was originally intended as a real-time game that could be played in conjunction with a broadcast TV programme using a similar multiple choice format as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

The game used Fastext keys (different coloured buttons on the TV remote control) to select the desired answer from a choice of four, and was "presented" by virtual host Bamber Boozler, who derived his name from the word "bamboozle" and the name of University Challenge host, Bamber Gascoigne.

Bamber Boozler's appearance was constrained by the limitations of the Level 1 World System Teletext alpha mosaic display format.

At one point in the quiz's history, the red, yellow and green keys were sensible answers and the blue was mostly reserved for a comical response (which was occasionally the correct one).

The player was required to answer all questions correctly in order to complete the quiz, but were allowed multiple attempts to do so.

After completing the quiz, there was a score table with themed responses, for example: according to how many questions were answered correctly at the first attempt.

The "Bad Luck" pages appeared when questions were answered incorrectly; they initially featured trivia at first and then mainly birthday announcements.

As well as having their questions used, names mentioned and their image appear on screen (the viewer could supply a photograph, which was converted to a Teletext-style cartoon); the winning contributors also received a £20 WHSmith gift voucher.

Back in the early days of Bamboozle!, on a number of occasions the quiz would be replaced by an adventure game (a different one each time), based on the popular children's fantasy programme "Knightmare".