Learn how to apply for game shows and you’ll be in a position to test your mental mettle in Mastermind’s iconic black chair, earn a fortune on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, or even make your earliest TV appearance before striking it big. Stephen Merchant (on Blockbusters), Stephen Fry (on University Challenge), and Amanda Holden (on Blind Date) did just that.
How do you get on game shows? Although mental agility is crucial once you’re there, understanding the casting process and what producers want will be of more help than knowing the capital of Peru or how to ace anagrams. With that in mind, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to bagging a place, from initial application to successful audition – with a few tips from those who went before you.
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1. Find opportunities.
“Everybody seems to share a view that television is some magic land that only a few privileged people get to have access to,” four-time UK game show contestant Dave Lawrie writes in Den of Geek. “This is complete bunk. If the show you have in mind features members of the public as contestants or ‘stars,’ then there is no reason that you cannot apply.”
Networks remain eager to cast contestants and usually open applications months before the final deadline. Check out current casting calls at:
Follow Cast Me on X or Contestant Collective on Facebook for the scoop on upcoming auditions.
2. Submit a compelling application.
Most UK game show applications request the standard personal information, including:
- Name
- Age
- Location
- Contact details
- Recent headshot (make it as professional as possible)
They’ll also pose some personality questions. Responses to these questions are what really count with casting producers, since they’re hunting for personality! How do you apply for game shows and actually get selected? Here are a few tips:
- Be detailed: “Application forms are usually full of very open-ended statements,” Lawrie says. “Think of an answer, and write it out in good detail (casting teams like detail!).”
- Be yourself: Don’t emulate who you think producers want – they aren’t seeking the same old, same old. “We are looking to cast a diverse range of people,” a Mastermind spokesperson told the Leicester Mercury. “As well as regular quizzers, we also want to encourage people who might not usually apply for quiz shows to get involved.”
- Save and reuse your best answers: Simplify multiple applications by keeping a record of detailed answers to common personality questions. “After completing about 50 application forms…you do start to get a feel for what the production team are looking for,” says eight-time UK game show contestant Di Coke.
You should also:
- Play the odds: Thousands of people Google, “How do I apply for game shows?” So consider it a numbers game. Apply to multiple shows, including those that are lesser known, brand new, or feature multiple contestants (such as ITV’s The 1% Club).
- Apply promptly: Casting usually kicks off right when applications start coming in, so every spot may be taken by the stated deadline.
Pique the production team’s interest and they’ll get in touch for an informal chat that typically ends with general-knowledge questions. Here’s how to ace it.
1. Be prepared.
Calls may come almost immediately – Mastermind contestant Sirin Kale got hers the very next day – or it may be a while. One contestant on The Chase was contacted four years after applying, and some shows – such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – keep applications for future series. Be ready to chat with casting and learn the show’s ins and outs from the second you apply.
2. Don’t stress the trivia.
Questions aren’t posed to gauge your wisdom – it’s more about how you react. “If you choose a quiz, never worry about these too much,” Lawrie says. “They want someone with a good field of knowledge, but not necessarily the ones that know everything.”
3. Be clear and confident.
Shrinking violets make poor viewing. Speak clearly and openly as if talking to a friend. Be yourself and let your personality shine.
4. Be flexible.
Successful candidates get an audition, typically near a large city and at short notice. Since contact is often made soon after applying, make sure you have plenty of availability for filming the show.
Game show auditions are your final step before being shortlisted for the actual show. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You’ve already beaten the odds – but you’re not quite there yet.
Follow these game show audition tips to avoid falling at the last hurdle.
1. Know the show.
Understanding the rules and knowing which segments you’re looking forward to will impress producers. So will knowing the tone and audience. “If you know your show, you can work out how to behave at the audition,” says Lawrie, who credits treating “the whole thing as a bit of a lark” for his failure to get on The Weakest Link.
“Look, particularly, at the people who are on the show,” game show guru Scott Hostetler, a contestant on 20 US and UK game shows, writes for BuzzerBlog. “They’ve already made the selection. You can see what they’re wearing, you can see how they’re acting.”
2. Prepare.
Rehearse answers to common on-air queries, such as what you do for a living and what you would do with the prize money. That will help you avoid drawing a blank or stumbling over your words.
“Think carefully in advance about what to say about yourself at the audition and practise a one-minute introduction,” Cole says. “You need to stand out, but you also need the viewers to be able to relate to you!”
3. Be memorable.
“If you are memorable for any reason, you will be in with a good chance of getting on the show,” Jordon Cox writes for MoneySavingExpert. “They will be auditioning sometimes hundreds of people, so you need to stand out.”
Follow advice from Eric Mueller, a contestant on seven US game shows: “The casting agents I’ve worked with make it clear that they’re looking for a few key factors in a contestant: tons of energy, ability to play the game…and a ton of personality. Along with those elements, a great story helps a lot.”
4. Engage the team.
Everyone involved in UK game shows wants you to excel, so be open to any notes or advice on your performance and show eagerness to improve.
“If you go in with a positive attitude, a smile on your face, you’re engaged with them, you’re not sitting back,” Hostetler says. “You have to let them know, hey, I’m here, I want to be on this show.”
5. Be professional.
Professionalism counts with everyone from production assistants to directors. Follow instructions, be on time, and be respectful. Try to keep a smile on your face, wear something clean and tidy, and appear well-groomed.
6. Be flexible.
Knock their socks off and you’ll be offered filming dates. Accept as many as possible – even if you’ll only be a standby contestant – and never complain about scheduling or request more money. (Game shows typically don’t offer a fee for participating, but they usually pay for accommodation, travel, and meals.)
“This is part of the test!” Lawrie says. “If you quibble about times or locations or costs then, well, they’ll choose someone else.”
You’ve passed the audition (whoop!) and made the short list. What now?
Expect to sign a contract, receive final details, and be briefed on what to bring. “In most cases, you’ll need three or four changes of outfit to ensure you don’t clash with the set or the other contestants,” Coke says.
Upon arrival, you’ll be invited to make yourself comfortable in the green room before getting your hair and makeup done. Filming may take several days, but longer shoots are a plus. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so enjoy every second!
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
- Network: ITV
- Filmed in: Salford
- Biggest win: £1,000,000 (won seven times)
Answer 15 increasingly challenging questions for an increasingly large cash prize. Apply here.
The Chase
- Network: ITV
- Filmed in: Borehamwood
- Biggest win: £75,000
Work as a team with three strangers to answer more questions than the Chaser. Apply here.
Tipping Point
- Network: ITV
- Filmed in: Bristol
- Biggest win: £20,000
Answer general-knowledge questions to win counters, and then use them on a huge coin pusher to win prizes and cash. Apply here.
The 1% Club
- Network: ITV
- Filmed in: Salford
- Biggest win: £99,000 (won twice)
Logic and reasoning tasks whittle 100 contestants down to one, who must then answer a question only 1% of people get right. Apply here.
Pointless
- Network: BBC
- Filmed in: Borehamwood
- Biggest win: £24,750
Work with a friend or family member to pitch the most obscure correct answers. Apply here.
Mastermind
- Network: BBC
- Filmed in: Belfast
- Top prize: Prestigious Mastermind etched glass bowl
Sit in the famous black chair for one round of general knowledge and one on your specialist subject. Apply here.
Countdown
- Network: Channel 4
- Filmed in: Salford
- Top prize: Clock-shaped teapot (lifetime subscription to Oxford Online and a laptop for the series champion).
Work through 15 rounds of word and number puzzles to win the game, come back for the next show, then potentially rise to series champion. Apply here.
Deal or No Deal
- Network: ITV
- Filmed in: Maidstone
- Biggest win: £250,000 (won nine times)
Eliminate boxes assigned different cash values until you make a final deal with the Banker. Apply here.
