Going for Gold

I have fond memories of being shown this as a child.

Actually, let me rephrase that - I have fond memories of the very catchy theme song and how my mother would (and still does) sing a long to it, knowing every single word.

The actual game itself remains a bit of a mystery, and from watching clips again online looks totally bizarre.

It's certainly not the sort of format I image people are rushing to reboot in 2025 based on our troubled times across the world.

Of course I must add RIP Henry Kelly too, as he has passed not long ago at the time of me writing this review. He managed to make a bizarre format look stellar.

In a unique twist, contestants from around Europe competed in a three-stage quiz game, answering general knowledge questions in order to qualify for the final and win a prize.

Although my memories of this show are a bit fuzzy, I remember the rounds very well. Starting with an elimination, before moving on to a round where they answered for more points depending on difficulty, then a "chain" round where they had to get as many right in a row as they could and ending with the 4-3-2-1 descriptions round depicted above.

The host, Henry Kelly, is most likely the classiest gameshow host I've ever seen on telly, and he supported the show very well. The "Euro quiz" idea was a unique, yet slightly barmy, concept as well, I remember an incident where a contestant kept buzzing in just for the hell of it! I enjoyed this show during its run, but wasn't too keen on five's cheap remake, One To Win. It was good while it lasted, but desperately needs to be re-run at some point for the benefit of those who didn't see it first time round.

A quiz that drew it's contestants from across Europe. It started with a large group answering general knowledge questions as a group, as each reached a set number of points they went through to the next round with the last to reach it being eliminated. Other rounds featured questions asked against a clock of diminishing points and solo rounds.

This was once a lunchtime favourite and indeed the idea was repeated in another game show years later (I forget the name) expect without the European element. It was all very entertaining but the European thing made it feel very cheesy. The grand prize was always grand but so very far away in terms of number of shows you had to go through to get it. The rounds idea was clever but it didn't really have anything special and was never able to climb out of being a daytime TV show to be prime time.

Henry Kelly was a so-so host with one major flaw - his accent. It's difficult enough for me (from Northern Ireland) to get every word he says in his thick Irish brogue, but for contestants from all over Europe to have to come to Britain and understand him made it extra difficult for those not from GB. Any European who won deserved it because they were doing it in their second or third language and working past the accent as well! I think UK TV did it deliberately just so someone English could be on TV and win - of course they didn't anyway!

Overall, just another daytime TV game show that came and went - cringe-worthy sometime due to the cheesiness of the host and the ability of our European brothers!

A general knowledge quiz, hosted by Henry Kelly, featuring contestants from all over Europe.

School sick days and summer holidays, Going for Gold was essential viewing back in the day, it was such a catchy idea, I loved it.

It always seemed a little unfair, those that didn't have English as their first language were at something of a disadvantage,

Expect 80's graphics, a few familiar faces, terrible suits, lots of waving, big hair and a memorable tune, shockingly created by Hans Zimmer.

I was so sad to hear that Henry Kelly had passed away, he was a terrific host, classy and charismatic, amusing but never silly.

Worth seeking the grand final featuring Egghead Daphne Hudson, a memorable winner.

The attempted reboot just didn't work, it truly was a product of the 80's.

8/10.

I remember being about 3 Years old at the time when this came out. It was always in the lunchtime slot after "Neighbours". The theme song for G4G sounded like something performed by It Bites. From what I remember, Henry Kelly was quite a joker. I just hope Challenge TV pick this show up one day...