Treasure Hunt was a popular UK game show, based on the format of the French show La Chasse au trésor. It appeared on Channel 4 between 1983 and 1989 and was revived by BBC Two in 2002-3.

The game

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A team of two contestants, always in the studio, had to use a library of (deliberately relevant) maps and reference materials to solve up to five clues, and communicating instructions via a radio link to a skyrunner who had the use of a helicopter. The contestants were given the first clue for free, the solving of which would lead to the location of the second clue and so on until a trinket or other significant object was found at the end of the route. The contestants won a higher cash prize each time they solved a clue correctly. This was all done "against the clock". Even once the contestants had solved the final clue, the skyrunner still had to confirm they were correct, by reaching the final target.

On closer inspection, the basic premise of the show — that the skyrunner was following the instructions of the contestants in real time — was revealed to be bogus. The landings were all planned in advance; the helicopter would not have been allowed to fly and land wherever the contestants pleased without the relevant permissions from airspace authorities and landowners.

Presenters and crew

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In the original version, the presenter was former BBC newsreader Kenneth Kendall and the skyrunners were broadcaster Anneka Rice (1983-8) and tennis player Annabel Croft (1989). From the second series onwards, another studio based person acted as adjudicator and provided additional information about the locations visited. In series 2 this was Annette Lynton ("Nettie") and from series 3 onwards, former weather-girl Wincey Willis. In the 2002-3 edition, newsreader Dermot Murnaghan presented, the skyrunner was Suzi Perry, and there was no adjudicator.

Keith Thompson of Castle Air Charters was the usual helicopter pilot in both versions, though for overseas editions a local pilot was often used. There was always a "chase" helicopter carrying support equipment and staff, and although this could never be used "tactically" by the contestants, it was not hidden from the viewers. The two crews would sometimes fly in formation to generate exciting footage. Both helicopters were usually Bell 206 "JetRangers".

A feature was made of the camaraderie between the female presenter and the male recording and flight crews, which extended to many infamous shots of the presenter's rear as she ran from clue to clue in a jump-suit.

Broadcasts

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When first shown on Channel 4 in 1983, Treasure Hunt was one of the earliest major series on the then-new channel. The unusual format earned extra publicity for both the programme and the channel itself, which was striving to justify itself with new and different programming.Channel overview from Channel 4 website

The 1983-9 series were later repeated on terrestrial television and the Challenge channel.

For all the UK series, the programme was a Chatsworth Television independent production.

Media clips

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Spin-offs

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An eponymous board game based on the show was published in the UK. It involved moving pieces around a map of England and Wales.

Prior show of the same name

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There had previously been another game show called Treasure Hunt, produced by former ITV franchise Westward Television, and which ran for most of the 1960s and 1970s. It was originally hosted by Kenneth Horne and later by Keith Fordyce. It was only ever shown in Westward's franchise area of south-west England.

References

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External links

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• Episode guide — with exhaustive locations and crew listings plus helicopter registration letters
• UK game-shows website — section on Treasure Hunt
• Tribute site about La Chasse au trésor (site in French with parts in English)
• Rätselflug Forum about the German version of "Treasure Hunt" (in German)

Rätselflug | La Chasse aux trésors

BBC television programmes | Channel 4 television programmes | Game shows | British game shows