Top of the World

(Trivia)
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== Broadcast ==
== Broadcast ==
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ITV, 1982
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ITV, 19 January to 6 April 1982 (13 episodes)
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Here's how it worked: there were three contestants - one from the UK, one from Australia, and one from the USA; each competed from somewhere in their own country.
Here's how it worked: there were three contestants - one from the UK, one from Australia, and one from the USA; each competed from somewhere in their own country.
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The first round consisted of six questions per player, two for each country, worth one point each. The second round was like the [[Mastermind]] specialized subject round. New players got two minutes on a category of their own choosing, with questions worth two points each. Returning champions got general knowledge questions instead.
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The first round consisted of nine 1-point questions about each of the three countries, offered in turn so that each contestant got three of those questions. The second round was like the [[Mastermind]] specialised subject round; new players got two minutes on a category of their own choosing, with questions worth two points each. Returning champions got general knowledge questions instead.
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<div class="image"><IMG src="/atoz/programmes/t/top_of_the_world/top of the world.jpg" alt="top of the world.jpg" width="225" height="172"><br>
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<div class="image"><IMG src="/atoz/programmes/t/top_of_the_world/top of the world.jpg" alt="top of the world.jpg" width="225" height="172">''The satellite link-up screens''</div>
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''The satellite link-up screens''</div>
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The final round was a buzz-in round (I am not sure, but I think it lasted four minutes), with questions worth three points each. Some "lag time" was allowed for the Australian and USA contestants to compensate for the time it takes the signal to get there and back.
+
The final round was a buzz-in round of about four minutes, with questions worth three points each for correct answers, but three points away for wrong ones. Some "lag time" was allowed for the Australian and USA contestants to compensate for the time it takes the signal to get there and back.
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Each week, the champion would return next time to defend their title. After 12 weeks, the top players from each country competed (the overseas players were flown to the UK) for the final. They returned to their specialized subjects for the second round.
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Each week, the champion would return next time to defend their title. After 12 weeks, the top players from each country competed (the overseas players were flown to the UK) for the final. They returned to their specialised subjects for the second round.
== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
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The grand prize, called "The World's Top Prize", was the car from the movie ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang''. Apparently, nobody could figure out what to give away after that (The World's Second Top Prize?), so there was no second series.
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The grand prize, called "The World's Top Prize", was a silver 1924 Rolls Royce Corniche valued at £20,000. Apparently, nobody could figure out what to give away after that (The World's Second Top Prize?), so there was no second series. The prize was handed over by the director of Thames Television at the time, Brian Cowgill.
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<div class="image"><IMG src="/atoz/programmes/t/top_of_the_world/top of the world 2.jpg" alt="top of the world 2.jpg" width="197" height="153"> <br>
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<div class="image"><IMG src="/atoz/programmes/t/top_of_the_world/top of the world 2.jpg" alt="top of the world 2.jpg" width="197" height="153">''The winner with his prize''</div>
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''The car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang''</div>
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For some reason, this show so vexed author Jeff Evans that he included it in a list of "The Terrible 20" worst TV shows of all time in his (otherwise excellent) book, ''[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-TV-Companion-Jeff-Evans/dp/0141024240/sr=8-1/qid=1161761388/labyrinthgames The Penguin TV Companion]''. He says it was "over-ambitious" and he has a point, but one of the 20 worst shows ever? ''Really''?
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For some reason, this show so vexed author Jeff Evans that he included it in a list of "The Terrible 20" worst TV shows of all time in his (otherwise excellent) book, ''[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-TV-Companion-Jeff-Evans/dp/0141024240/sr=8-1/qid=1161761388/labyrinthgames The Penguin TV Companion]''. He says it was "over-ambitous" and he has a point, but one of the 20 worst shows ever? ''Really''?
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Future [[Who Wants to be a Millionaire?]] winner Ingram Wilcox was a three-times winner on this show. [[Eggheads|Egghead]] [[Christopher Hughes]] was also a winner.
 +
 
 +
The programme was made with the support of the 'Blanche and Jay Morton Foundation'.
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== Champion ==
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The UK's James Eccleson won the grand final.
[[Category:General Knowledge Quiz]]
[[Category:General Knowledge Quiz]]

Revision as of 23:09, 14 April 2018

Contents

Host

Eamonn Andrews

Broadcast

ITV, 19 January to 6 April 1982 (13 episodes)

Synopsis

Strange quiz show done with satellite link-ups to contestants on three continents. Why? Because they could.

Here's how it worked: there were three contestants - one from the UK, one from Australia, and one from the USA; each competed from somewhere in their own country.

The first round consisted of nine 1-point questions about each of the three countries, offered in turn so that each contestant got three of those questions. The second round was like the Mastermind specialised subject round; new players got two minutes on a category of their own choosing, with questions worth two points each. Returning champions got general knowledge questions instead.

The satellite link-up screens

The final round was a buzz-in round of about four minutes, with questions worth three points each for correct answers, but three points away for wrong ones. Some "lag time" was allowed for the Australian and USA contestants to compensate for the time it takes the signal to get there and back.

Each week, the champion would return next time to defend their title. After 12 weeks, the top players from each country competed (the overseas players were flown to the UK) for the final. They returned to their specialised subjects for the second round.

Trivia

The grand prize, called "The World's Top Prize", was a silver 1924 Rolls Royce Corniche valued at £20,000. Apparently, nobody could figure out what to give away after that (The World's Second Top Prize?), so there was no second series. The prize was handed over by the director of Thames Television at the time, Brian Cowgill.

The winner with his prize

For some reason, this show so vexed author Jeff Evans that he included it in a list of "The Terrible 20" worst TV shows of all time in his (otherwise excellent) book, The Penguin TV Companion. He says it was "over-ambitious" and he has a point, but one of the 20 worst shows ever? Really?

Future Who Wants to be a Millionaire? winner Ingram Wilcox was a three-times winner on this show. Egghead Christopher Hughes was also a winner.

The programme was made with the support of the 'Blanche and Jay Morton Foundation'.

Champion

The UK's James Eccleson won the grand final.

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