Secret Fortune
| Secret Fortune | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by |
Matthew Worthy Kieran Doherty |
| Presented by | Nick Knowles |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 29 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Wild Rover and BBC Northern Ireland |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Picture format | 16:9 |
| Original release | 12 February 2011 – 29 December 2012 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Guesstimation |
| Followed by | Break the Safe |
Secret Fortune is a BBC National Lottery game show that was broadcast on BBC One from 12 February 2011 to 29 December 2012. The programme was hosted by Nick Knowles.
Format
A pair of contestants must find the highest sum of money contained in one of 24 numbered envelopes, each containing a randomly assigned sum of money between £100 and £100,000. This is done by correctly answering a series of multiple choice questions.
In the first half of the game, the contestants select four of the envelopes and these are each assigned to one of the four possible answers. In this stage of the game, the computer assigns the envelope containing the highest sum of money to the correct answer. The contestants then eliminate the three answers they believe are wrong. With each elimination, the associated envelope is opened to reveal the sum of money being discarded. The remaining envelope is handed unopened to the contestants to be used in the second half. This continues over six questions until the contestants are left with six.
In the second half of the game, the remaining envelopes that the players keep in the first half are assigned to answers, but now the lowest sum of money is assigned to the correct answer and the contestants must identify and eliminate it. One envelope is discarded with each question until the final question becomes a 50/50 choice between two answers. The contestants win the sum of money inside the envelope they do not eliminate.
The twenty-four money amounts are £100, £500, £1,000, £2,000, £3,000, £4,000, £5,000 £6,000, £7,000, £8,000, £9,000, £10,000, £12,000, £14,000, £16,000, £18,000, £20,000, £22,000, £25,000, £30,000, £40,000, £50,000, £75,000, and £100,000.
Transmissions
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 February 2011 | 16 April 2011 | 9 |
| 2 | 20 August 2011 | 8 October 2011 | 8 |
| 3 | 7 July 2012 | 29 December 2012 | 12 |
Ratings
Episode Viewing figures from BARB.[1]
Series 1 (2011)
| Episode no. | Airdate | Viewers (millions) | BBC One weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 February 2011 | 6.09 | 11 |
| 2 | 19 February 2011 | 6.19 | 10 |
| 3 | 26 February 2011 | 6.07 | 14 |
| 4 | 5 March 2011 | 5.98 | 11 |
| 5 | 12 March 2011 | 5.99 | 10 |
| 6 | 26 March 2011 | 4.98 | 19 |
| 7 | 2 April 2011 | 4.41 | 23 |
| 8 | 9 April 2011 | 4.40 | 23 |
| 9 | 16 April 2011 | N/A | N/A |
Series 2 (2011)
| Episode no. | Airdate | Viewers (millions) | BBC One weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 August 2011 | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | 27 August 2011 | N/A | N/A |
| 3 | 3 September 2011 | N/A | N/A |
| 4 | 10 September 2011 | N/A | N/A |
| 5 | 17 September 2011 | N/A | N/A |
| 6 | 24 September 2011 | N/A | N/A |
| 7 | 1 October 2011 | N/A | N/A |
| 8 | 8 October 2011 | N/A | N/A |
Series 3 (2012)
| Episode no. | Airdate | Viewers (millions) | BBC One weekly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 July 2012 | 4.17 | 25 |
| 2 | 14 July 2012 | 4.36 | 13 |
| 3 | 21 July 2012 | 4.28 | 17 |
| 4 | 18 August 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 5 | 25 August 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 6 | 1 September 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 7 | 8 September 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 8 | 15 September 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 9 | 22 September 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 10 | 29 September 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 11 | 6 October 2012 | N/A | N/A |
| 12 | 29 December 2012 | N/A | N/A |
Reception
Readers of UKGameshows.com named it the best new game show of 2011 in their "Hall of fame" poll.[2]
Other Versions
-
United States: In 2011, the CBS network commissioned a pilot of Secret Fortune, with Donny Osmond hosting. The show was produced by Nigel Lythgoe for CBS and Phil Morrow for Wild Rover Productions, the format's owner. The show has not been picked up for a full series.[3] -
Switzerland: In October 2012, the Swiss television channel "SF" started the "Secret Fortune" with the host Roman Kilchsperger. The name of the game show is "Top Secret". -
Sweden: Plans for a Swedish version of Secret Fortune are in progress. Casting of contestants have started. Premiere programme is scheduled for August 2013, on Swedish TV4.[4]
References
- ↑ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Poll_of_the_Year_2011
- ↑ "Donny Osmond To Host 'Secret Fortune' Game Show". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
- ↑ "Sök till frågesportsprogrammet Secret fortune". Swedish TV4. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
