| Hosts | |
| Bob Monkhouse (1980–1983) Max Bygraves (1983–1985) Les Dennis (1987–2002) Andy Collins (2002) Vernon Kay (ASFF 2006-2015) Gino D’Acampo (2020-present) | |
| Announcers | |
| Andrew Lodge (1980-1985) Stephen Rhodes (1986-2000) Peter Dickson (2000-2002, ASFF 2007-2015) Roger Tilling (2002) Lisa I'Anson (ASFF 2006) Penny Layden (2020-present) | |
| Broadcast | |
            | |
| Packagers | |
| ATV (1980–1982) Central (1982–1999) Carlton (1999–2002) Talkback Thames (2006–2011) Thames (2012–2015, 2020-present) | |
Family Fortunes is the British version of Family Feud, lasting from 1980-2002. It was first hosted by comedian Bob Monkhouse (1980–83) then by singer and entertainer Max Bygraves (1983–85). Next after being rested for the whole of 1986, Les Dennis became the new presenter when the show returned on 27 June 1987. Then after he left the show, Andy Collins took over for the rest of the run. The show returned to British television in an all star format with Vernon Kay as the host from 2006 to 2015 before returning to regular families with Gino D'Acampo in 2020.
Format[]
Two family teams, each with five members, are asked to guess the results of surveys, in which 100 people would be asked open ended questions (e.g. "we asked 100 people to name something associated with the country Wales" or "we asked 100 people to name a breed of dog"). Although rarely acknowledged in the show, the 100 people surveyed are invariably audience members who have volunteered before the show.
Each round begins with a member of each family (in rotation, meaning all players do this at least once) approaching the podium. As the question is read, the first of the two nominees to hit a buzzer gives an answer. If this is not the most popular answer, the other nominee is asked. The family with the more popular answer then chooses whether to "play" the question, or "pass" control to the other family.
The host then passes down the line of the controlling team, asking for an answer from each. After each answer, the board reveals whether this answer featured. If not, a "life" is lost. If a family manages to come up with all the survey answers (most commonly six in the early part of the show, reduced in number after the commercial break), they win the amount in pounds of the total number of people who had given the answers. Every time someone gives an answer that is not on the board, the family loses a life, accompanied by a large "X" on the board with the famous "uh-uhh" sound. If they lose all three lives, the other family was given the chance to "steal" by coming up with an answer that may be among those missing. If this answer is present, the other family wins the round and is said to have "stolen" the money; if not, the family who gave the three incorrect answers win the money for their correct answers.
Following three rounds before the commercial break (two rounds in series 1), "Double Money" is played. Gameplay is the same as the first rounds, but each answer is worth £2 for each person who said it, and there are generally fewer possible answers. The family who passed £300 (£200 in series 1) first went on to play "Big Money" (known in some overseas versions as "Fast Money") for the jackpot. In the 2020 revival, the fifth and sixth questions score double points and the family in the lead plays Big Money. Both families would be guaranteed twice their final score.
Big Money[]
This involves two contestants from the winning family answering five questions that fit with those given by the "100 people surveyed", with the questions asked within a narrow time limit. The first contestant answers the five questions within 15 seconds; then the second contestant (who has been out of earshot) answers within 20 seconds (the extra time is available in case the contestant repeats an answer already given). If they get 200 points or more from the ten answers they win the top cash prize:
1980: £1,000
1981: £1,000 + £500 each week it was not won up to a maximum of £2,500 which increased to £3,000 in 1983.
1987: £1,000 a week up to the £3,000 limit.
1988: £3,000
1996: £5,000
2002 daily series: £1,000
2020: £10,000
If the family did not earn 200 points, they won £2 per point (up to £398) to be added to the number of points the family earned in the front game.
From 1994 onward, a bonus star prize was available if all five "top" (most popular) answers were found and they had reached 200 or more points. Until 1998, the star prize would always be a car. From 1998 to 2002, the family could choose either the car or a holiday for up to 12 people. On the 2002 daily series, the star prize was £3,000. On the 2020 revival, the star prize is £30,000.
All-Star Family Fortunes[]
In the current all star run, Vernon Kay (who was previously a contestant on the show during the finals night of Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon) presided over two celebrities and their families competing to win up to £30,000 for a charity of their choice.
Differences to the Original Civilian Shows[]
The show was basically the same as the original except with these differences:
- There were three rounds of Single Money and two rounds of Double Money and then the family who had the most money after this went on to play Big Money, whether or not they had reached £300.
- In Big Money, a loss earned £10 (£3 in 2006) times the points earned in both front and end games, up to £1,990.
- If contestants revealed certain answers their family would win a bonus prize. Prizes were revealed at the beginning of the show.
- The host revealed how many points the number 1 answer in Big Money was worth if the contestant didn't get it.
- Both contestants got a second chance to answer in the front game if they didn't guess correctly. If they still don't get an answer, the next two family members would be called up and given a chance, this went on until someone got an answer. Also if the family members went up for that question, they would be skipped during the next round.
The Gameboard[]
The most iconic aspects of the show are the large computer screen, named "Mr. Babbage" by original host Bob Monkhouse and the famous computerised "Eh-uh" sound used when wrong answers are given. Both were originally designed to appear high-tech but have since become fondly regarded for being quite the opposite (as compared to the original US Feud, which has used a video board since its 1999 revival). The computer screen name "Mr Babbage" was in recognition to the English mathematician, philosopher, inventor, and mechanical engineer who originated the concept of a programmable computer, Charles Babbage.
The 2006 version shows the use of a multi-coloured computerised scoreboard in place of the classic yellow-and-black LED version – the only other time a colour scoreboard was used was briefly in 1987 and 1988.