3-2-1
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| 3-2-1 | |
|---|---|
 3-2-1 logo, 1978-1981 |
|
| Format | Game show |
| Run time | 60 minutes |
| Creator(s) | Ibanez Serrador |
| Starring | Ted Rogers |
| Channel | ITV |
| Production company | Yorkshire Television |
| Air dates | 1978 – 1988 |
| No. of series | 10 |
3-2-1 was a game show, made by Yorkshire Television for ITV between 1978 and 1988 and hosted by former Butlins Red Coat Ted Rogers. It was based on a Spanish gameshow called Uno, Dos, Tres and was three shows in one, a quiz show, a variety show and a game show.
The show was a huge success consistently pulling in large ratings. The first series attracted up to 16.5 million viewers and subsequent years never failed to peak at 12 million or above. The show occupied a prime time Saturday 7.45pm slot.
3-2-1's final Christmas special (broadcast on 24 December 1988) attracted 12.5 million viewers, so why it was subsequently axed in 1989 remains unclear to this day.
Contents |
[edit] The 3-2-1 Format
The overall objective of the game was to survive elimination through to part 3 and try to unravel a series of cryptic clues in order to win the star prize. One of the clues, however, referred to Dusty Bin who was the show's booby prize. If the contestants ended up with Dusty Bin all they got was a brand new dust bin.
Each show had a theme, such as 'Seacruise' or the 'Swinging Sixties'. All of the variety acts, quiz questions, and clues subsequently followed this theme.
[edit] Part 1: The 1000 to 1 Quiz
In the first part three couples have the chance to win up to £1000 in the '1000 to 1 Quiz'. The first round consisted of a maximum of 10 questions (in 30 seconds), each correct answer being worth £10. Passes were permitted but there was no opportunity to return to the question. Each member of the couple answered in turn with the lady answering first and, because an incorrect answer would end the round, the first answer was given to them to avoid a zero score. This was important as each correct answer in the second round of questions was worth the total amount scored in round 1 and eliminated the possibility of couples leaving the show with absolutely nothing.
The questions were usually of the same 'word association' format. Ted Rogers would say, for example, an island and the contestants would have to name the country to which it belonged (e.g. Ted: "Gozo", Contestant: "Malta"). Another example would be people and their titles (e.g. Ted: "Elizabeth II", Contestant: "Queen").
In the earlier series the winners of the quiz would return the following week to compete again, while the other two couples would progress to part two, but in later series this changed to the worst performing couple being eliminated, taking home the money they won in the quiz and a ceramic model of Dusty Bin.
In the final series (1987), the 1000 to 1 quiz was replaced by a general knowledge, fingers on the button quiz. As before three couples participated, but in two rounds of questions. Each couple began with £10 each and could earn another £10 for each correct answer. The first round required ten correct answers (in other words, the round would not end if ten questions had been read out and not all answered correctly). Following the first round Ted would introduce a "newcomer" to 3-2-1 (another addition to the final series). This was a chance for an act to perform, much like the later rounds as normal, though the "newcomer" had never appeared on 3-2-1 before. Following the newcomer act, round two of the quiz would be played, with fifteen questions (the x correct answer rule didn't apply in this round). As with previous series whatever money the couples had after the first round would be the value of the question to them. The maximum a couple could win in this round was £1650 (as in the starting £10, ten first round questions answered correctly plus all fifteen in the second round). At the end of the round the couple with the lowest sum of money would leave with the money they'd won and the ceramic Dusty Bin.
The commercial break followed the quiz, and in later series, a viewers' question was posed to win a colour television, with 5 runners up getting a ceramic Dusty Bin. The entry form for that was in that week's edition of TV Times.
[edit] Part 2: The Elimination
The elimination mechanism for reducing the remaining couples down to one changed over the course of the show. In the early years it was a physical game to fit in with the show's theme. This changed to the contestants competing head to head in a computer game (such as Breakout), and was finally amended to an elimination question which the last two couples would answer after seeing the first three variety acts.
[edit] Part 3: The Acts and Prize Clues
The final version of the show's format was amended so that the two remaining couples from the quiz watched the first three variety acts together. At the end of each act one of the performers would come over to the table and give Ted an item and read a rhyme to provide clues to the show's prizes.
After three acts, the couples would decide on which item they would like to discard in the hope that it was Dusty Bin and then take part in the final elimination question. The losers would leave with their quiz money, the ceramic Dusty Bin figurine and a consolation prize (such as a twelve piece dinner service) and the winners would go through to part 3 of the show proper.
Ted would then decode the clue which the final couple rejected before the end of part 2 of the show proper. Another act would then perform and leave another clue, leaving three on the table. Ted would then re-read one of the earlier two clues, before the couple chose another item to reject before that prize was then revealed to them.
The final variety act would perform and leave a last clue. Ted would then re-read one of the previous clues and the couple would reject another prize which was revealed. Ted would then re-read the remaining two clues and the couple would be faced with their final decision leaving them with the prize they have chosen and ultimately won.
As well as Dusty Bin, which was always one of the five prizes, the other four prizes normally included a car and a holiday. Later series sometimes featured two cars as prizes.
The clues became notorious for being almost impossibly difficult and obscure, having only a remote connection to the prizes, which contestants sometimes didn't appear to grasp even after Ted had revealed it to them.
[edit] Acts Who Appeared On 3-2-1
The early series of 321 featured a regular cast of comedy performers including Chris Emmett, Mike Newman, Felix Bowness, Debbie Arnold and Duggie Brown. This format was changed for later series when each show featured a number of variety acts of the day as well as a house dance troupe such as the Brian Rogers Connection who would perform solos for the first act. They would later often dance behind the acts who would invariably top the bill. Previous dance / hostess troupes who appeared include "Lipstick" and "The Gentle Secs".
Other hostesses who appeared on the show include: Mireille Allonville, Jenny Layland, Patsy Ann Scott, Annie St. John, Karen Palmer, Gail Playfair, Tula, Alison Temple-Savage, Libby Roberts, Fiona Curzon, Karan David, Caroline Munro and Lynda Lee Lewis.
Acts who appeared on 321 include: Gloria Gaynor, George Roper, Ken Dodd, Duncan Norvelle, Bernie Winters, Stutz Bear Cats, Manhattan Transfer, Shane Richie, Stan Boardman, Fascinating Aida, Frankie Howerd and Vince Hill.
As was the style of the day, the show often featured speciality acts such as a female singer who sang unconvincing renditions of popular songs whilst her male partner sketched caricatures of famous people connected with the song on a flip chart (e.g. a sketch of Marilyn Monroe was drawn whilst the Elton John song Candle in the Wind was performed).
The prize announcers were: Anthony Schaeffer (1984-5) and (later) the legendary John Benson (1986-7), who had provided the famous voice over for Sale of the Century.
[edit] Catchphrases
Although the show did not rely on catchprases in the traditional sense, Ted Rogers would regularly make a lightning fast 3-2-1 hand gesture. This became an important gimmick of the show - and a school playground favourite - mainly because it was quite difficult to do, and resulted in a rude hand gesture if performed incorrectly.
[edit] Dusty Bin
Dusty Bin was both the shows "mascot" and its booby prize. Dusty would appear at the very opening of the show's titles flying out of the pre-titles Yorkshire Television chevron logo. Dusty would also appear at the start of each show, dressed in the style of that week's theme, though this didn't occur in the 1987 series, as the programmes did not have a theme as per previous series.
Put together using cutting edge 1980s remote control technology, the original Dusty Bin cost around £10,500 to manufacture - a small fortune in those days.
[edit] Famous Contestants
The very first 1978 show featured an early TV appearance of the then unknown Radio 1 DJ Janice Long as a contestant alongside her then husband Trevor.
[edit] Great 3-2-1 Moments
3-2-1 featured a classic TV quiz show moment where the contestants, despite having already heard the correct solution, were still offering hopelessly wrong answers. It aired as follows:
Rogers: "This is a composer. German by birth, English by adoption. Best known for an oratorio published in 1741. It was called Messiah. You're bound to know his 'handle'."
Female contestant: (presses buzzer) "Oh God, I used to have it at school... Handel's Water Music..."
Rogers: "So who's the composer?"
Female contestant: "Chopin?" (audience shrieks in disbelief)
Rogers: (shrugs shoulders and turns to other team) "So I can offer it to you."
Male contestant: "Beethoven?"
[edit] Recent 3-2-1 History
Shows from the later series have been regularly repeated throughout the 1990s and 2000s on UK satellite channel Challenge as part of their Gameshow Gods programming strand.
