Go Go Stop
| Company type | Television game show |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Children's game show |
Go Go Stop is a children's game show from Australia that was broadcast on the Seven Network. The program was hosted by Jesse Tobin, known for his previous role as co-host on The Big Arvo and his current position as a weather presenter on Weekend Sunrise. Each week, three different schools compete for a weekly prize, with one student representing each school daily. Although the show is presently on pause, reruns are scheduled at 2:30 pm on weekdays during NSW school holiday periods. At the conclusion of the week, the school accumulating the most points is declared the winner.
The game
The playing area, known as the gamezone, is composed of thirty plasma screens arranged in a rectangular grid measuring five screens across and six screens down. Contestants respond to questions that offer two choices or true-or-false options by using control pads attached to their wrists. Only those who answer correctly proceed further along the gamezone.
Originally, audience members were allowed to call out answers; however, this practice was discontinued because it affected players' decisions. Contestants do not lose points for incorrect answers; instead, they earn points for correct responses and advance accordingly. Players begin at the top row of the gamezone and step onto plasma screens that illuminate with instructions they must follow.
The contestants
Each participating school selects eight students through auditions. Of these, five compete daily while three serve as substitutes in case of absences or disqualifications (such as wearing branded clothing). The competing players are seated in their school's top row.
Game-zone commands
| Name | Command | Appears in rounds |
|---|---|---|
| Go | Player moves one step forward, diagonally, or sideways | 1,2,3 |
| Stop | Player ends their turn on that screen | 1,2,3 |
| Bonus Screens | Award 10 or 15 points depending on round, then act as stop screens | 1,2 |
| Miss A Turn | Player misses next question and ends run | 1,2,3 |
| Arrows | Player moves to the indicated screen | 1,2,3 |
| Back Two | Player moves back two screens (not previously visited) | 2,3 |
| No Entry | Player cannot enter at this screen; must choose another entry on top row | 2,3 |
| Start Again | Player restarts game zone run without losing points | 3 |
| Swap Places | Players swap positions; in later seasons runs continue after swap | 3 |
| Try Again | Player returns to bottom of game zone to select a new question; no prize for prior question | 4 |
Round 1
Named Three-Way Scramble, this round features three contestants. Each correct response earns 10 points; leaving the gamezone grants an additional 25 points. Players start lined up before three plasma screens marked with white dots.
Round 2
This round resembles Round 1 but increases correct answer values to 15 points. The difficulty rises due to more obstacles on the course. It serves as the first elimination stage where the player with the fewest points is removed.
Round 3
Called 'Head to Head, this round pits two contestants against each other following an elimination. Correct answers are worth 20 points while stepping off the zone awards 50 points. The contestant with the lowest score is eliminated. In case of ties, quick-response tiebreakers determine the winner: earlier seasons used true/false questions; later seasons involved clue-based challenges where players shouted their school name to claim an answer. Participants stand on dots positioned left and right before plasma screens.
Round 4
The final round, known as Run for Fun, involves the highest-scoring contestant aiming to secure prizes. The player chooses from five true-or-false questions spanning various categories, which are displayed on plasma screens. Before the round begins, five prizes are briefly shown.
During this 60-second challenge, the contestant must stand next to a chosen category, announce it aloud, and then run to the corresponding screen to answer a true-or-false question. A correct response grants the opportunity to leap onto a prize screen and shout "STOP" to claim the reward. If no prize appears, that category is removed from play. The round concludes when time runs out, all prizes have been claimed, or all categories are exhausted. Contestants who fail to win any prize receive a consolation reward.
Once all rounds are completed, the host and players position themselves on designated floor markers.
Questions
The questions in Go Go Stop always present two options and tend to be either trivial or comparative (such as weight comparisons) or true/false statements. Possessing extensive general knowledge offers minimal benefit. When the game slows down, questions become noticeably simpler to encourage correct answers and maintain the game's rhythm.
International variants
| Country | Title | Network | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Go Go Stop | Ketnet | Peter Pype |
| Ireland | Bog Stop | TG4 | Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill |
Belgium
The Flemish adaptation, titled Go Go Stop, was produced by Kanakna and hosted by Peter Pype. It premiered on Ketnet in November 2007 and aired weekdays at 6:30 pm.
Ireland
The Irish-language version, Bog Stop, is produced by Abú Media and presented by Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill for TG4. Filming takes place annually every April at Galway's Black Box Theatre, with episodes broadcast from January through June of the following year. The fourth season was recorded in April 2010 and aired on TG4 three times weekly—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—at 4:30 pm.
Originally, each participating school sent five students, with episodes airing Monday through Friday featuring three schools per week. Later changes adjusted the schedule to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with six students representing each school and covering three schools over two consecutive weeks.
External links
- Kanakna Productions, producer of the Flemish version in Belgium.
- Ketnet, broadcaster of the Flemish adaptation.
- Abú Media, production company behind the Irish version, Bog Stop.
- TG4, channel airing the Irish-language Bog Stop.