Greatest Game Shows

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.

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 following is an alphabetical list of the Greatest Gameshows, as measured by visits to the UKGameshows website between July 2006 and January 2009. It reflects searches on our website, visits from dedicated search engines, and links from other web pages.

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 BrotherIsolation 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.
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. I agree!
Challenge AnnekaAnneka Rice does a lot of work for charity.
CluedoSmall-screen adaptation of the murderous board game.
CountdownLetters and numbers parlour game with Richard and Carol.
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 FortunesPeople complete to name popular answers to questions.
Fifteen-to-OneThe Rolls-Royce of quiz shows.
50/50Gunge-filled game for schools.
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; the biggest flop of all time?
In It to Win ItDale Winton is in the right place at the right time.
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 LargeCompetitive cookery programme.
MastermindTwo minutes in the black chair on a specialist subject.
The MoleWho is sabotaging the team's progress?
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 FacesTalent show with added sideburns.
Noel's House PartySaturday night entertainment from Noel Edmonds.
1 vs 100Can one person know more than a hundred-strong mob?
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 It or Leave It (2)Richard Arnold refuses to let anyone go back.
Take Your PickWill they take the money or open the box?
Takeshi's CastleJapanese people do crazy stunts, and Craig Charles laughs.
They Think it's All OverSports-based comedy quiz with Nick Hancock.
3-2-1Dusty Bin presides over entertainers and incomprehensible riddles.
Through the Keyhole"Who would live in a house like this?"
Topless DartsDarts played without the number 20, we think.
Treasure Hunt (2)Anneka Rice terrorises the countryside.
University ChallengeBamber and Jeremy ask some starters for ten.
The 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.

2009's Leaders

These were the most popular shows and people between July and September 2009:

Kirsty DuffyWe remember her from Cruel Summer. Or was it winter?
Kit Hesketh-HarveyThe Widow remains unlisted.
For the Rest of Your LifeA previous step on Nicky Campbell's path to world domination.
Jayne MiddlemissWinner of Celebrity Masterchef
Total WipeoutSecond run at the Big Balls.
Only Connect (2)Returned with even more fiendish questions.
Lee MackAppeared on many panel games.
Anton Du BekeThe new host of Hole in the Wall.
The CubePeople do simple tasks in a perspex box.
Malandra BurrowsKathy Bates from Emmerdale.
Win Beadle's MoneyThe late Jeremy staked his appearance fee.
James McCourtBring on the balls!
[[Captain ZepCaptain ZepSpace Detective]], Eighties sci-fi detective show.
Strip MasterbrainA quiz for people who remove paint, we think.
Dragons' DenA new series went out over the summer.
Hole in the WallStill really popular.
Mark FranksDe-clutter your life.
PointlessAlexander Armstrong has the answers no-one knows.
Mark RumbleTelevision gambling for all.
De Tha Seo?Win, Lose or Draw in Gaelic.
Strictly Come DancingBack for a Brucie bonus.
Accumulate!The best thing to come out of Reading in ages.
EliminatorNasty man chases children for prizes.
Topranko!Anthony Wilson has the answers few people know.
Victoria CorenHost of television's toughest quiz.

These were popular between April and July 2009:

Beat the StarHammering nails into a plank of wood
Britain's Got TalentSimon Cowell's televised variety show
Coach TripThe round-Europe tour came back once more
PunchlinesRemember what you heard... and where you heard it!
Lucky LaddersConnect a word to another word
Naked JungleRemarkably popular for a one-off show
E4 School of Performing ArtsHas one of them become famous and not told us? How rude!
Sun, Sea and Bargain SpottingIt's like Bargain Hunt, only in foreign parts
Ask the Family...as Eric will now show us
Mission: PaintballYou're emulsified? No, wrong show
DividedAndrew Castle splits into three unequal parts
Hannah-OkePut your hawk in the sky, move side to side
Lennie BennettThe much-missed funnyman
Stephen MulhernCITV's go-to presenter
Kirsty DuffyThe new face on The Wright Stuff
Melanie SykesA stunner in black
Katie BoyleThe voice of Eurovision
Jayne MiddlemissThe link between Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Masterchef
Caroline FlackCo-host of TMi and Gladiators
Joel RossBut no listing for JK
Jenny PowellStill best-known for turning letters on Wheel of Fortune
Annabel GilesTelly star turned author
Simon CowellProud owner of some kitchen utensils
Kirsten O'BrienBared all on BBC3
Kelly BrookFormer host of The Big Break Fast, it says here
Steve RaceThe late host of My Music
Kat ShoobNew host of the chart show on commercial radio

And these were the greatest percentage gainers between January and April 2009.

Total WipeoutBring on the balls!
KerwhizzChallenging fun for the under-fives
Battle of the BrainsNicky Campbell's latest step to world domination
GeniusDaft invention show
Jade GoodyDoyenne of the tabloid press
Dave LambVoiceover man for some cookery show
Last Man StandingContest for seriously hard men
The Ultimate PlayboySeeking the last copy of a magazine
Stake OutCBBC's rather good hidden camera show
Spin StarFruit machine silliness
Nigel ClarkeClutter nutter
Jennie BondCorrespondent on royals and jungles
Hole in the WallIt's a wall. It's got a hole in it.
Are You an Egghead?Spin-off for Daphne and her friends
Tim WonnacottAntiques expert
Perfect RecallTerry Wogan's memory quiz
Come Dine with MeCompetitive dinner parties
Basil's Game ShowGoes "boom" a lot.
Simon GreenallMan of a thousand voices
Eleri SionWelsh broadcasting sweetheart
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