17 September 2005 (2005-09-17) – 26 May 2007 (2007-05-26)
Release
15 March 2017 (2017-03-15)
Gameshow Marathon was a British game show, broadcast on ITV from 17 September 2005 to 26 May 2007, Returned for charity in the March of 2017. After a quick retrospective look at the history of the particular show, the show itself is recreated. This involves recreating the original set and using original opening programme titles, including the appropriate producer ident (excluding Blankety Blank). All participants are celebrities, and any prizes won go into a "Viewer Prize Mountain" which is awarded to a viewer via a phone-in competition.[1][2]
Series 1 (2005)
Series 1 logo.
Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon is a seven-episode special event aired in 2005 on Britain's ITV Network, as part of a celebration of ITV's 50th anniversary. In it, hosts Ant & Dec presided over recreations of seven classic game shows that had been seen on the network. Six celebrity contestants competed in a series-long tournament, receiving a donation to their favourite charity for their participation. In addition, home viewers were given the opportunity to win the cash and prizes each episode's winning contestant "won" via telephone.[3]
The series was run as a three-round tournament. In the first round, each show was played by every contestant who had not already won a show. The four winners from the first round then competed in single-elimination format.
Carol Vorderman was the eventual winner of the series. The Golden Shot was broadcast live like the original show, and Sale of the Century with organist Keith Beckingham and had a dedication at the end to comedian Ronnie Barker, who had died five days earlier.
Following the series, several of the shows were revived; Bullseye returned on the game show channel Challenge, followed by The Price Is Right and Family Fortunes (in a celebrity format) on ITV, the latter hosted by one of the Gameshow Marathon celebrities, Vernon Kay. (Ironically, on Kay's Family Fortunes, the Vorderman family would play the game again. They did not win on their second attempt, however.) However, Family Fortunes was brought back again in 2020 presented by Gino D'Acampo.
Les Dennis presented the prizes each week to the winners of the home viewer competition.
Progression
Round
Show
Winner
Eliminated
Round 1
The Price Is Right
Carol Vorderman
No eliminations
Take Your Pick!
Patsy Kensit
The Golden Shot
William Roache
Sale of the Century
Vernon Kay
Eamonn Holmes, Ruby Wax
Semi-finals
Play Your Cards Right
Carol Vorderman
Patsy Kensit
Bullseye
Vernon Kay
William Roache
Final
Family Fortunes
Carol Vorderman
Vernon Kay (runner-up)
Series 2 (2007)
Series 2 logo.
Gameshow Marathon was presented by series 1 runner-up Vernon Kay. The programme aired every Saturday night on ITV from 7 April to 26 May 2007.[5]
There was a slight change to the format for this series. As before, each show in the first round was played by those celebrities who have not already won a show. However, the remaining rounds were each a single show played by all celebrities still in the tournament: five in the quarter-final, three in the semi-final and two in the final.
In Mr. and Mrs., the celebrities invited their real-life partners to play along.
On Bullseye, the celebrities were paired up with professional dart players. Andrea was paired with Martin Adams, Graeme was paired with Phil Taylor and Michael was paired with Raymond van Barneveld. Tony Green reprised his role as the scorer.
On Play Your Cards Right, each celebrity invited another celebrity to play with them. Graeme played with Kyran Bracken and Michael played with Kym Ryder.
On the Blankety Blank and Mr and Mrs editions, the more recent revivals of both series were not mentioned on Gameshow Marathon, due to Blankety Blank having been presented by Paul O'Grady (no footage of him), who was then in a legal dispute with ITV.
Lionel Blair presented the prizes each week to the winners of the home viewer competition.
Progression
Round
Show
Winner
Eliminated
First
The Price Is Right
Graeme Le Saux
No eliminations
Blockbusters
Ben Shephard
Blankety Blank
Michael Le Vell
The Golden Shot
Andrea Catherwood
Name That Tune
Jamelia
Wendy Richard
Quarter-final
Mr. and Mrs.
Andrea Catherwood Michael Le Vell Graeme Le Saux
Jamelia Ben Shephard
Semi-final
Bullseye
Graeme Le Saux Michael Le Vell
Andrea Catherwood
Final
Play Your Cards Right
Michael Le Vell
Graeme Le Saux (runner-up)
Comic Relief All Stars vs. New Stars Special (2017)
Gameshow Marathon: All Stars vs. New Stars was presented by series 2 contestants Ben Shephard and Jamelia. The programme aired on a Friday night on ITV from 15 March 2017.[6]
There was a slight change to the format for this series. As before, each show in the first round was played by those celebrities who have not already won a show. However, the remaining rounds were each a single show played by all celebrities still in the tournament: five in the quarter-final, three in the semi-final and two in the final.
In Mr. and Mrs., the celebrities invited their real-life partners to play along.
On Bullseye, the celebrities were paired up with professional dart players. Andrea was paired with Martin Adams, Graeme was paired with Phil Taylor and Michael was paired with Raymond van Barneveld. Tony Green reprised his role as the scorer.
On Play Your Cards Right, each celebrity invited another celebrity to play with them. Graeme played with Kyran Bracken and Michael played with Kym Ryder.
On the Blankety Blank and Mr and Mrs editions, the more recent revivals of both series were not mentioned on Gameshow Marathon, due to Blankety Blank having been presented by Paul O'Grady (no footage of him), who was then in a legal dispute with ITV.
In Mexico, it also has its own version of Gameshow Marathon as well, as part of Teleton's charity funds for 2007. Marco Antonio Regil hosts the marathon, which includes its versions of The Price Is Right (Atínale al Precio) and Family Fortunes (100 Mexicanos Dijeron). The show was aired on Televisa.
