Family Fortunes

Last updated

Family Fortunes
Genre Game show
Based on Family Feud
by Mark Goodson
Presented by
Narrated by
Theme music composer
  • Jack Parnell and David Lindup (1980–85)
  • Mike Alexander (1987–2002)
  • Ash Alexander and Simon Darlow (2006–15)
  • Marc Sylvan (2020–)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series
  • 22 (original)
  • 2 (revival)
No. of episodes
  • 575 (original)
  • 30 (revival)
Production
Production locations
Running time
  • 30 minutes (inc. adverts, 1980–2002)
  • 60 minutes (inc. adverts, 2020–present)
Production companies
Original release
Network ITV
Release6 January 1980 (1980-01-06) –
6 December 2002 (2002-12-06)
Release20 September 2020 (2020-09-20) –
present
Related
Family Feud

Family Fortunes is a British television game show based on the American game show Family Feud . The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 6 December 2002. A celebrity version, All Star Family Fortunes , followed from 2006 to 2015. In 2020, the original version of the show returned after 17 years with Gino D'Acampo as host. [3]

Contents

The game involves two families providing answers to 'everyday questions' that were surveyed by 100 members of the British public before the show to win prizes (mainly cash). The top answers to the surveys are displayed on a large electronic board, christened by Bob Monkhouse as "Mr. Babbage".

Monkhouse was responsible for changing the name of the show to Family Fortunes as he felt that "feud" sounded too aggressive. [4]

Hosts and presentation

Family Fortunes was first hosted by comedian Bob Monkhouse (1980–83), followed by singer and entertainer Max Bygraves (1983–85). The show returned on 27 June 1987 with Les Dennis as presenter and remained on air for the next 15 years. [5] It was then moved to a daily daytime slot, hosted by Andy Collins.

The most well-known aspects of the show are the large computer screen (named "Mr Babbage" by original host Bob Monkhouse) and the famous computerised sound used when wrong answers are given. The computer screen name, "Mr Babbage", was in recognition of the English mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer Charles Babbage, who originated the concept of a programmable computer. During the Monkhouse and Bygraves era, the board was also used to show the closing credits at the end of the episode. In 1987, a completely different board was used for the first Dennis series, however a board similar to the original Mr Babbage one was used from the following year until its end in 2002. Both the All-Star and 2020 versions use a video wall for the board.

Format

Two family teams, each consisting of five members, are asked to guess the results of surveys in which 100 people would be asked open-ended questions (e.g., "We asked 100 people to name any animal that lives wild in the United Kingdom" or "We asked 100 people to name a food you smell to be sure it's fresh"). Although rarely acknowledged during the programme, the 100 people surveyed are invariably audience members who have volunteered before the show or the families themselves who would be asked questions for the next series. [6]

Each round begins with a member of each family (in rotation, meaning all players do this at least once) approaching the podium. As the question is read, the first of the two nominees to hit the buzzer gives an answer. If it is not the most popular answer, the other nominee is asked. If both nominees fail to give an answer that is on the board, the next members of each family are chosen to answer the question, starting in the same order as the first two nominees. The family with the more popular answer then chooses whether to "play" the question or "pass" control to the other family.

The host then passes down the line of the controlling team, asking for an answer from each member. After each answer, the board reveals whether it features. If not or if they can not come up with an answer in time, the family is charged with a strike (marked with an X), losing control of the board upon their third strike (officially known as striking out in the official rules) in the round. If a family manages to come up with all the answers before striking out, they win the amount in pounds of the total number of people who had given the answers.

If a family strikes out, the opponent is given the chance to "steal" by coming up with an answer that may be amongst those missing. Only the head family member (the first family member or the designated captain) may give the answer after consultation. If the answer is present, this family wins the round and is said to have "stolen" the money. Otherwise, the family that plays the board keeps the money.

On celebrity specials, each top answer adds a bonus of £200 (later £250) to that family's charity.

Double Money

Following three rounds before a commercial break (two rounds in series 1), "Double Money" is played. Gameplay is the same as in the first rounds, but each answer is now worth £2 for each person who said it, and there are generally fewer possible answers. The family who passed £300 (£200 in series 1) first goes through to play "Big Money" (known in some overseas versions as "Fast Money") for the jackpot. On the 2020 revival, the fifth and sixth questions score double points (for the sixth question, each family nominates one person to answer the question from the podium) and the losing family receives £2 per point and a "Family Fortunes buzzer" doorbell. The winning family would be guaranteed ten times their winning score.

Big Money

This involves two contestants (out of the five in the family team) answering five questions that fit with those given by the 100 people surveyed each within a narrow time limit. The first contestant answers the five questions within 15 seconds (20 in the revival). Then the second contestant (who was out of earshot) answers within 20 seconds (25 in the revival), the extra time being to allow for the likelihood of them repeating the first contestant's answer. If this happens, they are asked for another one. Each point gives the family £2 (£10 per point in the revival), up to £398 (£1,990 in the revival), and those points would be added to their earlier winnings. If they get 200 points or more from the ten answers, they then win the top cash prize.

From 1994 onwards, a bonus star prize was available for naming all five "top" (most popular) answers and scoring 200 points. The star prize couldn't be won if they failed to score at least 200 points even if all five top answers had been named.

In the 2020 revival, the top answers were not revealed until after the second contestant gave their answers and their point values were shown, an element that was previously seen in the All-Stars version of the show.

Cash and prizes

The top cash prize in "Big Money" during the first series (1980) was £1,000. From the second series (1981), the prize started at £1,000, then rose by £500 weekly if no one won, to a limit of £3,000 (£2,500 from 1981 to 1982), which it could stay at for more than one week if it still was not won. Once the prize was won, it reverted to £1,000 for the next edition. In the 1987 series, it started at £1,000 and, if not won, rose by £1,000 per week to a maximum of £3,000. From the 1988 series, the prize was fixed at £3,000. After the abolition of the IBA's prize limits, the top prize rose to £5,000 from 1996. The money had to be shared out between contestants.

The bonus star prize was always a family car between 1994 and 1998. From 1998 to 2002, contestants had the choice of either a car or a holiday for up to twelve people. The car suppliers were Honda in 1994, SEAT in 1995 and Daewoo between 1996 and 2002. On the all-star specials, 200 points along with all five top responses donated £5,000 to both teams.

During the programme's brief daytime run in 2002, the prize values were reduced significantly. If the contestants scored over 200 points, they won £1,000 and if they found five top answers, it was increased to £3,000. As with the previous prizes, the £3,000 could only be won if the family scored 200+ points.

In the 2020 revival, the top cash prize is £10,000, which would be tripled to £30,000 if one or both contestants named all of the top answers.

From the second series in 1981 onward, spot prizes were available in the main game, turning up seemingly at random when certain answers were found. These ranged from household appliances like washing machines, vacuum cleaners and toasters, to home entertainment goods such as televisions, video cassette recorders and camcorders. During the two series hosted by Bygraves, if a contestant won a music prize such as a record player, he would usually throw in one of his own LP's as a bonus. In later series, when prize limits were lifted, some of the spot prizes on offer included short weekend breaks away or shopping vouchers.

Transmissions

Original

Revival

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodesRecorded
120 September 20203 January 202110 [31] 2020
212 September 202127 December 202120 [32] 2021
23 October 202220 November 2022
16 April 202321 May 2023
323 March 2025TBA10 [33] 2025

Ratings

Series 18

All Star Family Fortunes

All Star Family Fortunes
All Star Family Fortunes.png
Genre Game show
Presented by Vernon Kay
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series11
No. of episodes126 (inc. 1 special)
Production
Production location The London Studios
Running time45 minutes (2006–2010, 2013–2014)
60 minutes (2011–2012, 2015)
Production companies Talkback Thames (2006–2011)
Thames (2012–2015)
Original release
Network ITV
Release28 October 2006 (2006-10-28) –
14 June 2015 (2015-06-14)

A celebrity revival of the show presented by Vernon Kay began airing on 28 October 2006 and ended on 14 June 2015 after its eleventh series.

Format

In this version, the game ends after four rounds (five during the hour-long series with two or three Single and two Double), ignoring the 'first to 300 points' rule that the previous incarnations employed, and the losing family receives a consolation prize of the greater of £1,000 or £10 times their score (£3 per point in series 1). Also in Big Money, the celebrity automatically plays the final, meaning that only one other member needs to be picked. If they get 200 points or more from the ten answers, they win £10,000 for their chosen charity, which would be tripled if they get all five top answers, and if they score less than 200 points, those points plus their earlier score would be multiplied by £10 (£3 per point in series 1).

Transmissions

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
128 October 200623 December 20068
227 October 20075 January 200810
313 September 200817 January 200913
420 September 200927 February 201017
511 September 201025 December 201015
620 August 201125 December 201111
711 February 201227 December 201215
86 January 20133 March 20139
929 June 20133 August 20136
1028 December 20132 March 201410
1128 December 201414 June 201511

International versions

CountryLocal nameHostNetworkAir date
Australia All Star Family Feud Grant Denyer Network Ten 2016–2018
Belgium Familieraad (2014) Chris Van den Durpel vtm 2014
Germany Familien-Duell - Prominenten-Special Daniel Hartwich RTL 2013
Ghana Family Feud Ghana Steve Harvey TV3 2020–present
Indonesia New Famili 100 Tukul Arwana Indosiar 2013
South Africa Family Feud South Africa Steve Harvey e.tv 2020–present
United States Celebrity Family Feud Al Roker NBC 2008
Steve Harvey ABC 2015–present
¿Qué dicen los famosos? Rodrigo Vidal Telemundo 2022–present

Similar elements to All Star Family Fortunes

CountryLocal nameHostNetworkAir date
India Family FortunesRJ Mantra Big Magic 2015–2016
Indonesia Super Family Darius Sinathrya antv 2009–2011
New Famili 100 Tukul Arwana Indosiar 2013–2015
Ireland Alan Hughes' Family Fortunes Alan Hughes TV3 2012–2014
Myanmar မိသားစုပြိုင်ပွဲ Kaung Htet Zaw Channel 7 2016–2022
Turkey Birimiz Hepimiz Için Mehmet Ali Erbil Star TV 2009
Aileler Yarişiyor Ufuk Özkan TRT 1 2012–2014
Ukraine Просто шоу Yuriy Horbunov 1+1 2013

Notes

  1. ↑ Twenty-four episodes were recorded for Series 21, but ITV only aired the first ten episodes within the schedule. The remaining fourteen episodes were not transmitted until Challenge started broadcasting this series, although they did eventually air on ITV during the 2004 Christmas season.

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References

  1. ↑ "Elstree – ATV & BBC". TV Studio History. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Ex-ITV Regional Studios". TV Studio History. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  3. ↑ Edwards, Chris (1 July 2020). "Family Fortunes reboot series with Gino D'Acampo officially announced by ITV". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Fortunes favours the brave". Leicester Mercury . 21 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022 – via PressReader.
  5. ↑ "Les Dennis quits "Family Fortunes"".
  6. ↑ Les Dennis, Fingers on Buzzers podcast, 30 October 2020
  7. ↑ "05 Jan 1980, 16" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "12 Jul 1980, 14" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "09 Jan 1981, 18" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "11 Jul 1981, 16" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "12 Dec 1981, 16" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "04 Sep 1982, 16" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "31 Dec 1982, 24" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "24 Jun 1983, 22" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "14 Oct 1983, 26" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "7 Apr 1984, 28" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  17. ↑ "18 Jan 1985, 24" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "31 May 1985, 24" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "27 Jun 1987, 30" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  20. ↑ "29 Aug 1987, 26" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  21. ↑ "9 Apr 1988, 39" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  22. ↑ "30 Jul 1988, 33" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  23. ↑ "23 Sep 1988, 40" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  24. ↑ "16 Dec 1988, 40" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  25. ↑ "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Evening Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "1 Sep 1989, 38" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  28. ↑ "22 Dec 1989, 34" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "31 Aug 1990, 34" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  30. ↑ "28 Dec 1990, 32" . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  31. ↑ "Our survey says: Family Fortunes is back". Fremantle. 1 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020.
  32. ↑ Darvill, Josh (15 December 2020). "Family Fortunes will be back with Gino d'Acampo for new series in 2021". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020.
  33. ↑ Darvill, Josh (2 October 2023). "Family Fortunes renewed for new series with Gino D'Acampo". TellyMix. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  34. 1 2 "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
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