Going for Gold (1987–1996) User Reviews

Unique concept in its day

[k_mobius1 · 7/10 · 18 June 2008]

In a unique twist, contestants from around Europe competed in a three-stage quiz game, answering general knowledge questions in order to qualify for the final and win a prize.

Although my memories of this show are a bit fuzzy, I remember the rounds very well. Starting with an elimination, before moving on to a round where they answered for more points depending on difficulty, then a "chain" round where they had to get as many right in a row as they could and ending with the 4-3-2-1 descriptions round depicted above.

The host, Henry Kelly, is most likely the classiest gameshow host I've ever seen on telly, and he supported the show very well. The "Euro quiz" idea was a unique, yet slightly barmy, concept as well, I remember an incident where a contestant kept buzzing in just for the hell of it! I enjoyed this show during its run, but wasn't too keen on five's cheap remake, One To Win. It was good while it lasted, but desperately needs to be re-run at some point for the benefit of those who didn't see it first time round.

This show brings back sooo many memories...

[Honkon · 2 February 2002]

I remember being about 3 Years old at the time when this came out. It was always in the lunchtime slot after "Neighbours". The theme song for G4G sounded like something performed by It Bites. From what I remember, Henry Kelly was quite a joker. I just hope Challenge TV pick this show up one day...

what a waste of time.

[simon3818 · 1/10 · 12 March 2009]

I saw this on Wednesday 11th March and thought great. I loved the original show.

That was at 12:47pm By 1:13pm I had lost the will to watch it (along with the will to live). The format is pretty much the same as the original with Henry Kelly without the foreign contestants (guests) nor the first eliminator round. The first round Beat the Buzzer was OK with the traditional format and then at 12:56pm the host announced the break - OK a bit quick for a British TV game show. The next 4 minutes were wasted with some charming young lady announcing the viewers game; with a question a 3 year old could answer. The break and then back for another 4 minutes of the viewers game question and then continue round 1

Round 2 4 in a row - again pretty much the same as before with another break, half way through the round,for the viewers question where the hostess repeats herself more times than Jive Bunny.

The final round - similar to the original but no points target this time. The competition finished at 1:35pm. Hang On!!! there's 10 minutes left and yep, you got it, the viewers question which was another very simple one to answer and thats without the hostess giving it away.

This show has been taken down, mucked about and ruined. Basically. I couldn't even bring myself to re-tune for the Going For Gold Extra.

Whoever thought this up needs their P45 sent to them very very quickly

Silly and cheesy daytime TV

[bob the moo · 16 January 2002]

A quiz that drew it's contestants from across Europe. It started with a large group answering general knowledge questions as a group, as each reached a set number of points they went through to the next round with the last to reach it being eliminated. Other rounds featured questions asked against a clock of diminishing points and solo rounds.

This was once a lunchtime favourite and indeed the idea was repeated in another game show years later (I forget the name) expect without the European element. It was all very entertaining but the European thing made it feel very cheesy. The grand prize was always grand but so very far away in terms of number of shows you had to go through to get it. The rounds idea was clever but it didn't really have anything special and was never able to climb out of being a daytime TV show to be prime time.

Henry Kelly was a so-so host with one major flaw - his accent. It's difficult enough for me (from Northern Ireland) to get every word he says in his thick Irish brogue, but for contestants from all over Europe to have to come to Britain and understand him made it extra difficult for those not from GB. Any European who won deserved it because they were doing it in their second or third language and working past the accent as well! I think UK TV did it deliberately just so someone English could be on TV and win - of course they didn't anyway!

Overall, just another daytime TV game show that came and went - cringe-worthy sometime due to the cheesiness of the host and the ability of our European brothers!