Sale of the Century

Sale of the Century (1971-1983)

EndedGame Show show

Sale of the Century was a UK game show based on a US game show of the same name. It was first shown on ITV from 9 October 1971 to 6 November 1983, hosted by Nicholas Parsons.

It was one of the most popular shows on the network - spawning the often-mocked catchphrase "and now, from Norwich, it's the quiz of the week".

It has been revived twice: first on Sky Channel from 1989 to 1992 hosted by Peter Marshall and then on Challenge TV from 1997 to 1998 hosted by Keith Chegwin.

The ITV version followed the rules of the original American version. Three contestants start off with £15. Questions are worth different values starting with £1, later increasing to £3, and finally £5; by the final season, the £1 questions were eliminated. The question is asked and players can buzz in at any time. Correct answers add the money to their score and incorrect answers subtract the money from their score with only one player allowed to buzz in on each question.

Streaming

Watch Now

Network
Scheduleevery Saturday (30 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S11E14Episode 14Nov. 6, 1983
S11E13Episode 13Okt. 30, 1983
S11E12Episode 12Okt. 23, 1983
S11E11Episode 11Okt. 16, 1983
S11E10Episode 10Okt. 9, 1983
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did Sale of the Century premiere?

Sale of the Century premiered on September 29, 1969.

Who was the original host of Sale of the Century?

Jack Kelly was the original host of Sale of the Century.

What channel originally broadcast Sale of the Century?

NBC originally broadcast Sale of the Century.

What was the format of Sale of the Century?

Sale of the Century was a game show in which contestants answered questions to earn money, which they could then use to purchase prizes.

How were the contestants selected for Sale of the Century?

Prospective contestants for Sale of the Century were selected from the studio audience.

Who was the announcer for Sale of the Century?

Jay Stewart was the announcer for Sale of the Century.

What was the theme music for Sale of the Century?

The theme music for Sale of the Century was a piece of classical music titled "M\u00e9ditation," by the French composer Jules Massenet.

What were the rules for the "Instant Bargain" segment of Sale of the Century?

During the "Instant Bargain" segment of Sale of the Century, contestants could purchase a prize at a discounted rate by playing a separate mini-game against the other contestants.

How did the "Winner's Board" work on Sale of the Century?

The "Winner's Board" on Sale of the Century was a bonus game in which the contestant had to correctly match prizes with their retail value on a board.

What were the three levels of prizes on Sale of the Century?

The three levels of prizes on Sale of the Century were "Instant Bargains," "Refrigerator Prizes," and "Major Prizes."

What was the highest-value prize ever won on Sale of the Century?

The highest-value prize ever won on Sale of the Century was a $56,394 home in California.

What was the name of the parody sketch of Sale of the Century on SCTV?

The parody sketch of Sale of the Century on SCTV was called "Half-Wits."

Cast

View all cast

Characters

View all characters

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
American Dad!
Running

American Dad!

In American Dad!, Stan Smith leads the all-American family in this animated sitcom filled with wild and crazy extremes. Everyday life is taken to the limit as Stan applies the same drastic measures used in his job at the CIA to his home life. Driven by machismo and the American dream, he often is blind to how horribly he fails at his attempts. This father might not know best, but he never stops trying.

Peaky Blinders
Running

Peaky Blinders

An epic gangster drama set in the lawless streets of 1920s Birmingham.

Mayor of Kingstown
Running

Mayor of Kingstown

Mayor of Kingstown is set in a small Michigan town where the only industry remaining are federal, state, and private prisons, the story follows the McLusky family, the power brokers between the police, criminals, inmates, prison guards and politicians, in a city completely dependent on prisons and the prisoners they contain. It is a stark and brutal look at the business of incarceration.

GenreDrama
Shrinking
Running

Shrinking

Shrinking follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people's lives... including his own.

GenreComedy
Sheriff Country
Running

Sheriff Country

Sheriff Country focuses on straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire's division chief Sharon Leone, who investigates criminal activity as she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater while contending with her ex-con father, Wes, who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower, and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter.

GenreDrama, Crime