Celebrity Squares (UK)

***Celebrity Squares*** is a game of "Noughts & Crosses" with celebrities based on the American hit, *Hollywood Squares*. It is referred to as "The Big Box Game".

## Gameplay

### Main Game

The two contestants competing takes turns picking off each of the nine celebrities seated in a great big game board. On each star, the host asked a question to that star afterwhich the star would usually give a crazy answer (classified as a zinger) followed by his/her real answer. After hearing the real answer, the contestant in control decided to either agree, meaning the star is correct, or disagree, meaning the star answered with a bluff. If the contestant's judgment/answer was correct, he/she gets the square and money for that square (hence the phrase "nought/cross gets the square"); if the contestant's judgment/answer was wrong, his/her opponent gets the square but no money unless it would mean a win; when that happens nothing would be placed in that square because a win had to be earned by the contestant in control.

The first player to get three-in-a-row or five squares wins the game and more money for that game.

#### Scoring

The value in the 70s version was always £10/square and game. While in the other two versions; in the first half, correct judgments are worth a minimal amount and game wins were worth more. In the second half, the values are doubled; if there was time for a fourth game, they would be doubled again. Here are the values for the other two versions:

 £50
 Sept. Films
 £500

#### Secret Square

In certain games, one of the squares would be dubbed the "Secret Square". The contestant who picked that square would usually have sounds going off to let the contestant, the star, and everybody else know. Then the star would be asked a special question (usually multiple choice). The star gave an answer but without a zinger and if the contestant can correctly agree or disagree with the star's answer, he/she won a bonus prize.

In the ATV version, the second, third, and fourth games were secret square games.

In the Central version, the second game was the secret square game. f the secret square was not revealed in that round, the prize is carried over to the next round, and the secret square is repositioned to a different celebrity.

In the current Warwick Davis version, the Secret Square was renamed the "Mystery Square." A successful capture of that square won a prize attached to that celebrity which is contained in an envelope. A second "Mystery Square" is lurking in the fourth game and that's worth a holiday.

#### Square Essentials

In the Warwick Davis version, the third game is called "Square Essentials." Instead of having the host ask questions to the celebrities, the celebrities gave statements about themselves. The contestants' job is to decide if the statements they hear are truths or bluffs.

#### Speed Round

When there's less than a minute left to play, the game shifts to a speed round where they get through as many questions as they can.

When time is up, the player with the most money went on to the final round.

### Final Round

In the final round, the winning contestant was asked a question, the question has at least nine correct answers. His/her job was to give the nine correct answers in 30 seconds or less with each individual correct answer lighting up a square. If the contestant did that, he/she won a star prize.

#### ATV

The winner had a choice of playing for an additional £100, or risking their money and Secret Square prizes for a chance to augment their cash winnings to £1000. Failure to win the extra £100 added £5 for each correct answer; going for the £1000 and losing lost all but the aforementioned £5 per acceptable answer.

#### Central ("The Monkhouse Motorshow")

The winner and Bob stood in front of a display of five cars. The car, if won, was selected by a randomizer on the game board; the stars' names were replaced by car names. From the second series onward, the choice of their car was selected before the final round started and they got a pick of three different categories for their question. On some occasions, if the contestant failed, their cash winnings were doubled as a consolation.

#### September Films/GroupM Entertainment ("Question Line")

The "Question Line" is any line of three celebrities which their screens show three categories related to them and the winning contestant must choose one of them to play. Each correct answer is worth £1000, but all nine wins £20,000. Series two increased the prize to £25,000.

## Inventor

Based on the American game show *Hollywood Squares*.

## YouTube Links

### 1975 Version

Full Episode

Intro from 1976

Another Intro from 1976

End of Show from 1979