconds.
In the TVS years, if the contestant got five squares in such a way that they made a row or column (horizontally or vertically) on the board, they would win a prize such as a TV or a microwave oven. However, if they could make a row, column or diagonal through the central "M" square (which Walker often claimed was the most difficult), they would win a holiday somewhere in the world. If they ran out of time, they won a smaller prize (such as £25 in series 1 and from series 2 until 9, a camera or a food processor) for each correct square. However, from series 5 until 9, four or more correct answers awarded a more valuable consolation prize.
When Carlton picked up the show in 1994, the top prize remained a holiday, but the lesser prizes were replaced by cash. Each correct square was worth £50, while any five at random that did not make a row, column or diagonal through the "M" square earned a bonus £50. In late 1997 (series 12), the amount for a correct square was doubled to £100 and the bonus was also doubled to £100. In late 1998, the bonus was increased again to £500. In series 10, the star prize was always a 21-day holiday for two around the world, flying to eight different locations. From series 11 onward, the star prize holiday was chosen by one of the contestants at random, using a similar style to the random money selector at the start of each game.
When Nick Weir took over as host in 2000, the format of the Super Catchphrase changed considerably. Now, in a similar fashion as on Blockbusters, the contestant had to make their way from the left-hand side of the board to the right (in a horizontal line), making adjoining moves and passing on a square meant that they would be blocked and would have to find an alternative path (excluding diagonals). This format was also used in the Mark Curry series. As before, the top prize was a holiday. In Weir's first series in 2000, the holiday randomiser remained, but from series 15 (2001), this was dropped and instead both contestants each nominated a location of their choice to go to if they won, revealed at the beginning of the show. In the Curry daytime series in 2002, this feature was still included but the choice was limited to within Europe, and these choices were revealed before the second round of the main game. Each square was worth £100 if the contestant was not successful in getting all the way across the board.
In series 10 until 14, a contestant who won the holiday was given extra money to spend, in series 10, it was £1,000, in series 11, it was £2,000, from series 12 to 14, it was £3,000.
In the Stephen Mulhern era, there are 15 numbered squares in the form of a pyramid (with 15 at the top) with each row, starting at the bottom, being worth a higher amount of money (£2,500/£5,000/£10,000/£25,000/£50,000). The bottom level contains the first five squares, the second contains four, and so on. Number 11 in the middle is starred and correctly answering it awards a bonus prize, which is usually a luxury holiday. (In the celebrity specials, correctly answering this catchphrase doubles the amount of money won by the other two celebrities for their chosen charities.) Starting from the bottom level, the winning player has 60 seconds to reach the highest level possible. Each square still contains a catchphrase; answering a catchphrase in a level correctly clears that level and allows the player to move to the next level. At the end of the round, the player receives the prize money of the level they have last cleared, plus the bonus prize (if Square 11 is cleared), along with their main game winnings.
Mr. Chips
The series' original mascot is a golden robot called "Mr. Chips". The figure often appeared in the animations for the catchphrases. Mr. Chips was originally depicted as being quite tall, but as the series progressed, he became a smaller figure. Variations of the mascot sometimes appeared in the animations, such as Mr. Chips with a lemon for a head (for the catchphrase "Lemonheads" on the episode broadcast 2 December 1994). During the closing credits, from 1995–96 (Series 11) until 2001 (Series 15), Mr. Chips was also seen doing things such as climbing a ladder, or comical things.
Throughout Nick Weir's series of Catchphrase, Mr. Chips was not featured in any of the Catchphrases. Instead, the "Catchphrase Family", a family of a father, mother, son and two other men appeared. These characters were also featured in the opening sequence, showing the family trying to 'catch' the 'letters' of the word "Catchphrase", the family themselves turning into the letters of "Catch" at the end of the opening sequence. This family were not as popular as Mr. Chips, but despite this, the family appeared until the series finished in 2002.
Despite Mr. Chips not appearing in any of the catchphrases throughout Nick Weir's series, he did however, appear in the closing credits throughout Weir's first two series, and also in the graphics for the holiday prize, the spot prize (in the 14th series) and Cash Countdown throughout Weir's first series as host.
Mr. Chips returned to appearing in the Catchphrases again throughout Mark Curry's series in 2002, alongside the family, and he was also brought back for the current revival series, this time with 3D CGI animation.
Notable moments
"Blue Heaven"/"Columbo" (1980s)
In one episode from the 1980s, Roy Walker accidentally said the wrong answer for a catchphrase, to which the correct answer was "Blue Heaven". Walker instead said that the answer was "Columbo", much to the surprise of the contestants and the production team.
"Snake charmer" (1994)
One of the most famous moments in the show's history included a ready money bonus catchphrase where the answer to the puzzle was "Snake charmer". However, the puzzle was uncovered in such a way which caused the audience, the contestants and host Roy Walker to laugh uncontrollably as the game went on as it appeared Mr. Chips and the snake were doing something sexual. Originally broadcast on 30 December 1994 as the ninth episode of series ten (production episode was listed as the fifth episode), this episode is sometimes broadcast by the digital channel Challenge (albeit with modified animation, much like what was originally broadcast on ITV), and it has appeared on many "out-take" or "blooper" shows, such as It'll Be Alright on the Night (the episode titled Alright on the Night's Cockup Trip, first aired on 12 October 1996).
"Frost bite" (1998)
On the episode first broadcast on 12 November 1998 as the first episode of series 13, a Ready Money bonus catchphrase was shown to which the answer was "Frost bite". It depicted Jack Frost biting a plank of wood. After four squares were removed by his opponent Cathryn, contestant Daniel gained access to the bonus board after having answered a regular catchphrase correctly. However, he did not know the answer, and the fact that the image was constantly getting larger and smaller made him give the answer "Throbbing ice", to which Roy, Cathryn and the audience broke out into laughter. He gained access to the Bonus Catchphrase again after each subsequent catchphrase in the round. His second answer was "Pool of ice water", and by the third time he gained access the catchphrase had become a running joke, with Roy Walker jokingly saying "Throb it to me!" as a square was revealed. Very obviously panicking, Daniel answered "Ice spider monkey", and later "Drawbridge" (which he said he got to "via the monkey"), before giving a final answer of "Melted ice".
"Booby trap" (1999)
Another rather risque catchphrase was shown on the seventh episode of the thirteenth series, which originally aired on 30 January 1999. Once again a Bonus Catchphrase, it depicted a bear trap biting at a woman's breasts. As soon as a square was removed that revealed part of the aforementioned breasts, the audience broke out into laughter. The contestant (June) answered "Brace yourself" after the square was removed, with Roy quipping "Is that me or the catchphrase?!". June's opponent, John, later answered "Bra strap" and "Heaving bosom", also causing the audience and Walker to break into laughter. The answer was "Booby trap".
Nick Weir's on-set injury (2000)
When Nick Weir made his debut on Catchphrase, replacing Roy Walker after 14 years and 13 series, he made his entrance down the stair of the new set, however he tripped and fell down. Weir initially claimed that he was "all right", however he had actually broken his leg. As a result of this, he had to be admitted to hospital and fitted with a cast and crutches, and so the rest of the episode's filming was postponed to the next day, when he rectified his previous statement that he was fine. This episode was actually broadcast eleventh, with this and the next five episodes to be taped featuring him wearing a cast and crutches on-set. Thus, to improve his first impressions among people, the seventh episode to be taped was aired first, this being the first episode to feature him not in a cast or using crutches.
Nick Weir's entrance gimmicks (2002-04)
Throughout series 16, all episodes but the second featured some sort of gimmick or joke in Weir's entrance and/or introduction; for example episode 1, which featured him enter the studio on a child's bicycle, episode 3 when he was accompanied by cheerleaders chanting "N-I-C-K, Nick!", and episode 4, which started with the audience booing him, before Weir clicks his fingers and the audience is replaced by a more supportive one.
"Dicing with death" (2014)
On the 2014 Mother's Day celebrity special, one of the Bonus Catchphrases was "Dicing with death". The first piece revealed was of a hand moving up and down in a rapid motion near the person's waist, making it look like the person may have been pleasuring himself. Like the aforementioned "Snake charmer" incident, this caused the entire studio to break out in laughter as the picture was revealed in a similar manner.