Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
How to get on TV Game Shows and WIN BIG in 2019!
George Brown
14th Dec 2018
We’ve all had hopes of making it to the silver screen but very few of us ever really make it. However, if you successfully apply for a game show, you could have the chance of making serious money.
There are a huge number of TV shows currently looking for contestants, many with significant cash prizes, which is why we’re going to help you understand what you need to do to apply successfully.
Click on any of the points below to skip to each respective section, or read on to get the full article.
- Applying for a game show online
- Tips for a game show interview
- Tips for winning a game show
- The game shows currently recruiting for contestants
We’ll also post links to the web pages that you need to apply to so make sure to share this article with family and friends if you think they would be great on national television!
We have a number of other articles on making money when getting involved with film and TV, so do check them out after reading this one.
Make money as a film or TV extra
Make money creating your own game show
Make money by renting out your home as a film set
Applying for a game show online
Each game show on television has its own unique application process, complete with bespoke questions and hoops to jump through.
This is because each show wants good characters which the audience will connect with and support through the competition.
So, you want to make sure you really sell yourself and put energy into the language that you use while also making sure you come across as ‘normal’.
Though this might sound tricky, all it means is you should be yourself and talk about what makes you who you are.
Some game show applications may also ask you to shoot a short video of yourself, giving a reason as to why you would be a good contestant – this may only be an optional option, but if you get the chance it’s a good idea to include a short clip with your application.
It gives your application more of a ‘human’ feel and it will help you stick in the mind of producers instead of just words on a screen.
Tips for a game show interview
If your online application is successful, you will move onto the next stage, which may consist of a phone call, a video call or a face to face interview.
This is when you really have to focus on getting your personality across while appearing to be relaxed – which is important if you are going to appear on TV.
For each show, the interview process will be slightly different, however the main questions will be around availability and whether you can make it into the studio at a certain time and day, which can often be at short notice.
It might be extremely difficult to get time off work a couple of days beforehand, and though we would never advocate ‘pulling a sickie’, it might be the only way to get onto the show if you can’t get the time off as holiday!
During the interview, you may be asked a few general knowledge questions and it isn’t important that you get them right, it’s actually better that you get a few right and a few wrong as a lot of the game shows don’t want loads of brain boxes on their shows!
It’s also important to try and relax while showing your enthusiasm for the show and the format, which you should also know inside out.
Tips for winning a game show
If you get through the interview process, you’ll be invited to a studio and given the chance of winning a cash prize.
Make sure to remain calm (if possible!) and spend time preparing for the show.
Try to watch a good amount of previous broadcasts and make a note of the type of questions that get asked in order to do your homework as effectively as possible.
Remember, game shows work like casinos and betting firms, they are always trying to get contestants to go for the bigger money and take risks in order to sacrifice their current position, which may be a very strong one.
This is what makes for good television and so the incentives to take risks are very high, however if you find yourself in a great place and have money to take home, do consider how much of a difference that would make to your life!
Open game show applications
There are a large number of TV shows that have open applications at the moment, but the only ones we’ll list are the ones on which you can make some actual money, because we’re sure that you’re not here to learn how to apply for Jeremy Kyle!
The Chase
The Chase has grown in popularity over the past few year and the ‘Chasers’ have even begun to grow as celebrities in their own right – Ann Hegerty has even recently appeared on, ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!’.
The show offers cash prizes from as little as a few hundred pounds to be slit between 1-4 people or tens of thousands.
Cash Trapped
Cash Trapped is another show hosted by Bradley Walsh which tempts contestants to try to increase their winnings by taking bigger risks.
As opposed to The Chase, you will not be on a team of other contestants, instead you’ll be up against five other members of the public and only one of you will take home the final cash prize.
5 Gold Rings
5 Gold Rings is a show which uses games instead of questions to test out contestants. Much like the hugely popular ‘The Cube’, players have to use their hand-eye coordination in an attempt to take home a massive cash prize.
!mpossible
!mpossible is a show in which there is no right or wrong answer, only the impossible one.
The cash prize is fixed at £10,000 and, due to the fact that you don’t have to be a complete brainbox to be able to win, this is a great show for people to try their luck on.
The BBC Family Competition
This is a competition which tests the skills and knowledge of an entire family, so if you think you have some especially smart kids, this is the perfect show to try and win a big pot of cash.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
The show with the biggest cash prize of them all.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire has returned to ITV and is now hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, who has taken over from Chris Tarrant.
The show is a global phenomenon and competition to apply will be huge considering the amount of money on offer.
This will be the hardest game show to get on but the reward could be life-changing so go for it if you think you have the personality to make it all the way!
Great ideas if you’re confident enough to appear on TV.