Going for Gold with Henry Kelly

In this episode, we’re shining the spotlight on Henry Kelly, the Irish broadcaster best known for hosting the legendary quiz show Going for Gold. From his early career in journalism to becoming a household name on British television, we’ll explore how Kelly’s charm, wit, and distinctive presenting style helped make Going for Gold a daytime TV classic. While he had a successful career in radio and television beyond the show, it’s his role as quizmaster that cemented his place in 80s and 90s pop culture.

We’ll take a deep dive into Going for Gold—how it was created as part of a European Broadcasting Union initiative, its unique format featuring contestants from across the continent, and why Kelly himself initially thought the idea was “nonsense.” Against all expectations, the show became a massive hit, particularly with students, and even led to Kelly being made honorary president of a student union. From its instantly recognisable theme tune (composed by none other than Hans Zimmer!) to the intense final round where contestants had to answer “four in a row,” Going for Gold stood out from other quiz shows of its time.

We’ll talk about Henry Kelly’s iconic catchphrases, the occasional language barrier mishaps, and the time a Swedish contestant answered “the farmer” instead of “pawn” in a chess question—only to be proven technically correct! With its gold-and-blue futuristic set and its pan-European lineup, Going for Gold was unlike anything else on TV, and Kelly’s enthusiastic hosting style was key to its success.

Beyond Going for Gold, we’ll touch on Kelly’s broader career, including his early work as a journalist at The Irish Times, his time on Game for a Laugh, and his later years in radio, where he continued to entertain audiences with his signature charm. While Going for Gold ended in 1996 (with a brief revival in 2008), Kelly remains fondly remembered as one of British TV’s great quizmasters.

💬 Join the Conversation! Were you a Going for Gold fan? Did you ever dream of competing on it? Share your memories with us on X/Twitter @talk2thehandpod! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and tune in for more deep dives into classic 90s TV. 🎧🏆✨

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [e-mail] or [e-mail]