'Television's toughest quiz!' was how Granada's 'The Krypton Factor' was sold to the public. It certainly was one of the longest running, lasting from 1977-95. The objective was to find the person with the 'krypton factor' ( named after the planet 'Krypton' in the 'Superman comics ) - someone possessed of incredible mental agility and physical prowess. Contestants drawn from all walks of life had to solve complicated mental agility puzzles, take part in strenuous runs on obstacle courses, have tested their powers of observation, fit together pieces of plastic to form the letter 'k', and answer interconnected general knowledge questions. It was basically 'Mastermind' with sweat.
The same man presented the show for eighteen years, Gordon Burns, and I took to him because he made no attempt to crack lame jokes or hog the limelight from the contestants.
I liked the show for another reason - the observation round usually showed clips of movies that were not yet on general release, such as 'Star Wars'. After seeing Luke Skywalker and co. escape from the Death Star in The Millennium Falcon, I lost interest in the quiz, and went to find my Dad's paper to check to see if George Lucas' film was currently playing in the local Odeon. Later on, they replaced the film clips with excerpts from 'Coronation Street' ( thanks, guys ). In the 90's editions, Steve Coogan appeared in sketches that gave no hint whatever of the talent that later spawned 'Alan Partridge'.
The physical agility round was harrowing to watch, as you got the feeling the contestants were going through hell running about in track suits, climbing towers, swinging on ropes over pools of dirty water, crawling through concrete pipes etc. I used to pray that my sadistic P.E. teacher - Mr.Welch - never watched the show as I could well imagine him adapting the round for use at my school.
The theme tune changed quite a bit over the years too. The one that sticks out in my mind was by 'The Art Of Noise'. Avant-garde but appropriate.
Granada dropped the show in 1995, but it returned last year, with Ben Shepherd at the helm. I was generally pleased to find it true to the style of the original, with no attempt made to beef it up with celebrities trying to show off, and studio audiences booing as though they are watching a pantomime. A second season is planned for January 2010.
I forgot to mention that the main prize was usually an expensive and beautiful Waterford crystal sculpture. No cash or holidays or cars or anything vulgar like that.
The same man presented the show for eighteen years, Gordon Burns, and I took to him because he made no attempt to crack lame jokes or hog the limelight from the contestants.
I liked the show for another reason - the observation round usually showed clips of movies that were not yet on general release, such as 'Star Wars'. After seeing Luke Skywalker and co. escape from the Death Star in The Millennium Falcon, I lost interest in the quiz, and went to find my Dad's paper to check to see if George Lucas' film was currently playing in the local Odeon. Later on, they replaced the film clips with excerpts from 'Coronation Street' ( thanks, guys ). In the 90's editions, Steve Coogan appeared in sketches that gave no hint whatever of the talent that later spawned 'Alan Partridge'.
The physical agility round was harrowing to watch, as you got the feeling the contestants were going through hell running about in track suits, climbing towers, swinging on ropes over pools of dirty water, crawling through concrete pipes etc. I used to pray that my sadistic P.E. teacher - Mr.Welch - never watched the show as I could well imagine him adapting the round for use at my school.
The theme tune changed quite a bit over the years too. The one that sticks out in my mind was by 'The Art Of Noise'. Avant-garde but appropriate.
Granada dropped the show in 1995, but it returned last year, with Ben Shepherd at the helm. I was generally pleased to find it true to the style of the original, with no attempt made to beef it up with celebrities trying to show off, and studio audiences booing as though they are watching a pantomime. A second season is planned for January 2010.
I forgot to mention that the main prize was usually an expensive and beautiful Waterford crystal sculpture. No cash or holidays or cars or anything vulgar like that.