The Edge

Revision as of 10:39, 26 April 2015

Synopsis

Quiz show combining general knowledge and bowling.

Contestants answer questions to get the chance to bowl a ball down a custom-built alley. If a player rolls a ball into a winning cash zone they bank cash, but if it rolls off the edge, they win nothing.

Four players stand in front of a set lit in the BBC daytime colours of black and black. The programme begins with a quiz round, simple general knowledge question with a simple answer.

First to give four answers wins, and wins the first choice of four lanes on which to bowl. The lanes are narrow, and protected by rails so balls cannot roll out. Each lane is longer than the next, but each ends in 20 narrow strips, each a few inches wide, about twice the size of the ball. These strips are marked with money, starting at £1, then £10, £50, £100, and rising by £50 to £900, £950, and the titular Edge, initially worth £1000. There's nothing if the ball falls over the edge.

The quiz continues, but rather than continuing from where we got to, all the scores are reset.

After this opening round of questions has finally finished, each person gets one ball to bowl. Whoever scores the lowest is eliminated with nothing. Though players pick their lane, the play is always shortest to longest. Round winners may pick a longer lane so they know what they're aiming for. If there's a tie, there's a one-ball bowl-off, closest to the edge without going over wins.

Whoever bowled off the edge, or scored the least money, is off the show. Another quizz round for the three remaining players, but with a gimmick. Each answer in this round comes in two parts: the two people to have done something, a two-word phrase. Four correct answers gives choice of the lanes, and again the scores reset after one player has won.

Second time at the rink, each player sends two balls up their lane. The first player to qualify has the standard lane. The second will have one "danger zone" assigned at random, replacing the usual value with £1. The last player has two "danger zones" assigned. With the titular Edge worth £2000, and nothing for dropping off the edge, the lowest total score leaves the game.

Round three, a bit like round two. Three part answers to the questions, first to four wins pick of the two remaining lanes, and gets to set one "danger zone" for their opponent. Three bowls each, lower total leaves, and the one player remains.

Before the final round, there's a timed round of questions. 75 seconds, four parts to each. Every correct answer extends the titular Edge by one of the cash zones: five right answers and the Edge is now about two feet long. The player's able to choose their risk: get it in one for all the money they've built up in the earlier rounds. Or take two balls for half the cash, or take three for a third of the money.

Viewers had a number of problems. The "danger zones" subtracted from the spectacle, and the final used just one of many ways to make the game easier. Mostly, there was too much quiz and not enough bowling. Resetting the scores to zero smacked of padding the programme to fill a slot.

Catchphrases

"The game show with brains — and balls!"

"Let's roll!", said before every single bowl.

Inventors

Jamie Ingley and Mark Espley, developed by Leon Wilde and BBC Entertainment London team

Theme Music

Marc Sylvan is credited for "music".

Trivia

Before the recording starts, players are allowed some practice rolls, so they can gauge the strength they need to overcome friction in the playing surface.

External links

Official site

Wikipedia entry

Show discussion and recording report from Bother's Bar.

Fifty 50 discussion

See also

Weaver's Week review

Quiz Bowl, a quiz show based on American football.

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