Round Britain Quiz
Encyclopedia
Round Britain Quiz is a panel game
that has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4
since 1947, making it the oldest quiz
still broadcast on British radio
. It was based on a format called Transatlantic Quiz, a contest between American and British teams on which Alistair Cooke
was an early participant.
Originally hosted by Gilbert Harding
and Lionel Hale, teams from various regions around the UK
play in a tournament of head-to-head battles. In each half-hour programme, each team faces four multi-part questions with up to six points that are awarded on the host's judgement. The parts of the question generally have a common theme running throughout them, and a degree of lateral thought is often necessary to score full marks. One question for each team has a music or sound component, and another is submitted by listeners. Points are arbitrarily awarded to each team by the host/quizmaster. The teams may ask questions, e.g. to narrow the field. The more they ask, the more marks they will lose.
For many years until his death in 1996, the programme was hosted by Gordon Clough
. The programme was then hosted by broadcaster Nick Clarke
until his death in 2006. He was succeeded at the start of the 2007 series by Tom Sutcliffe
.
The current theme tune is called Scherzo and Trio performed by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra
.
The original theme tune was Radioscope by Georges Delerue
.
Hosts during the programme's history have included Roy Plomley
and Anthony Quinton
. Regional contestants have included Irene Thomas
, John Julius Norwich
, Fred Housego
, Brian J. Ford
, Patrick Hannan
and Philippa Gregory
.
Puzzles like those in Round Britain Quiz (a series of cryptic clues linked by a common theme) have appeared in written form in publications such as BBC MindGames Magazine
.
Panel game
A panel game or panel show is a radio or television game show in which a panel of celebrities participates. Panelists may compete with each other, such as on The News Quiz; facilitate play by guest contestants, such as on Match Game/Blankety Blank; or do both, such as on Wait Wait.....
that has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
since 1947, making it the oldest quiz
Quiz
A quiz is a form of game or mind sport in which the players attempt to answer questions correctly. In some countries, a quiz is also a brief assessment used in education and similar fields to measure growth in knowledge, abilities, and/or skills.Quizzes are usually scored in points and many...
still broadcast on British radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. It was based on a format called Transatlantic Quiz, a contest between American and British teams on which Alistair Cooke
Alistair Cooke
Alfred Alistair Cooke KBE was a British/American journalist, television personality and broadcaster. Outside his journalistic output, which included Letter from America and Alistair Cooke's America, he was well known in the United States as the host of PBS Masterpiece Theater from 1971 to 1992...
was an early participant.
Originally hosted by Gilbert Harding
Gilbert Harding
Gilbert Charles Harding was a British journalist and radio and television personality. His many careers included schoolmaster, journalist, policeman, disc-jockey, interviewer and television presenter...
and Lionel Hale, teams from various regions around the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
play in a tournament of head-to-head battles. In each half-hour programme, each team faces four multi-part questions with up to six points that are awarded on the host's judgement. The parts of the question generally have a common theme running throughout them, and a degree of lateral thought is often necessary to score full marks. One question for each team has a music or sound component, and another is submitted by listeners. Points are arbitrarily awarded to each team by the host/quizmaster. The teams may ask questions, e.g. to narrow the field. The more they ask, the more marks they will lose.
For many years until his death in 1996, the programme was hosted by Gordon Clough
Arthur Gordon Clough
Arthur Gordon Clough , was an English radio presenter and journalist, primarily known for his work on BBC Radio 4....
. The programme was then hosted by broadcaster Nick Clarke
Nick Clarke
Nicholas Campbell Clarke , was an English radio and television presenter and journalist, primarily known for his work on BBC Radio 4....
until his death in 2006. He was succeeded at the start of the 2007 series by Tom Sutcliffe
Tom Sutcliffe (broadcaster)
Thomas Sutcliffe is a British journalist and arts broadcaster.Sutcliffe studied English at Emmanuel College, Cambridge...
.
The current theme tune is called Scherzo and Trio performed by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
The Penguin Cafe Orchestra was a collective of performing musicians created by classically trained British guitarist, composer and arranger Simon Jeffes...
.
The original theme tune was Radioscope by Georges Delerue
Georges Delerue
Georges Delerue , was a French film composer who composed over 350 scores for cinema and television. He won numerous important awards including Rome Prize , Emmy Award , Genie Award , ACE Award and Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1979 for A...
.
Hosts during the programme's history have included Roy Plomley
Roy Plomley
Francis Roy Plomley , OBE was an English radio broadcaster, producer, playwright and novelist.-Early life:Plomley was the son of a pharmacist and was educated at King's College School, Wimbledon...
and Anthony Quinton
Anthony Quinton, Baron Quinton
Anthony Meredith Quinton, Baron Quinton was a British political and moral philosopher, metaphysician, and materialist philosopher of mind.-Life:...
. Regional contestants have included Irene Thomas
Irene Thomas
Irene Thomas was a British radio personality, well known for her participation in quiz shows and panel games from the 1960s until her death....
, John Julius Norwich
John Julius Norwich
John Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich CVO — known as John Julius Norwich — is an English historian, travel writer and television personality.-Early life:...
, Fred Housego
Fred Housego
Fred Housego is a former London taxi driver who became a television and radio personality and presenter after winning the BBC quiz Mastermind in 1980. His specialist subject in the final was 'The Tower of London'...
, Brian J. Ford
Brian J. Ford
Brian J. Ford is an independent research biologist, author, and lecturer, who publishes on scientific issues for the general public...
, Patrick Hannan
Patrick Hannan (presenter)
Patrick Hannan MBE was a Welsh political journalist, author and television and radio presenter.The son of an Irish doctor who migrated to Wales in the 1930s, he was born and raised in Aberaman, near Aberdare in South Wales...
and Philippa Gregory
Philippa Gregory
Philippa Gregory is an English novelist.-Early life and academic career:Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. When she was two years old, her family moved to England. She was a "rebel" at school, but managed to attend the University of Sussex...
.
Puzzles like those in Round Britain Quiz (a series of cryptic clues linked by a common theme) have appeared in written form in publications such as BBC MindGames Magazine
BBC MindGames Magazine
BBC MindGames was a British magazine devoted to puzzles, brainteasers and articles concerning the mind. It was published every four weeks. Its name was taken from the BBC Four show, Mind Games....
.