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50/50 (British game show) facts for kids

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50/50
5050Logo.png
The pill logo used from Series 2 onwards. The original logo consisted of two bubbles arranged diagonally.
Genre Children's game show
Presented by Sally Gray (1997–2002)
Angellica Bell (2003–04)
Sophie McDonnell (2005)
Narrated by Matthew Davies (1998–2000)
Gary Martin (2001)
Dave Kelly (2001–05)
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 9
No. of episodes 118 (inc. 4 Christmas specials)
Production
Running time 25 minutes
Production company(s) BBC Scotland
Release
Original network BBC One
Picture format 576i (4:3) (1997–2000)
576i (2001–2005)
Original release 7 April 1997 (1997-04-07) – 12 July 2005 (2005-07-12)

50/50 is a British children's television game show for BBC television. Airing on BBC One's children's television block, it was first broadcast on 7 April 1997 and ended its run on 12 July 2005 after 9 series. Repeats aired on BBC One, BBC Two and the CBBC channel until 2009.

Sally Gray hosted the show from its inception until 2002, followed by Angellica Bell until 2004 and Sophie McDonnell in 2005. The voice of the show's computer, named 'Flynn', was provided by Matthew Davies between 1998 and 2000, then by Gary Martin in 2001 and finally by Dave Kelly from 2002 to 2005.

The show features a competition contested by two teams, each represented by schools, of fifty 11– and 12–year–old pupils who are randomly selected to take part in physical games and quiz rounds to score points. In addition, all players vote in 'true or false' questions to observational rounds. In most series, prizes were awarded to both schools, but a trophy was awarded to the winning team from series 5 onwards.

Format

The contestants were also the studio audience who sat in raised seating in opposite sides of the studio, and watched the games take place between the teams whilst supporting the chosen contestants. The two schools competing were originally represented by the T-shirt colours orange and green before they changed to blue and yellow for the second series in 1998. The contestant numbers were randomly selected, each used once only, for both teams (occasionally one team only) and announced and displayed by a large-screened computer named 'Flynn'. The physical games usually consisted of inflatable obstacle courses, similar to those found in other children's game shows such as Get Your Own Back, Fun House, Run the Risk and Pump It Up. Quiz rounds also featured, as well as an observational round featuring a pop music video in which all contestants played by voting 'true' or 'false' on keypads.

The winning team won a prize for their school, and in later series a glass trophy. Official merchandise was given to both teams for taking part.

Transmissions

Series

Series Start date End date Episodes
1 7 April 1997 16 June 1997 9
2 6 April 1998 3 August 1998 13
3 12 April 1999 26 July 1999 13
4 3 April 2000 17 July 2000 13
5 2 April 2001 16 July 2001 13
6 15 April 2002 22 July 2002 13
7 8 April 2003 8 July 2003 14
8 6 April 2004 13 July 2004 15
9 5 April 2005 12 July 2005 15

Christmas Specials

Date
28 December 1998
26 December 1999
25 December 2000
26 December 2001
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