Talking Telephone Numbers

{{Short description|British game show}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox television | image = | genre = Game show | creator = | presenter = Phillip Schofield Emma Forbes (1994–96) Claudia Winkleman (1997) | starring = Cash Peters (1994) | voices = Bruce Hammal (1994–95) Enn Reitel (1996) Caroline Feraday (1997) | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 4 | num_episodes = 62 | location = Fountain Studios<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/itv-studios-in-london/wembley-lee-international-film-studios/ |title=Wembley (Lee, Limehouse, Fountain) |publisher=TV Studio History |accessdate=27 December 2021}}</ref> | runtime = 30 minutes (inc. adverts) | company = Celador and Carlton | channel = ITV | first_aired = {{Start date|1994|2|28|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|1997|12|29|df=y}} }}

'''''Talking Telephone Numbers''''' was a British game show that aired on ITV from 28 February 1994 to 29 December 1997 and was hosted by Phillip Schofield and initially Emma Forbes, who was later replaced by Claudia Winkleman. The show's format featured variety acts which were used to generate numbers. Viewers had the chance to win up to £25,000 if the five random numbers generated during the program matched the last five digits of their telephone number in any order.

==Format== An act would perform for everyone watching and play a short game that generated a number from 0 to 9. Five digits were selected in this manner, and these were meant to match the last five digits of a viewer's telephone number in any order. Viewers who did would call the show via an onscreen telephone number, and hopefully be answered by one of 96 telephonists. If one of the telephonists answered them, they would become a potential contestant. While the telephonists took in their calls, a pop singer would sing their latest single or a final act would perform.

A phone line was then picked at random, and that viewer would have a chance to win money. They would then have to answer three questions with numerical answers. Getting them all right won the game; an incorrect answer, however, resulted in another line being picked. This went on until someone won the game.

The winner of the game would be given a choice to either take £10,000 or take a cash prize attached to their telephonist (ranging from £1,000 to £25,000); regardless of choice, the telephonist would reveal their value, which almost nobody took.

==International versions==

===Australia=== An Australian version aired in early 1996 on the Seven Network, hosted by Rob Elliott and Bridget Adams and produced by Grundy and Celador (the show's format creator). It lasted three weeks before being cancelled due to low ratings.

===Malaysia=== In Malaysia, ''Talking Telephone Numbers'' aired on TV3 in 2002 hosted by Khairil Rashid sponsored by TM.

===Serbia=== In Serbia, ''Talking Telephone Numbers'' aired on RTS 1 in 2004-2005 hosted by Aleksandar Srećković, Nataša Pavlović & Irena Spasić.

==Transmissions== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Series !! Start date !! End date !! Episodes |- | '''1''' || 28 February 1994<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260698479/ |title=28 February 1994, 61 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 9 May 1994<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260746656/ |title=9 May 1994, 71 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 10 |- | '''2''' || 4 January 1995<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260686269/ |title=4 January 1995, 59 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 24 April 1995<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260775082/ |title=24 April 1995, 71 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 17 |- | '''3''' || 8 January 1996<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260846163/ |title=8 January 1996, 76 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 29 April 1996<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260915886/ |title=29 April 1996, 65 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 17 |- | '''4''' || 1 September 1997<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260822195/ |title=1 September 1997, 59 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 29 December 1997<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260382387/ |title=29 December 1997, 53 |accessdate=28 August 2019}}</ref> || 18 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|0296436}} *{{UKGameshow|Talking_Telephone_Numbers}}

Category:1994 British television series debuts Category:1997 British television series endings Category:1990s British game shows Category:Carlton Television Category:English-language British television shows Category:ITV game shows Category:Television series by ITV Studios