Talking Telephone Numbers

Talking Telephone Numbers is a British game show that aired on ITV from 28 February 1994 to 29 December 1997 and was hosted by Phillip Schofield and initially Emma Forbes, who was later replaced by Claudia Winkleman. The show's format featured variety acts which were used to generate numbers. Viewers had the chance to win up to £25,000 if the five random numbers generated during the program matched the last five digits of their telephone number in any order.

Talking Telephone Numbers
GenreGame show
Presented byPhillip Schofield
Emma Forbes (1994–96)
Claudia Winkleman (1997)
StarringCash Peters (1994)
Voices ofBruce Hammal (1994–95)
Enn Reitel (1996)
Caroline Feraday (1997)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes62
Production
Production locationFountain Studios[1]
Running time30 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companiesCelador and Carlton
Release
Original networkITV
Original release28 February 1994 (1994-02-28) –
29 December 1997 (1997-12-29)

Format

An act would perform for everyone watching and play a short game that generated a number from 0 to 9. Five digits were selected in this manner, and these were meant to match the last five digits of a viewer's telephone number in any order. Viewers who did would call the show via an onscreen telephone number, and hopefully be answered by one of 96 telephonists. If one of the telephonists answered them, they would become a potential contestant. While the telephonists took in their calls, a pop singer would sing their latest single or a final act would perform.

A phone line was then picked at random, and that viewer would have a chance to win money. They would then have to answer three questions with numerical answers. Getting them all right won the game; an incorrect answer, however, resulted in another line being picked. This went on until someone won the game.

The winner of the game would be given a choice to either take £10,000 or take a cash prize attached to their telephonist (ranging from £1,000 to £25,000); regardless of choice, the telephonist would reveal their value, which almost nobody took.

International versions

Australia

An Australian version aired in early 1996 on the Seven Network, hosted by Rob Elliott and Bridget Adams and produced by Grundy and Celador (the show's format creator). It lasted three weeks before being cancelled due to low ratings.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, Talking Telephone Numbers aired on TV3 in 2002 hosted by Khairil Rashid sponsored by TM.

Serbia

In Serbia, Talking Telephone Numbers aired on RTS 1 in 2004-2005 hosted by Aleksandar Srećković, Nataša Pavlović & Irena Spasić.

Transmissions
SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
128 February 1994[2]9 May 1994[3]10
24 January 1995[4]24 April 1995[5]17
38 January 1996[6]29 April 1996[7]17
41 September 1997[8]29 December 1997[9]18

References
  1. "Wembley (Lee, Limehouse, Fountain)". TV Studio History. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. "28 February 1994, 61". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  3. "9 May 1994, 71". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. "4 January 1995, 59". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  5. "24 April 1995, 71". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. "8 January 1996, 76". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  7. "29 April 1996, 65". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. "1 September 1997, 59". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  9. "29 December 1997, 53". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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