Greatest Game Shows

(→2009's Leaders: Replaced with the first three months of 2010, and a lot of Welsh shows.)
(Revised with 2010 figures. Out from Top 100 go Masterchef and They Think It's All Over; Ulrika's out of the top 30 people.)
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Our backroom boys and girls have been re-programming CECIL to come up with the most popular pages on this site. And, after poring through yards of ticker tape, this is what we've come up with - a list of the top 100 shows based on what you lot are actually reading.
Our backroom boys and girls have been re-programming CECIL to come up with the most popular pages on this site. And, after poring through yards of ticker tape, this is what we've come up with - a list of the top 100 shows based on what you lot are actually reading.
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And a surprisingly good list it is too, taking in all areas of the genre. Over the coming weeks, we'll be highlighting these shows in our main indexes to make them easier to find, as well as sprucing up these articles and providing extra background information, pictures and other gubbins wherever we see fit.
 
== The Top 100 ==
== The Top 100 ==
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The following is an alphabetical list of the Greatest Gameshows, as measured by visits to the UKGameshows website between July 2006 and January 2010. It reflects searches on our website, visits from dedicated search engines, and links from other web pages. The greatest gainers during 2009 are marked.
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The Top 100 is an alphabetical list of the Greatest Gameshows, as measured by visits to the UKGameshows website between July 2006 and January 2011. It reflects searches on our website, visits from dedicated search engines, and links from other web pages. The new entries during 2010 are marked.
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|[[Big Break]]||Snooker-based quiz with Jim Davidson.
|[[Big Break]]||Snooker-based quiz with Jim Davidson.
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|-
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|[[Big Brother]]||Isolation reality show.
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|[[Big Brother]]||Early 21st century isolation reality show.
|-
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|[[The Biggest Loser UK]]||Competitive dieting.
|[[The Biggest Loser UK]]||Competitive dieting.
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|[[Brainstorm]]||Bonkers science quiz with Kenny Everett.
|[[Brainstorm]]||Bonkers science quiz with Kenny Everett.
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|-
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|[[Britain's Got Talent]] <font color=red>New!</font>||Simon, Piers, and Amanda find the new Susan Boyle.
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|[[Britain's Got Talent]]||Simon, Piers, and Amanda find the new Spelbound.
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|[[Bullseye]]||Darts-based quiz with Jim Bowen.
|[[Bullseye]]||Darts-based quiz with Jim Bowen.
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|[[Catchphrase]]||Roy Walker says what he sees.
|[[Catchphrase]]||Roy Walker says what he sees.
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|-
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|[[Celebrity Squares]]||Noughts-and-crosses with celebrities. I agree!
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|[[Celebrity Squares]]||Noughts-and-crosses with celebrities saying "I agree!" before anyone had heard of Nick.
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|-
|[[Challenge Anneka]]||Anneka Rice does a lot of work for charity.
|[[Challenge Anneka]]||Anneka Rice does a lot of work for charity.
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|[[Cluedo]]||Small-screen adaptation of the murderous board game.
|[[Cluedo]]||Small-screen adaptation of the murderous board game.
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|-
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|[[Countdown]]||Letters and numbers parlour game with Richard and Carol.
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|[[Come Dine with Me]] <font color=red>New!</font>||If the cookery doesn't appeal, there's always the commentary.
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|-
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|[[Countdown]]||Letters and numbers parlour game with <del>Richard and Carol</del> Jeff and Rachael.
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|[[Crackerjack]]||Friday at 4.55pm entertainment for youngsters.
|[[Crackerjack]]||Friday at 4.55pm entertainment for youngsters.
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|[[Eurovision Song Contest]]||Annual song-and-dance spectacular.
|[[Eurovision Song Contest]]||Annual song-and-dance spectacular.
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|-
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|[[Family Fortunes]]||People complete to name popular answers to questions.
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|[[Family Fortunes]]||Name a show where people are surveyed...
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|[[Fifteen-to-One]]||The Rolls-Royce of quiz shows.
|[[Fifteen-to-One]]||The Rolls-Royce of quiz shows.
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|[[Have I Got News for You]]||Topical quiz with Paul Merton and Ian Hislop.
|[[Have I Got News for You]]||Topical quiz with Paul Merton and Ian Hislop.
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|-
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|[[I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!|I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!]]||Ant and Dec ask celebs to eat witchety grubs.
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|[[I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!]]||Ant and Dec ask celebs to eat witchety grubs.
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|-
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|[[Ice Warriors]]||Speed-skating challenges; the biggest flop of all time?
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|[[Ice Warriors]]||Speed-skating challenges, remembered only as a flop.
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|[[In It to Win It]]||Dale Winton is in the right place at the right time.
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|[[In It to Win It]]||Dale Winton: in the right place at the right time for ages.
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|[[Incredible Games]]||A lift, some laundry baskets, a Dark Knight.
|[[Incredible Games]]||A lift, some laundry baskets, a Dark Knight.
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|[[Love at First Sight]]||Surprisingly popular satellite dating show.
|[[Love at First Sight]]||Surprisingly popular satellite dating show.
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|[[Masterchef]] <font color=red>New!</font>||The original competitive cookery programme.
 
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|[[Masterchef Goes Large]]||Revival of the competitive cookery programme.
|[[Masterchef Goes Large]]||Revival of the competitive cookery programme.
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|[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]||Pop music comedy quiz.
|[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]||Pop music comedy quiz.
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|[[New Faces]] <font color=red>New!</font>||Britain's got a thing for talent shows.
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|[[Noel's House Party]]||Saturday night entertainment from Noel Edmonds.
|[[Noel's House Party]]||Saturday night entertainment from Noel Edmonds.
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|-
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|[[Numberwang]] <font color=red>New!</font>||That is...
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|[[Numberwang]]||No, that's not.
|-
|-
|[[1 vs 100]]||Can one person know more than a hundred-strong mob?
|[[1 vs 100]]||Can one person know more than a hundred-strong mob?
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|-
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|[[Opportunity Knocks]] <font color=red>New!</font>||Long-running talent-spotting show
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|[[Opportunity Knocks]]||Long-running talent-spotting show
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|[[Play Your Cards Right]]||Is the next card higher or lower, asks Brucie.
|[[Play Your Cards Right]]||Is the next card higher or lower, asks Brucie.
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|[[Takeshi's Castle]]||Japanese people do crazy stunts, and Craig Charles laughs.
|[[Takeshi's Castle]]||Japanese people do crazy stunts, and Craig Charles laughs.
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|-
 
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|[[They Think it's All Over]]||Sports-based comedy quiz with Nick Hancock.
 
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|[[3-2-1]]||Dusty Bin presides over entertainers and incomprehensible riddles.
|[[3-2-1]]||Dusty Bin presides over entertainers and incomprehensible riddles.
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|[[Through the Keyhole]]||"Who would live in a house like this?"
|[[Through the Keyhole]]||"Who would live in a house like this?"
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|-
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|[[Time Commanders]] <font color=red>New!</font>||Wargaming with Eddie Mair.
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|[[Time Commanders]]||Wargaming with Eddie Mair.
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|[[Treasure Hunt (2)|Treasure Hunt (2)]]||Anneka Rice terrorises the countryside.
|[[Treasure Hunt (2)|Treasure Hunt (2)]]||Anneka Rice terrorises the countryside.
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|[[University Challenge]]||Bamber and Jeremy ask some starters for ten.
|[[University Challenge]]||Bamber and Jeremy ask some starters for ten.
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|-
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|[[The Weakest Link]]||Anne Robinson is mean to her victims.
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|[[Weakest Link]]||Anne Robinson is mean to her victims.
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|[[Wheel of Fortune (2)|Wheel of Fortune (2)]]||Spin the wheel, guess some letters, win a watch.
|[[Wheel of Fortune (2)|Wheel of Fortune (2)]]||Spin the wheel, guess some letters, win a watch.
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== Top People ==
== Top People ==
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The top 30 people between June 2006 and January 2010 were, in alphabetical order:
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The top 30 people between June 2006 and January 2011 were, in alphabetical order:
*[[Kevin Ashman]]
*[[Kevin Ashman]]
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*[[Hughie Green]]
*[[Hughie Green]]
*[[Christopher Hughes]]
*[[Christopher Hughes]]
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*[[Ulrika Jonsson]]
 
*[[Vernon Kay]]
*[[Vernon Kay]]
*[[Matthew Kelly]]
*[[Matthew Kelly]]
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*[[Bob Monkhouse]]
*[[Bob Monkhouse]]
*[[Lisa Rogers]]
*[[Lisa Rogers]]
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*[[Monica Rose]] <font color=red>New!</font>
*[[Jayne Sharp]]
*[[Jayne Sharp]]
*[[Pat Sharp]]
*[[Pat Sharp]]
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== 2010's Leaders ==
== 2010's Leaders ==
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The first quarter of 2010 included St David's Day, and five Cymraeg programmes have been amongst the greatest gainers in these months. The annual Welsh-language song competition [[Can i Gymru]] took place, and was far better than the BBC's effort. Classic quiz [[Jacpot]] had repeats on S4C, and modern poetry competition [[Y Talwrn]] began its annual residence on Radio Cymru. We're less sure why [[Campyfan]] and [[Crafwr]] had renewed popularity.
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Fashions in the world of game can be strange and unpredictable, and not even we quite understand why these people and shows were suddenly the subject of many visits during 2010.
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On national television, new series of [[Coach Trip]] and [[We are the Champions]] lifted those shows into the higher echelons, and there were new runs of [[Counterpoint]], [[Who Dares Wins]], [[In It to Win It]], and [[Dancing on Ice]]. We can see how [[God's Gift]] picked up its popularity, one of its former contestants hosted a dating show on primetime ITV.
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Two people were particularly popular in the first quarter: [[Ann Meo]], the setter of questions for ''Treasure Hunt''; and ''Crafwr'' host [[Emma Walford]]. Also doing well were classic children's word puzzle [[Jigsaw]], Welsh regional fitness programme [[Fit for a Change]], the self-explanatory [[Mission: Paintball]], and [[Connections (1)]], the show with pictures making connections on a big board and Sue Robbie hosting. There was also an upturn for our feature articles on [[Consolation Prizes]] (salt and pepper not included) and [[Game Show Computers]]. Eugene ready?
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* [[Julia Reed]] - former Hampshire junior fencing champion
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* [[Dick Strawbridge]] - moustachioed inventor
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* [[Kenneth Kendall]] - Hullo.
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* [[John Humphrys]] - Fan of black chairs
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* [[The Heritage Game]] - an antiques quiz
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* [[Casino Casino]] - gambling gambling
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* [[Who Dares Wins]] - once used the list seen on this page
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* [[Lucky Numbers (2)]] - Shane Richie plays bingo
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* [[Masterteam (1)]] - Angela Rippon's teatime quiz
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* [[Jacpot]] - We know this one! Repeated on S4C for most of the year.

Revision as of 11:17, 3 January 2011

Mastermind
Polls and voting are all very well, but how do people vote with their feet? No, not by holding pencils between their toes, but by visiting the various nooks and crannies that make up the conurbation of UKGameshowsopolis.

Our backroom boys and girls have been re-programming CECIL to come up with the most popular pages on this site. And, after poring through yards of ticker tape, this is what we've come up with - a list of the top 100 shows based on what you lot are actually reading.

The Top 100

The Top 100 is an alphabetical list of the Greatest Gameshows, as measured by visits to the UKGameshows website between July 2006 and January 2011. It reflects searches on our website, visits from dedicated search engines, and links from other web pages. The new entries during 2010 are marked.

The Adventure GameDragons and an aspidistra set taxing puzzles.
Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old?Primary-school children help adults win money
Ask the FamilyPerennial smarty-pants quiz. Dah!
BanzaiOff-the-wall betting show. Bet now!
Bargain HuntAntiques arbitrage with David Dickinson and Tim Wonnacott.
Best of FriendsTreats and challenges for a group of chums.
Big BreakSnooker-based quiz with Jim Davidson.
Big BrotherEarly 21st century isolation reality show.
The Biggest Loser UKCompetitive dieting.
Blankety BlankHow did Beryl Reid fill in the blank?
Blind DateCilla Black goes in search of true love, or not.
Blockbusters"I'll have a P please, Bob."
BrainstormBonkers science quiz with Kenny Everett.
Britain's Got TalentSimon, Piers, and Amanda find the new Spelbound.
BullseyeDarts-based quiz with Jim Bowen.
Call My BluffDefinitions of words we've never heard of.
CatchphraseRoy Walker says what he sees.
Celebrity SquaresNoughts-and-crosses with celebrities saying "I agree!" before anyone had heard of Nick.
Challenge AnnekaAnneka Rice does a lot of work for charity.
CluedoSmall-screen adaptation of the murderous board game.
Come Dine with Me New!If the cookery doesn't appeal, there's always the commentary.
CountdownLetters and numbers parlour game with Richard and Carol Jeff and Rachael.
CrackerjackFriday at 4.55pm entertainment for youngsters.
The Crystal MazePhysical and mental challenges with Riff-Raff.
Dancing on IceITV celebrities dance and fall over with Torvill and Dean.
Deal or No DealNoel Edmonds' big-money guessing game.
DishesLate-night cookery show with the neophyte Kate Thornton.
Don't Try This at Home!Spectacular stunts and crazy challenges.
Double Your Money1950s general-knowledge quiz with Hughie Green.
EggheadsAre these people the best general knowledge quizzers in Britain?
Eurovision Song ContestAnnual song-and-dance spectacular.
Family FortunesName a show where people are surveyed...
Fifteen-to-OneThe Rolls-Royce of quiz shows.
Fort BoyardPhysical and mental challenges off the coast of France.
Fun HousePat Sharp has some children round to his house.
Game for a LaughHidden-camera and offbeat stunt pioneer.
Gameshow MarathonRecycling some of the best shows for a modern audience.
The Generation GameBruce Forsyth gives people silly things to do.
Get Your Own BackChildren take revenge on a parent or teacher.
Give Us a ClueCharades with Una Stubbs and Lionel Blair.
GladiatorsAll-action physical challenges with Ulrika and Wolf.
Going for GoldHenry Kelly asks questions to puzzled Europeans.
Golden BallsBig-money bluff and bluster with Jasper Carrot.
The Golden ShotLive crossbows in a television studio.
The Great Egg RaceContraptions and inventions with Heinz Woolf.
Have I Got News for YouTopical quiz with Paul Merton and Ian Hislop.
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!Ant and Dec ask celebs to eat witchety grubs.
Ice WarriorsSpeed-skating challenges, remembered only as a flop.
In It to Win ItDale Winton: in the right place at the right time for ages.
Incredible GamesA lift, some laundry baskets, a Dark Knight.
InterceptorMan in black fires remote control at yuppies with cash on their backs.
It's a KnockoutStuart Hall laughs as the Belgians fall over.
Jungle RunChildren's challenges set in a jungle.
KnightmareFantasy quest for young adventurers.
The Krypton FactorSeminal test to find the United Kingdom Superperson.
Love at First SightSurprisingly popular satellite dating show.
Masterchef Goes LargeRevival of the competitive cookery programme.
MastermindTwo minutes in the black chair on a specialist subject.
Mr and MrsHow well do you know your wife?
Naked JungleKeith Chegwin and naturists play some games.
Name That TuneTom O'Connor invites people to name popular tunes.
Never Mind the BuzzcocksPop music comedy quiz.
New Faces New!Britain's got a thing for talent shows.
Noel's House PartySaturday night entertainment from Noel Edmonds.
NumberwangNo, that's not.
1 vs 100Can one person know more than a hundred-strong mob?
Opportunity KnocksLong-running talent-spotting show
Play Your Cards RightIs the next card higher or lower, asks Brucie.
PokerFaceMillion-pound bluffing game with Ant and Dec.
The Price is RightKnow the price of consumer durables.
A Question of SportSportspeople answer questions about their sport.
RavenOutdoor tests for young warriors.
Ready Steady CookMake a meal in 20 minutes, with Ainsley Harriott.
Robot WarsRemote-controlled battle tanks beat each other up.
RunaroundMike Reid gets kids to choose correct answers and shout a lot.
Sale of the CenturyNicholas Parsons flogs the entire country for a tenner.
Saturday Night TakeawayWin a commercial break with Ant and Dec.
Scrapheap ChallengeConstruction challenges with Kryten.
See it, Saw itObservation quiz for the very young.
Shooting StarsVic and Bob's bonkers quiz. Eranu indeed!
Stars in Their Eyes"Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be..."
Strictly Come DancingCelebrities strut their funky stuff.
Strike it LuckyTouchscreen guesswork with Barrymore.
Supermarket SweepDale Winton goes wild in the aisles.
SurvivorIsland challenge for ITV where Mark Austin's career washed up.
Take Your PickWill they take the money or open the box?
Takeshi's CastleJapanese people do crazy stunts, and Craig Charles laughs.
3-2-1Dusty Bin presides over entertainers and incomprehensible riddles.
Through the Keyhole"Who would live in a house like this?"
Time CommandersWargaming with Eddie Mair.
Treasure Hunt (2)Anneka Rice terrorises the countryside.
University ChallengeBamber and Jeremy ask some starters for ten.
Weakest LinkAnne Robinson is mean to her victims.
Wheel of Fortune (2)Spin the wheel, guess some letters, win a watch.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire?Chris Tarrant gives away oodles of cash.
Whose Line is it Anyway?Improvised comedy show with Clive Anderson. 100 points to everyone there.
Win Beadle's MoneyJeremy Beadle puts his show fee up for grabs.
WipeoutAddictive 'complete the category' game with Paul Daniels.
The X FactorShouting, crying and throwing of water. With some singing involved.
You Bet!Challenges and stunts show, with Matthew Kelly in a sumo thong.

Top People

The top 30 people between June 2006 and January 2011 were, in alphabetical order:

2010's Leaders

Fashions in the world of game can be strange and unpredictable, and not even we quite understand why these people and shows were suddenly the subject of many visits during 2010.

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