Top of the World (TV series)

Top of the World is a quiz show series that was produced by Thames Television and aired on the ITV network for one series in 1982. The programme was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from Thames' studios in London.

In the first 12 episodes, there were three contestants, all connected via satellite: one in Thames' UK studio; one at the studios of ABC Television in Sydney, representing Australia; and one at the studios of PBS member station WPBT in Miami, representing the United States.

The game consisted of three rounds. In the first round, each contestant was asked four questions about the UK, four about Australia, and four about the USA (for example, what was the name of this bridge; each correct answer was worth one point. In the second round, each contestant had two minutes to answer questions on a chosen subject, with each correct answer worth two points; returning champions were asked general knowledge questions. The final round was a four-minute buzz-in round; each correct answer was worth three points, but an incorrect answer resulted in losing three points. The player with the highest score won and came back the next week.

In addition to competing against each other, the contestants were competing against the other 11 contestants from their own countries. After 12 episodes, the contestants with the highest scores in their countries competed against each other; the Australian and USA players were flown to England, and all three contestants competed in the same studio. (The American champion was mystery writer William L. DeAndrea.) The winner, Jim Eccleson from the United Kingdom, received what was billed as "the world's top prize" - an early-20th Century Rolls Royce (which, in one episode, was said to have appeared in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).

Transmission guide

• Series 1: 13 editions from 7 January 1982 - 6 April 1982