Through the Keyhole

Infobox Television
show_name = Through the Keyhole


caption =
format = Comedy panel game
picture_format = 4:3 (1987 - 2000) 16:9 (2001 - present)
runtime = 60mins (inc. adverts) (ITV & Sky One) 45 minutes (BBC One)
creator =
starring = Sir David Frost (Host) Loyd Grossman (Co-host: 1987 - 2003) Catherine Gee (Co-host: 2004 - 2006) Lisa Snowdon & Stefanie Powers (Co-hosts: 2007 - present)
channel = ITV (3 April, 1987 - 19 June, 1994) Sky One (1995) BBC One (7 April, 1997 - present)
first_aired = 3 April, 1987
last_aired = present
num_series =
num_episodes =
country = UK
producer = Yorkshire Television (ITV) Paradine Productions (Sky One & BBC One)
related =
imdb_id =

"Through the Keyhole" is a light-hearted panel game, hosted by Sir David Frost where panelists are given a video tour of a mystery guests property and attempt to identify them. The guests are people who are in the public eye. As of 1995 it is produced by David Frost's own production company, Paradine Productions at The Leeds Studios (having originally been produced by Yorkshire Television), and has been on air since 3 April, 1987. It first aired on ITV from 3 April, 1987 to 19 June, 1994, then moved jointly to Sky One in 1995 and then moved to BBC One since 7 April, 1997.

It is notable for its fixed format. At the start of each episode, David Frost introduces a panel of three celebrities, with the catchphrase "And "what" a panel they are..." and some gently humorous or mocking descriptions. He then hands over to the location presenter who gives the panelists a guided tour of the property, noting particular items, though there is typically a large amount of misdirection involved as the items pointed out by the presenter are not necessarily the most pertinent clues to the person's identity and items not specifically mentioned may provide much more useful clues. Once completed, Frost reveals the identity of the guest to the audience, and the panel are given turns at guessing their identity. The audience participate with varying degrees of clapping according to the accuracy of the panelists guesswork.

The panelists are either successful at identifying the guest, or Frost has to reveal their identity, after which they are interviewed and given a key-shaped trophy as a memento.

Due to the fixed length of the programme, when panelists have quickly discovered the owner, they delay revealing the identity and/or Frost has to pad out the proceedings.

Starting during Catherine Gee's reign as location presenter, the geographic spread of the properties was extended with one of the properties on each show being located in the US and one in Europe. When Stefanie Powers took over her role in 2007, she was based in the US and conducted the US property tours, whilst UK based Lisa Snowdon conducted the European property tours.

External links

* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/Through_the_Keyhole "Through the Keyhole"] at UKgameshows.com