What does a term "a good starter for 10" mean and where does it come from?

"A starter for 10" comes from the programme "University challenge" on
BBC television, in the UK.  Two teams of four represent their
universities: a starter for 10 is the first question in a round - the
first team to 'buzz' and answer gets 10 points.  That team is then
asked 3 further questions, for 5 points each, and can consult one
another.

University Challenge (unofficial site)
http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/smb1001/uc/

search strategy: searched www.bbc.co.uk for university challenge

jeremymiles-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by alexfromlondon-ga on 22 Apr 2003 07:22 PDT

Who used the term first?

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Clarification of Answer by jeremymiles-ga on 22 Apr 2003 11:46 PDT

Bamber gascoigne was the original presenter.  It is now presented by
Jeremy Paxman.  So Bamber Gascoigne.

Top. Many thanks!

UC started on the BBC in 1962 but was based on 'College Bowl', a show
running on US TV since 1959.  I've never seen College Bowl but I
assume that the host must have had a way of announcing that this was
the first question and worth 10 points.  The phrase 'here's your
starter for 10' sounds to me like it could only have originated with
the first BBC host, Bamber Gascoigne.