TV Gold

Admittedly it was particularly stilted and slow back in the studio and those clues were megga devious and hard to work out but I loved getting to see so much countryside both in the UK and overseas during its admittedly epic run.

Didn't get to see the 2003 return on BBC but have just found this rather comprehensively detailed site which also provides links to other themed sites like the shortlived laughably bad "Interceptor" that quickly died a death...

http://fp.martinunderwood.f9.co.uk/Treasure%20Hunt/

..and the forum - http://forum.interceptors-lair.com

Just to refresh your, and other peoples memories a clip from Wiltshire... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0gWPPACCbU&mode=related&search=

...and then this around Alton Towers... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO4LQjvA9UU&mode=related&search=

...and with a James Bond theme... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWCgyJhXO3k&mode=related&search=

amazing what you find on YouTube!!!

I do a few hours a week in the Oxfam bookshop here in Southampton city centre and working my way through a pile of books which I've been pricing yesterday I came across a pristine copy of 'The Treasure Hunt Book', a Channel 4 1986 title (ISBN:0600550737).

Apart from a minor (christmas wishes) inscripition on the inside cover this 112 page book is an excellent find and I've valued it at only £1, down from it's initial £7.95 sale price.

Needless to say I've snapped up this fascinating book!

(NB:hoping to say more about this book in a future post!)

I'll come back to the book but first here's this...

I guess it was that surprise find earlier this week of the 1986 hardback 112 page Channel 4 ‘Treasure Hunt Book’ (ISBN:0600550737) in the Oxfam bookshop where I at present do a few hours a week pricing stock that was the inspiration for this.

Looking at that colour photo spread across pages 22 and 23 it marvellously illustrated that the unique adventure game show had previously strayed from the traditional framework and gone instead down the celebrity guest route. On that occasion (as seen in the picture toasting the successful conclusion of the game with Moet champagne) we find regulars Kenneth Kendall and Anneka Rice as contestants with Ned Sherrin as guest host standing next to adjudicator Wincey Willis. For this special edition the role of skyrunner featured not one but three popular celebrities of that time in the form of Gemma Craven, Wayne Sleep and Kenny Lynch.

Recalling this started me thinking hypothetically who would you pick to feature in a celebrity special if it was made today?

Let’s start by establishing what I feel are some useful basic parameters necessary for success…

Well firstly you need someone with the suitable amount of gravitas and authority but with an amount of charm and reassuring appeal to viewers who can act as a form of sanity amongst the humourous manic mayhem that might potentially ensue from other participants in the program. The role of adjudicator does not necessarily have to be someone you’d naturally assume would be good in the role, infact the complete opposite might make for more entertaining input that the more reserved regular incumbents of the position during the original 80’s era of the series. An element of comedic potential from the two contestants whom maybe are more known for their comedic performances but may surprise viewers with their clue solving abilities. As with the original celebrity special this new version should have not one but three sky runners, each of which I feel should be used to solve two clues before their part in proceedings is concluded, this would therefore allow for two advert breaks. Also I feel it should be six clues to be solved in sixty minutes as opposed to the more traditional five clues in forty-five minutes. In this twenty-first century age in which we live I’m certain that any modern interpretation of ‘Treasure Hunt’ would dispel with the sky runner’s bulky headset and pack and they would not have to be followed by two men carrying a large camera and sound recording equipment. However I think it is important that the distinctly unique sporty athletic nature of the show should remain by the skyrunner continuing the tradition of wearing florescent unisex jumpsuits to indicate whilst this is a light-hearted venture the individuals participating are serious in their desire to solve the clues that have been set. A celebrity edition of “Treasure Hunt” undoubtedly means that the participants are attempting to win prize money for their nominated charity and this is something that I and I’m sure most people would wholly approve of and endorse but let’s not have this special buried away as some intermittent feature in something like Red Nose Day or Children In Need. It’s strong enough to stand on its own to illustrate that beyond this special the idea is well worth reviving in a regular series format.

So to get things started here’s my suggestion for a potentially enjoyable celebrity special of ‘Treasure Hunt’

To act as guest host, betraying my keen interest in ‘classic series’ Doctor Who I’d pick dear Nicholas Courtney, an actor that I have the ultimate respect and admiration for not just undoubtedly for his extensive series participation as primarily Colonel/Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. He has a warm engaging personality and I feel he would fit in very well aiding the contestants and liasing with the various sky runners and the adjudicator.

If you’ll allow me I would like to pick one more ‘classic series’ Who star as I feel the one person whom could potentially be the complete opposite to a polished adjudicator will be mad, scatty but endearing Katy Manning (best known for playing popular Pertwee era assistant Jo Grant). Plotting the position of the helicopter, keeping a check on the time and on occasion being strict with Nicholas and the contestants could be quite amusing!

Having seen them on a previous episode of “Top Gear” where they featured in the ‘star in a reasonably priced car’ section I think the pairing of Johnny Vaughn and Denise Van Oughton has excellent comic potential. Although I rather doubt Johnny will be that intuitive in unravelling the answer to each clue I tend to think Denise will be a rather studious studier of the reference books and offer an effective counterpoint to Johnny’s manic nature.

Each mystery celebrity will begin their initial communication with the studio only by describing their location so that the program host and contestants can establish the starting point on their map and also attempt to discover the identity of their unknown participant. Contrasting, outgoing, easily recognisable personalities are, in my opinion key here and my three skyrunners would be as follows…

Starting off with the athletic, bubbly and highly energetic Bonnie Langford who has, in my opinion, long since shed I suspect the perceived young grating personality of her early acting career as personified as Violet Elizabeth in the ‘Just William’ stories.

What I feel would be virtually the complete opposite would be for Bonnie to hand over skyrunner duties to Mr Motormouth himself Jeremy Clarkson whom knowing him would try to get out of the jumpsuit outfits and turn up before the break probably wearing some oily boiler suit. I guess that would be the nearest we get him to wear something different than the usual faded blue jeans he always seems to wear. However I guess after the break Bonnie might have bullied him into wearing a more suitable jumpsuit with the reminder that it is after all ‘all for charity’! You’d get the same kind of familiar attitude that we’ve come to expect from him but it will be fun watching him attempting to break into a run, against the clock, on behalf of the contestants!

Finally yet another complete change of pace as Jeremy hands over pursuit of the final two clues to Julian Clary for I guess worthy comic potential in the latter exciting stages to find the treasure at the final location. However might he get too easily distracted and not focus on the matter in hand?

Anyone got any suggestions based around my advisory show parameters???

right then regarding the book - posting one...

For those of you not familiar with the 1986 Channel Four ‘The Treasure Hunt Book’ (published in association with Chatsworth Television) this Hamlyn Publishing Group hardback title (ISBN: 0600550737) runs for 112 pages and comprehensively covers all aspects of this popular 80s adventure game show. With interesting and informative text further embellished by a combination of both insightful black and white behind the scenes shots and full colour evocative photos conveying the most memorable aspects of the series (like for example full page two shot of Anneka attempting to paddle a gondola style boat containing herself, Graham and Frank across a stretch of water, the helicopter in clear sight nestling in the trees on the bank behind with distinctly unintentional comic effect!) this is indeed a mighty strong publication. Aside from the usual first (Page 7 – Forward by Anneka Rice (with large colour of the yellow jumpsuited presenter smiling to camera infront of the familiar helicopter)) and last page (Page 112 which pulls together general and illustration acknowledgements plus an index) the basic contents were as follows…

The main section running from Pages 8 through to 55 inclusive under the title of “The Making of Treasure Hunt” written by Candida Geddes covers all aspects of the show over six sub headings.

Pages 56 to 98 gives you an ‘Armchair Treasure Hunt Competition’ created by Peter Arnold with consultant input from Anne Evans. On that first page of this section Kenneth Kendall offers some pointers to the uninitiated as to how to solve the Treasure Hunts that follow.

Lastly there is a bit of fun from pages 99 to 111 as Patricia Pierce gives advice about how to ‘Organise your own Treasure Hunts!’

posting two...

Within “The Making of Treasure Hunt” the first chapter (pages 8 to 14) proudly proclaims the familiar opening phrase “Hallo, and welcome to this week’s Treasure Hunt’. The first paragraph of this excellently illustrates the unique appeal of the show particularly on its initial winter transmission slot when it follows this proud statement by going on to say…

“At these words, millions of Channel Four viewers sharpen their wits, hands poised over reference books, in their weekly attempt to prove that if only they were in the studio, they would direct the lovely Anneka Rice, Treasure Hunt’s famous skyrunner, accurately and speedily towards the treasure. Millions more people sit back to have the dark winter evening brightened by spectacular aerial views of some of Britain’s loveliest countryside, filmed in an apparently endless sunny summer climate, and cheered by the equally sunny personality of the skyrunner.”

The initial few lines of text of this section of the book are located to the right upper corner of page ten thereby keeping clear of the main element of the double page colour photo spread of a side on shot of the familiar yellow and white Treasure Hunt helicopter (G-BHXU) with both Anneka and cameraman Graham clearly visible from the open framed door apertures of the craft as they fly across a particularly mountainous piece of rural countryside, the picture of which undoubtedly taken from the adjacent communication helicopter. Flicking ahead to subsequent pages in this first headed section there is a marvellous shot on page twelve taken from the title sequence shot where the series helicopter pilots show their great skill in manoeuvring their machines. On the opposite page I certainly agree with Anneka’s reasons for feeling that this is her favourite photograph of herself, dressed in orange jumpsuit and waterproof jacket, communication pack and headphones clearly visible as she beams a smile to the camera as the helicopter waits patiently in the background of the hilly wooded area to which they were currently located ready to whisk them off on another contestant guided adventure.

Within this first chapter the three presenting personalities of the current 1986 series gain a few pages with Anneka starting off from page fifteen to twenty. Colour pictures once again break up the informative and interesting text including a glimpse at Anneka’s top floor fully quipped gymnasium (page 15), hugging a Florida Sea World dolphin (page 16), closely inspecting a horse for signs of the vital clue with Graham in close attendance (page 17), a double page spread with our skyrunner typically in the midst of a crowd of children at a Punch and Judy show in Llandudo, North Wales (pages 18 and 19) and talking with a lucky Jim’ll Fix It child keen to accompany her in the search for a clue (page 20). Pages 21 to 24 focus on studio host Kenneth Kendall with the best photo, a double page spread showing Kenneth, Anneka and Wincey sharing champagne with guest host Ned Sherrin and celebrity skyrunners Gemma Craven, Wayne Sleep and Kenny Lynch (pages 22 and 23). Our series adjudicator at the time of this books publication, Wincey Willis rounds out the presenting trio with pages 25 and 26 focusing on her participation in the show with photos of here on set (page 25) and preparing for the show in the make up chair (page 26).

posting three...

Chapter Two entitled “Be Prepared!” (pages 27 to 37) is replete with more fascinating photos from the show goes into greater detail as to what is involved in creating the series, significantly opening with a page 27 photo of clue writer Anne Evans standing in front of four shelves of books covering a wide selection of reference information to further supplement her own prodigious memory. This chapter is further strengthened by yet more colour pictures illustrating the diversity of activities Anneka gets involved in like for example the sights of her joining a rowing team (bottom of page 33 with Graham and Frank looking/recording on from a following motorboat), gaining a clue from Penny a Welsh Mountain Zoo chimp (top of page 34) and watching a demonstration of tradition a weaving techniques at a folk museum in Wales (bottom of page 34).

Chapter Three’s “Lovely coms, Nigel… Nigel?” (pages 38 to 42) touches on the programs technical aspect of communication between helicopter and studio and this complex web of communications devised by Nigel Penton Tilbury is effectively conveyed in the detailed illustration at the top of page 39. Amongst the four pictures on offer I particularly liked the photo of Frank, Graham, Anneka and Keith relaxing with ices during a break in filming on page 42.

Mobile camera and sound as provided by Graham Berry and Frank Meyburgh are covered in Chapter Four “Life behind the lens” (pages 43 to 49). Once again we are treated to some first rate pictures from the show like the two thirds double page shot (pages 44 and 45) of our intrepid trio taking to the streets on Oxford’s most popular form of transport. Bicycles are fine unless you’re a video recordist with a broken basket but ever resourceful, Frank holds the vital cable in his teeth, steers the bike with one hand and holds the basket with the other as he pedals after Annie and Graham along Broad Street. Turning the page we see three small pictures spread across the middle of pages 46 and 47 with a blue jumpsuit attired Anneka managing to keep running for some three quarters of a mile, laughing and filming all the way. Another classic double page shot fills pages 48 and 49 as Anneka stands close to a particularly attentive large pig peering over a stone wall at Acton Scott Farm Museum in Shropshire.

We focus on activities in the studio for Chapter Five which goes under the title “…and in front of the lens” with two familiar pictures one colour (Kenneth stands around the customary map table with two nervous contestants ready for the start with a floor manager also in attendance, page 50) and one in black and white (Anneka giving her usual opening ‘where we are this week’ piece direct into camera, page 52).

Pages 53 to 55 seem similar in written tone advancing the previous Chapter with six and final title of “Ready to go…” and effectively wraps up ‘The Making of…” section quite well.

and finally posting four...

Following Kenneth’s two pages of ‘Treasure Hunt Clue pointers’ we next launch into the ten ‘Armchair Treasure Hunt’ challenges (a section that takes in pages 56 to 98 inclusive with a competition that closed on 16th March 1987), each of which following the same format of ten cryptic clues down the left hand side with a grid to fill in your answers. Certain squares of this grid are shaded and the letters form a Treasure Chest key word. Taking up most of the page are a selection of pictures relevant to specific clues and over the following two pages is a Michelin road map to plot your course.

The venues of these ten are as follows…

1 – With Royals and Castles in Wales and the marches
2 – Among palaces and stately homes
3 – Famous people in East Anglia
4 – Historic Devon and Cornwall
5 – Yorkshire and a literary flavour
6 – Midlands miscellany
7 – With the poets in Lakeland
8 – Rocks and ruins in Wessex
9 – Amid Lochs and Glens in Scotland
10 – Racing and writing in the South East

The ‘Organise your own Treasure Hunts!’ section (running from page 99 through to page 111 inclusive) effectively raps up the whole adventure game concept by relating it to a more easily realised experience for the general public. In the variety of scenarios you could explore the writers consider ‘a treasure hunt on foot for children’, ‘a car treasure hunt’, ‘a river treasure hunt’, ‘a treasure hunt in a city’ and ‘a treasure hunt on horseback’.

This really is a first rate publication rapped in an attractive light blue faded map cover adorned with the familiar ‘Treasure Hunt’ program logo and diagonally slanted pictures of Anneka, Kenneth and Wincey plus the integral G-BHXU yellow and white helicopter. If you ever wanted to know the exact specifics of the series replete with a selection of some of the most memorable series images this is definitely essential reading if you are fortunate enough like to track a copy down!

Interesting reading Sarah. I remember Treasure Hunt as being ground breaking television when it was first broadcast back in the early 1980's. Anneka Rice was so bubbly and enthusiastic and strange as it seems now, it was must watch TV.

I get to plenty of second hand bookshops so i will keep an eye out for it.

Adding to this thread I'd like to point out that those of you whom have access to satellite channel More4 they will feature as part of their Channel 4 25th Anniversary celebrations will be showing the first ever "Treasure Hunt" show tonight (30/10/2007) - 11.05pm - 12.10am

Just found the first season of this on 'memories-tv.com'... http://memories-tv.com/detailsTreasureHunt1.htm

Rather tempting I think!!!