4 Square (game show)

4 Square
Genre	Game show
Created by	Toby Freeman
Presented by	Michael Groth (1988) John Sachs (1989-91)
No. of series	4
No. of episodes	109
Production
Running time	25 minutes
Release
Original network	BBC One
Picture format	4:3
Original release	3 May 1988 – 31 October 1991

4 Square was a BBC Television daytime quiz programme that aired on BBC One from 3 May 1988 until 31 October 1991. The programme was first hosted by Michael Groth for series 1 and then hosted by John Sachs from series 2 to 4.

Gameplay

Pair the Squares

Pair the Squares was a Concentration/Memory-typed game.

This round had a 6x6 game board with 36 numbered squares; behind those numbered squares were symbols. The players took turns picking four squares. If any two of them consist of matching symbols, the player who found the match scored two points, had those squares turned to that player's color, and continued his/her turn by choosing two more (one if there was a leftover square). If no match was made or if one player took the necessary two turns, his/her opponent took a turn. If four of the squares of one player's color were arranged in one large square, that contestant received a 5-point bonus.

Pick a Picture

This round also had a 6x6 game board with 36 numbered squares; behind the majority of those squares were pictures. To start the round, both contestants picked four free squares each. Now each contestant in turn picked one square by number and revealed a picture behind it. On each picture, the host read a question associated with that picture. A correct answer to that question scored 1 point and captured that square; but if the answer incorrect, the square & point went to the opponent. As before, upon a capture, the captured square turned that player's color, and whenever four squares of one player's color were arranged in one large square, that contestant received a 5-point bonus. But to make things difficult for the players involved, four or seven squares contained "Gremlins" (indicated by sad faces); if any one of those were exposed, that square automatically went to the opponent. The round continued until there were no more 4 Square possibilities.

The Maze

In this round, each contestant had 60 seconds (one minute) to go through a maze. There were 10 junction points all around the maze. On each junction point, the host read a "true or false" statement, and the contestant in control locked in his/her true or false answer by pressing one of the two buttons in front of him/her. A correct answer scored 1 point and continued down the maze, but an incorrect answer forced the player to hit a dead end. If the player in control can answer 10 questions correctly, he/she was out of the maze and was asked a bonus question. If both players made it through, only faster of the two players got the bonus question.

The game ended with another "Pair the Squares" round, or in later shows, the rest of the "Pair the Squares" round. The player with the most points continued on in the tournament.

Transmissions

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	3 May 1988[1]	26 May 1988[2]	16[2]
2	11 September 1989[3]	2 November 1989[4]	31[4]
3	10 September 1990[5]	31 October 1990[6]	31[6]
4	9 September 1991[7]	31 October 1991[8]	31[8]

References

1. "Four Square - BBC One London - 3 May 1988". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
2. "Four Square - BBC One London - 26 May 1988". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
3. "Four Square - BBC One London - 11 September 1989". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
4. "Four Square - BBC One London - 2 November 1989". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
5. "Four Square - BBC One London - 10 September 1990". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
6. "Four Square - BBC One London - 31 October 1990". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
7. "Four Square - BBC One London - 9 September 1991". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
8. "Four Square - BBC One London - 31 October 1991". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2 June 2015.

External links

• 4 Square at UKGameshows.com