Think Tank (game show)

Format

A think tank of eight people answer hundreds of general knowledge questions before the show. In the first series, the regular contestants were Abi Kanthabalan, Anisha Devadasan, Arminel Fennelly, Cleve Freckleton, Diane Hill, Jackie Waring, Ken Fullicks, Len Crumbie, Lucy Barry, Max Bruges, Peter Wong, and Tristan Harper. Series 2, episode 3 introduced two more regular contestants, Jordan and Mark.

Three contestants compete in four rounds, in which every correctly answered question is worth £200. In the first round, contestants alternately answer two questions, giving their answers after hearing the answers of the think tank. In the second round, think-tankers are assigned two questions and contestants sequentially choose a think-tanker three times. Five questions are asked in round three; two think-tankers offer different answers and contestants choose an answer they believe to be correct. At the end of the round, the contestant with the least money is eliminated. The two surviving contestants compete against each other in the last round. Each contestant is asked five questions the think-tankers have not seen; each contestant may discuss the answer with a think-tanker before submitting it. On the final question, all eight think-tankers have been used. If no victor is found after five questions, another pair of questions is asked until one question is answered correctly and another incorrectly. Finally, the winning contestant is asked "Question: Impossible", a question none of the think-tankers answered correctly. After viewing the incorrect answers of the think tank, the contestant adds an additional £1,000 to his/her winnings if they answer it correctly.

Critical reception

Julia Raeside of The Guardian described Think Tank as "the perfect blend of Deal or No Deal and Blankety Blank", and "a masterpiece of good judgment, and a likely candidate for the new student/homeworker/retired person's daytime obsession. Synchronise kettles and bring it on". Jane Rackham said in Radio Times, "Turnbull is a charming host while there's a great deal of good-natured teasing and laughter between the Think Tank members". Frances Taylor, writing for the television blog of the BT website, said the show was "very drawn out" and that "if it was shortened to half an hour and some of the rounds tweaked—and some of the waffle cut—it could be quite an innovative and engaging quiz show".