Sale of the Century

Sale of the Century (1971-1983)

EndedGame Show show

Sale of the Century was a UK game show based on a US game show of the same name. It was first shown on ITV from 9 October 1971 to 6 November 1983, hosted by Nicholas Parsons.

It was one of the most popular shows on the network - spawning the often-mocked catchphrase "and now, from Norwich, it's the quiz of the week".

It has been revived twice: first on Sky Channel from 1989 to 1992 hosted by Peter Marshall and then on Challenge TV from 1997 to 1998 hosted by Keith Chegwin.

The ITV version followed the rules of the original American version. Three contestants start off with £15. Questions are worth different values starting with £1, later increasing to £3, and finally £5; by the final season, the £1 questions were eliminated. The question is asked and players can buzz in at any time. Correct answers add the money to their score and incorrect answers subtract the money from their score with only one player allowed to buzz in on each question.

Network
Scheduleevery Saturday (30 min)

Last Episode

Episode 14
Season 11Episode 1430 min

Episode 14

Nov 6, 1983

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S11E14Episode 14Nov 6, 1983
S11E13Episode 13Oct 30, 1983
S11E12Episode 12Oct 23, 1983
S11E11Episode 11Oct 16, 1983
S11E10Episode 10Oct 9, 1983
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did Sale of the Century premiere?

Sale of the Century premiered on September 29, 1969.

Who was the original host of Sale of the Century?

Jack Kelly was the original host of Sale of the Century.

What channel originally broadcast Sale of the Century?

NBC originally broadcast Sale of the Century.

What was the format of Sale of the Century?

Sale of the Century was a game show in which contestants answered questions to earn money, which they could then use to purchase prizes.

How were the contestants selected for Sale of the Century?

Prospective contestants for Sale of the Century were selected from the studio audience.

Who was the announcer for Sale of the Century?

Jay Stewart was the announcer for Sale of the Century.

What was the theme music for Sale of the Century?

The theme music for Sale of the Century was a piece of classical music titled "M\u00e9ditation," by the French composer Jules Massenet.

What were the rules for the "Instant Bargain" segment of Sale of the Century?

During the "Instant Bargain" segment of Sale of the Century, contestants could purchase a prize at a discounted rate by playing a separate mini-game against the other contestants.

How did the "Winner's Board" work on Sale of the Century?

The "Winner's Board" on Sale of the Century was a bonus game in which the contestant had to correctly match prizes with their retail value on a board.

What were the three levels of prizes on Sale of the Century?

The three levels of prizes on Sale of the Century were "Instant Bargains," "Refrigerator Prizes," and "Major Prizes."

What was the highest-value prize ever won on Sale of the Century?

The highest-value prize ever won on Sale of the Century was a $56,394 home in California.

What was the name of the parody sketch of Sale of the Century on SCTV?

The parody sketch of Sale of the Century on SCTV was called "Half-Wits."

Cast

Nicholas Parsons

Nicholas Parsons

plays himself
View all cast

Characters

Host

Host

played by Nicholas Parsons
View all characters

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