Every Second Counts (UK game show)

Every Second Counts is a British game show based on the American game show of the same name. It aired on BBC1 between 8 February 1986 and 29 October 1993 and was hosted by Paul Daniels.

Format

Gameplay was almost identical to the American version. Each week, three married couples competed against each other to win seconds of time. In each half of the game, one member of each couple sat in the "driver's seat" and answered questions (which were all statements, each with two possible answers). Each correct answer earned seconds, while an incorrect answer eliminated that player from the round. Correct answers in the first half won two seconds, and correct answers in the second half earned four seconds. Players had a choice of two categories of questions for each round.

Bonus round

Each half of the game also had a bonus round in which each couple had a chance to earn up to ten additional seconds. Each couple, starting with the couple in third place, chose a category, and a question with one right answer was read. Once the question was read, the couple had ten seconds and as many guesses as they needed to give the correct answer. If they gave the correct answer, the leftover time was added to their score.

The couple with the most seconds of time at the end won the game. If the game ended in a tie, a toss-up tiebreaker question was asked and the first player to buzz-in with the correct answer scored one additional second and won the game. The winning couple won a chance to play the final round. The two losing couples received a pair of Every Second Counts watches and an Every Second Counts clock (strangely depicted with the US version's logo).

Final round

In the final round, the winning couple used the time they earned in the game to win prizes. To start, the couple choose one of two categories from which to complete statements. Each category had three possible answers that could be used to complete the statements. For every statement completed correctly, a light was extinguished, and extinguishing all lights won a prize. The couple won the first prize for the first four lights extinguished. The couple won a second prize after extinguishing the next five lights. The third prize required six lights to be extinguished. The final prize, a holiday, could be won if the next seven lights were extinguished. Otherwise, the couple received £50 for every second leftover. It did cause some confusion, however, in that only two prizes could be won. The first (4 lights) was kept automatically and then a second increasingly 'valuable' prize was added (5, 6 or 7 lights extinguished)

Transmissions

Series

Specials

External links

• Every Second Counts at the Internet Movie Database
• Every Second Counts at UKGameshows.com