The Pyramid Game



Steve Jones (1981-90)

Donny Osmond (2007)


Voiceover: Robin Houston (1978-84)


As part of Bruce Forsyth's Big Night: 1978

As part of The Steve Jones Games Show: 1979

As standalone programme:


TVS in association with Chapter One and Talbot Television for ITV, 9 January 1989 to 6 April 1990 (80 episodes in 2 series)






Steve Jones

Whoever had scored the most points after round three would go through to the Winners' Circle. Here, the celebrity would have sixty seconds to convey six subjects, this time by way of lists. For example, if the subject was "Chemical Elements" they could say "Hydrogen, Oxygen" etc... until the contestant got it, they passed or an inappropriate clue was given (cue the aforementioned "honk" if the latter occurred). Of course, the subjects were usually sillier than "Things Not to do with a Kettle", which usually appeared in earlier rounds. The first three were worth a whopping £25 each, the next two £50 and the final one a bank-breaking £100. If they won the Winners' Circle both times, the cash would be augmented to £1,000. One notable point here is that miming was not allowed during this round within either version of the show - in fact, in the Osmond version, the celebrity had to put his/her arms into the straps provided in order not to do so. A celebrity guest on one of the Jones-era shows, the late Claire Rayner, did the next best thing by sitting on her hands during that round - when Jones amusedly picked up on that, Rayner stated firmly, "I don't trust them".



Overall, a decent and durable show, with two competent and affable hosts; not without its faults, but always good-natured and usually conjuring up a good few laughs through the inevitable weird and wonderful misunderstandings between the contestants and the celebs. It definitely passed the time quite happily for many.

Key moments

Behind one of the subjects each day was a 'Lucky 7' symbol (this changed to 'Secret 7' during the Osmond-era), which had its own distinctly average sound motif. If they could get all seven correct within the time they'd win the "lovely" Pyramid Clock - or, in later series, a random prize, such as a TV or a weekend break.

The outtake featured in 'It'll Be Alright On the Night', in which Suzi Quatro, who has been asked to describe words associated with the word 'roll', gets the word 'drum' and says, "Oh, it's a er... - a drum", followed by the inevitable 'honk', and, in her frustration, Quatro utters a swear word, which has been bleeped out.


(Both hosts): "...And you've found the Lucky (or Secret) Seven...!"


"Ready - go!"



(At the end of the show): "...Let's bring everybody out into the Winners' Circle..."



Web links

Wikipedia entry

See also




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