Everybody's Equal is a game show that originally aired on ITV from 7 June 1989 to 22 July 1991 and hosted by Chris Tarrant. It was later revived under the name Whittle and aired on Channel 5 from 31 March to 30 December 1997 with Tim Vine as host. Versions also existed in many European countries, plus Canada. Elements of the show resemble Tarrant's future hit Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, particularly its "Fastest Finger First" game; in addition, the US-based mobile game HQ Trivia.
Versions were broadcast in Canada, France and Japan.
Format 200 contestants were asked a question with four options and those who got it right were asked another. This continued until fewer than ten players survived, at which point they face four questions which were worth £50 each. If more than ten players remained after the sixth question, the ten fastest players went through. The player who correctly answered the final question the fastest went on to play the final round. The winning contestant was to place four things into the correct order, to win £1,000. If they got it wrong, the money was divided equally between all the other contestants.
On the original version of the show, Chris Tarrant would routinely "name and shame" the contestants who voted for the most outlandish answers – most memorably the first game of the first show where all but one contestant voted for the correct answer. At the start of each show, the host would introduce the “Four to Follow” contestants, pre-selected by the computer as the most likely to win the game, and regularly check in to see if they were still in the game as it progressed.
In the revival, likely due to lower budgets, the main prize is £250 or £500, depending if the contestant wanted to take on the offer. This time if one of the ten remaining contestants were out of the game, they would have to wear a "Whittle Mask", which consists of a purple "W" from the show's logo graphic on a yellow disc with eye holes to see out of.
Reception Hillary Kingsley of the Daily Mirror praised the show, writing, "Everybody's Equal is good fun, the questions aren't too taxing, we can all play along at home and the contestants seem relatively normal, unlike the brain donors they sometimes get on Big Break. But the biggest plus is Tarrant himself. I'm not sure I'd want to buy a used car from him, but at least he doesn't take himself seriously. With some of the jackets he wears, he daren't."
In a 1989 review, the columnist Norman Harper wrote, "It is a novel idea and one which works rather well. It is a shame that people who answer wrongly are singled out for the glare of ridicule, but presumably they knew the risks before they agreed to take part. It is also worth watching for the vigorous and prolonged handshaking offered by host Chris Tarrant to each week's victor." In a 1991 review, Harper stated, "The format is as trite as every other gameshow and there is a flaw of sorts in that the audience can't develop a rapport with the contenders — because there are 200 contenders. The strength of Everybody's Equal is host Chris Tarrant. It was a colleague who pointed out that, alone among TV hosts, Tarrant doesn't patronise the participants, and it's true. He doesn't use them as foils for well-rehearsed wit and the show has a relaxed, matey, pleasing air as a result. Good stuff."
Transmissions ITV Series Start date End date Episodes 1 7 June 1989 19 July 1989 7 2 30 July 1990 22 July 1991 10
Channel 5 Series Start date End date Episodes 1 31 March 1997 27 June 1997 65 2 29 September 1997 30 December 1997 65
International versions Country Name Host(s) Channel Dates aired (Quebec) Que le meilleur gagne Alain DumasGrégory Charles Radio-Canada 1993–1996May 2007 Que le meilleur gagne Laurence BoccoliniNaguiLaurent PetitguillaumePhilippe Lellouche with Anne-Sophie GirardLa Cinq (1991–1992)Antenne 2 (1992)France 2 (1992–1995; 2012–2015)M6 (2024–2025) 4 March 1991 – 22 December 19952012–20152024–2025 Ο Καλύτερος ΚερδίζειO kalyteros kerdizei Miltos MakridisYolanda Diamandi ANT1 1994–1997 100-ból egy András Vízy RTL Klub 1997–1999 Vinca il migliore Massimo Giuliani Telemontecarlo 28 June 1993 (pilot)CampionissimoGerry Scotti Italia 1 5 July – 15 September 1993 Vinca il migliore Canale 5Italia 1 1996 クイズ!当たって25%Quiz! Atatte 25% Shinsuke ShimadaWakako Shimazaki TBS 28 June 199117 October 1991 – 26 March 1992 オールスター感謝祭All Star Thanksgiving Festival Koji ImadaShinsuke ShimadaWakako Shimazaki 5 October 1991 – present テレビ進学塾TV Prep School Shinsuke ShimadaSato B-saku 1993 オールスター後夜祭All Star After Party Hiroiki AriyoshiKazumi Takayama 2018–2025 خليك معناKhalik Mana Serge Zarqa MTV 1999–2002 Sto plus jeden Grzegorz Halama Nasza TV 1998 كل يوم مليونKil Youm MalyoonTurki Al-ShabanahRotana Khalijia2007–2008 Aquí jugamos todos Miriam Díaz-ArocaRamón García TVE 1 1995–1996
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