Distraction (game show)

Last updated

Distraction
Created byDavid Taylor
Written by
Presented by Jimmy Carr
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes16
Production
Running time30 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production company Talkback
Original release
Network Channel 4
Release31 October 2003 (2003-10-31) 
11 June 2004 (2004-06-11)

Distraction is a game show that aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom from 31 October 2003 to 11 June 2004. Presented by comedian Jimmy Carr, the show involved contestants answering questions while being distracted in various bizarre, painful and humiliating ways.

Contents

Carr was aided by "distractors", who as the name suggests, attempted to distract the contestants painfully or emotionally. Examples include losing contestants, nudists, creepy carny guys, tattoo/piercing experts, wrestlers, midgets, Roller Derby girls, professional athletes, paintball players, and a large bouncer-type male nicknamed "Tiny". Occasionally, a number of female assistants helped with some of the distractions; depending on the stunt being played, they could be referred to as "Jimmy's interns", "farmer girls", "schoolgirls" or "ammo ladies."

A quiz book, featuring most of the distractions seen on the show, was released by Carlton Books in late 2004.

Gameplay

Four contestants, usually two women and two men, compete through three rounds in each episode. Before the first round, they learn about each other's embarrassing moments, unique hobbies, strange talents, or previous unflattering occupations through questions asked by Carr. Throughout the game, Carr asks relatively simple questions that the contestants must answer while enduring various uncomfortable, painful, and/or unsettling distractions. These distractions may be inflicted throughout the round, activated by a contestant in order to answer, or as the result of a right/wrong answer. At the end of each round, the contestant with the lowest score is eliminated from the game and leaves with nothing.

Typical distractions include:

The last remaining contestant wins the game, advances to the fourth and final round, and wins either a car, a set of prizes, or a cash bonus. However, they must answer several further questions to prevent the cash or prizes from being damaged or destroyed. If the prize is a car, each missed question results in a part of it being damaged by an audience member or one of the losing contestants (smashing the windscreen, dumping paint on the seats, etc.). When a group of prizes is at stake, each miss results in one of them being destroyed, such as by being blown up or hit with a wrecking ball. In the case of a cash prize, the winner must answer questions quickly enough to prevent its destruction (such as notes being burned in a line of toasters or coins thrown into a full cement mixer), or must throw some of it onto a fire for each incorrect answer. At the end of the round, the contestant takes home the car, prizes, or cash regardless of condition.

Transmissions

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
131 October 200319 December 20038
216 April 200411 June 20048

International versions

CountryNameHostChannelPremiereFinale
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Distração FatalRodrigo Faro RecordTV 20 December 2008
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada (French)DistractionPierre-Yves Lord V 2 September 2009
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Pekelná výzvaIva Pazderková Prima COOL 14 February 2013
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece DistractionIlias Psinakis and Elena Graveza Alpha TV 16 May 2006
Flag of India.svg  India V Distraction Rithvik Dhanjani Channel V February 2015
Flag of India.svg  India (Bengali)BhyabachakaBiswanath Basu
RJ Sayan
Star Jalsha 3 May 2015
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel בהפרעה
Behafraa
Ido Rosenblum Bip 2007
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Distraction Teo Mammucari
Enrico Papi
Italia 1 21 March 200626 November 2007
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania [1] StresasAndrius Rožickas TV3 2007
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Rat van FortuinRuben Nicolai Nederland 3 (BNN)15 September 200631 December 2007
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay DistracciónÁlvaro Mora Telefuturo 4 February 2009
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Distrekšn Dragan Marinković RTV Pink 21 February 2010
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Distracción fatal Anabel Alonso Antena 3 2007
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay DistracciónOrlando PetinattiSaeta TV2006
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Distraction Jimmy Carr Comedy Central 18 January 200511 April 2006

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References

  1. "Stresas (2007 m.)". TV3 Play. Retrieved 8 May 2023.