Weirdest kids' gameshows – gunge games, medieval escapes and cryptic challenges

If you grew up during the 80s and 90s you’ll likely remember spending most of your childhood watching CBBC, CITV or Nickelodeon, clocking countless hours watching kids get slimed and hiding under the covers watching Goosebumps.

Kids’ game shows were the perfect excuse to avoid homework and watch kids win some cool prizes like Pogo Balls and bucket loads of cash.

We all have our favourites, from Jungle Run, which saw kids take on obstacle courses through the ruins of an ancient temple, to 90s fun that pitted two schools against each other like 50/50.

As the years go on, kids’ gameshows have only gotten weirder and wackier. Let’s take a look back at some of the weirdest kids gameshows from the past.

Splatalot

This medieval-themed gameshow first aired in the UK back in 2011 hosted by Jason Agnew and Matt Chin.

The theme of the show was often dubbed a medieval version of Total Wipeout for kids and was inspired by a strange mix of punk and rave fashion.

Viewers watched 12 kids take on large, extreme obstacle course and compete in three rounds of competition including Cross the Moat, Ditch the Dungeon and Capture the Crown.

The 12 competitors, known as attackers, would take on a squad of nine medieval-themed gladiators, who are tasked with protecting the castle from the Attackers.

The winning Attacker is crowned King or Queen of Splatalot.

This king or queen was able to then choose an attacker to punish in one of many ways, such as throwing them into the water with a catapult.

Horrible History: Gory Games

Early noughties kids will remember this gunge-filled trivia gameshow that saw excited kids take on quizzes or physical challenges based on a certain era of history.

The show was hosted by comedian Dave Lamb and Rattus Rattus, a puppet plague rat, with the losing team getting gunged by sliding down the time slide into a pool of oozing brown liquid.

The show, which was a spin-off of hit children’s sketch comedy Horrible Histories, was so popular it was adapted into an iOS/Android app, allowing players to play along with the contestants.

In 2013, the show was nominated for a Children’s BAFTA award in the category of Entertainment.

50/50

This classic 90s gameshow was the ultimate after-school show that pitted two schools against each other in games of skill, strategy, and athletics.

Kids couldn’t wait to see their own city represented, and screamed at the TV when someone tripped on an obstacle or fell into a trap.

The physical games usually consisted of inflatable obstacle courses where kids would jump onto a giant, rocky, inflatable round table with a giant sphere hanging above them.

Competitors also took on trivia challenges and observational rounds featuring a pop music video.

The winning team won a prize for their school, and in later series a glass trophy.

Legends Of The Hidden Temple

This Nickelodeon classic combined action and adventure as kids took on the temple filled with lost treasures protected by mysterious Mayan temple guards.

Hosted by Kirk Fogg and Dee Baker, six teams of two children compete to retrieve one of the historical artefacts in the temple by performing physical stunts and answering questions based on history, mythology, and geography.

Contestants trying out had to compete in several physical tasks, including rope climbing and running, as well as a written test.

During the final temple challenge, kids collect mystery prizes that are then revealed to be things like cameras and game consoles.

Escape from Scorpion Island

This BBC children’s TV adventure game show had its own unique spin as it carried a storyline that continued across the whole season.

Viewers saw kids take on challenges to win bonuses that would help them escape the Island they were trapped on.

Whoever won the final challenge escaped the island while the losing team were left behind.

The show was filmed in a variety of different locations and each series introduced different challenges and storylines.

The challenges were usually a mix of both mental and physical challenges, including transporting certain objects from one area to another while suspended in the air on wires, abseiling down a rock or cliff-face and completing a large jigsaw puzzle.

The final escape consisted of bigger, more tougher challenges done in multiple stages where everyone on each team is involved, and whoever wins each stage would get an advantage in the following stage.

The show was presented by three different sets of presenters – Caroline Flack and Reggie Yates, JK and Joel, and Myleene Klass and Johny Pitts.

Beat the Boss

This BBC business gameshow was essentially a kids version of The Apprentice as viewers watched kids compete against adults to create a product for the children’s market.

The Bright Sparks, aka the kids, and The Big Shots, aka the grown-ups, would put their product in front of a panel of children to vote for their favourite and the team with the most votes won a trophy and a limousine ride home, while the losers took the bus.

The show didn’t air long as complaints began to ring in about how boring the contestants found the filming process.

The show’s host Saira Khan has said she felt more like a scolding teacher than an actual collaborator – so watching Beat The Boss after school just felt like detention.

Dick And Dom In The Bungalow

Who doesn’t want to see kids get doused in shaving cream, custard and chocolate sauce?

Saturday mornings were never better when kids played games including everything from roulette-style food gambling, hilarious races involving babies and dancing around with their pants on their head.

Presented by the duo Dick and Dom (Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood) points were earned through success in various games throughout the show, including “Bogies!”, which saw kids situated in a quiet public place such as a museum or restaurant taking turns to shout “bogies!” at gradually increasing volumes, and sketch puppet shows.

The first and second prizes were usually desirable items such as a TV or games console, but the third prize was always a booby prize such as a hubcap, a cake made of carpet, a hairy cheese, or a chocolate tea pot.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk