Catchphrase (1986– ) User Reviews

Kind of Perfect

[Marbles86 · 6 February 2011]

Though it actually pioneered computer animation on television, there's nothing "important" or remotely cerebral about CATCHPHRASE, but the recent addition of CHALLENGE TV to UK Freeview channels has reminded me what an easy-going delight this show was and is to watch. It's a simple concept executed brilliantly. Roy Walker's jokes are corny and cringe-worthy, but that just adds to the charm of the show, and he is an excellent and lovable host. And who wouldn't love Mr. Chips?

Comparing this to DEAL OR NO DEAL is revealing; here the contestants are encouraged to have fun, there they are put into a constant position of frustration. CATCHPHRASE is a game the viewers at home can play and enjoy just as much as the contestants, DEAL OR NO DEAL is a game it's hard to see why people even find it interesting to watch. The prizes on CATCHPHRASE are varied, and no one goes away empty handed (well, unless they play a truly shocking game, which I've yet to see happen). Lest you think I'm looking through the Rose-Tinted glasses of nostalgia, catching an episode of the contemporary FAMILY FORTUNES after CATCHPHRASE on CHALLENGE TV also easily illustrates how much more entertaining CATCHPHRASE was and is than many other game shows.

CATCHPHRASE is a show I'm sure many people find easy to be cynical and sneery about, but I also dare say I think many people would find it hard not to enjoy its simple charms when stumbling upon an episode on TV.

It's good and it IS right!

A pointless revival

[studioAT · 2/10 · 28 April 2013]

Yes, Catchphrase is a classic game show and yes it's nice to have it back but surely when it's revival was discussed they could have thought of some ways to tweak or dare I say improve the format. The catchphrases are now in 3D - so what?! The tired format was the reason it got cancelled in the first place. That seems to be the way with television at the moment. Take something off, give it a couple of years and then bring it back instead of thinking of something new.

Stephen Mulhern is the only bright spot in the whole revised show. Funny and charming he may be that's not enough to entertain me in this show that feels very familiar.

You're better off watching the repeats of the show from the 80's. At least then you can have added fun looking at the old hair styles and outfits.

Excellent in its time

[k_mobius1 · 8/10 · 18 June 2008]

Energetic gameshow in which 2 contestants try to guess a well known phrase or title from what appears on the board to win a cash prize. The player with the most cash gets the Super Catchphrase, where they get to play for a luxury holiday.

Undoubtedly an entertaining show, if not for the animations but definitely for the light entertainment and wonderful atmosphere provided by the legendary Roy Walker.

When the show returned with a new look and a new presenter, it didn't feel the same but it was still a pretty decent gameshow with some surprisingly high-value prizes and cash to give away. Unfortunately, as time went on the show never gained the charm it once had, certainly not under its last daytime hail under former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry. It's unlikely to return, but it will be remembered fondly for a while yet.

''It's a good one but it's not right!''

[Rabical-91 · 8/10 · 15 May 2018]

It has been a very long time since I saw 'Catchphrase' but I do remember enjoying it enormously, at least when it was presented by Roy Walker. The likeable Irish presenter had a wonderful persona and a unique delivery, as well as, ironically, giving the show some memorable catchphrases such as ''say what you see and if you see it, say it!'' and ''It's a good one, but it's not right!''.

It was all like this - a screen onstage would show an animation combining words and objects. Of what was on screen the contestants would then have to try and devise a catchphrase from the picture. For instance - the word 'job' appears on screen and a human hand would then clamp down on the word. No, the answer is not what you are thinking you dirty minded people, the answer is, of course, 'holding down a job'! Sometimes appearing on the screen giving clues was the show's mascot 'Mr. Chips', a gold coloured animated robot. The contestant who scored the most points would then have to take part in the general knowledge round.

That's really all I can remember about the show. It was re-ran on the satellite channel Challenge some years back but has not been seen for sometime. Though the show came to an end in 2015, I gave up watching it after Roy's departure, he just made the show his own. We need badly to be reminded about how good the show used to be when he was in charge!

A Must See Quiz Show

[Big Movie Fan · 15 December 2002]

I must have watched almost every episode of Catchphrase from 1986-1999 when the charismatic comedian Roy Walker presented it. It was a fantastic show with a fantastic host.

There would be two contestants in front of a big screen. On the screen, there would be animated pictures and the guests would have to guess the phrase. "Say what you see," were Roy Walker's words as the contestants played for money and a chance in the final. The prizes were very good as well.

Roy Walker left the show in 1999 and he was replaced a year later by Nick Weir and then Mark Curry, neither of which were as charismatic as him. Roy Walker is a genuinely nice bloke and very funny so it was hard to see him go so I wouldn't recommend the post-Roy Walker years.

Catchphrase

[jboothmillard · 8/10 · 16 February 2011]

When I was younger, and when I see repeats today, this was, and still is from repeats, one of my most favourite game shows, it is quite disappointing that it is not still going on in any format. I may have watched the 2000s version with new presenters, Nick Weir (popular for falling down the stairs, once even breaking his leg), and ex-Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry (blonde with red-lined glasses), but for me and of course all other viewers it was the original host that made the show work. Roy Walker hosted the show from the start, 1983 until 1999, he was a really nice guy and as fitting the title he had many catchphrases, including sarcastically praising a wrong answer, "Say what you see", "Five seconds, here we go", "It's good but it's not right", "Your back in play" and "Riiiiiiiiiiight!". The mascot of the show, featuring in the opening titles, in many of the animations, and in the end credits, was the yellow robot-like man wearing the purple (or red) bandanna, Mr. Chips, often pointed out by Walker, saying "There's Mr. Chips and "What's he up to?". The game is a simple game where two players, always male and female, watch a piece of animation with characters, words and objects, and identify a familiar phrase, at first after a bell sound, then for The Ready Money Round without a bell. The game consists of one-off catchphrases to guess, and a main catchphrase hidden behind nine squares, slowly revealed to be guessed from the squares removed, this takes four rounds. The player with the most amount of money at the end of four rounds would be the one playing for a luxury holiday, the destination chosen at the beginning, correctly identifying five phrases hidden behind twenty five letters, A-Y, M always being the holiday answer, and completing a line of five horizontally, vertically and diagonally would be a win. It is great fun to play along at home, because you can identify the catchphrase yourself, and hope that they do too, a fantastic family game show. It should be noted one of the most memorable catchphrases, hidden behind squares, was "Snake Charmer", as it was slowly revealed it looked like Mr. Chips masturbating, and then doing something rude with a snake, it was broadcast, and is now considered an outtake. Very good!