Name Weakest Link Language English | Role Television show Spin-offs Weakest Link | |
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Program creators Cathy Dunning, Fintan Coyle Episodes 16 Episode 16Season 2 - Jul 21 - 2002, 16 Episode 16, 15 Episode 15Season 2 - Jul 14 - 2002, 15 Episode 15, 14 Episode 14Season 2 - Jul 7 - 2002, 14 Episode 14, 13 Family EditionSeason 2 - Jun 30 - 2002, 13 Family Edition, 12 Episode 12Season 2 - Jun 23 - 2002, 12 Episode 12, 11 NBC All-StarsSeason 2 - May 26 - 2002, 11 NBC All-Stars, 10 Episode 10Season 2 - May 12 - 2002, 10 Episode 10, 9 Episode 9Season 2 - Apr 28 - 2002, 9 Episode 9, 8 7th Grade StudentsSeason 2 - Apr 14 - 2002, 8 7th Grade Students, 7 Episode 7Season 2 - Apr 7 - 2002, 7 Episode 7, 6 Episode 6Season 2 - Mar 31 - 2002, 6 Episode 6, 5 Episode 5Season 2 - Mar 17 - 2002, 5 Episode 5, 4 Episode 4Season 2 - Mar 10 - 2002, 4 Episode 4, 3 Episode 3Season 2 - Jan 27 - 2002, 3 Episode 3, 2 Episode 2Season 2 - Jan 13 - 2002, 2 Episode 2, 1 Episode 1Season 2 - Jan 6 - 2002, 1 Episode 1, 18 ChristmasSeason 1 - Dec 17 - 2001, 18 Christmas, 17 Episode 17Season 1 - Dec 3 - 2001, 17 Episode 17, 16 Episode 16Season 1 - Nov 26 - 2001, 16 Episode 16, 15 Episode 15Season 1 - Nov 25 - 2001, 15 Episode 15, 14 Episode 14Season 1 - Nov 19 - 2001, 14 Episode 14, 13 Episode 13Season 1 - Nov 18 - 2001, 13 Episode 13, 12 Episode 12Season 1 - Nov 12 - 2001, 12 Episode 12, 11 Episode 11Season 1 - Nov 11 - 2001, 11 Episode 11, 10 Episode 10Season 1 - Oct 29 - 2001, 10 Episode 10, 9 Episode 9Season 1 - Oct 22 - 2001, 9 Episode 9, 8 Episode 8Season 1 - Oct 15 - 2001, 8 Episode 8, 7 Episode 7Season 1 - Oct 14 - 2001, 7 Episode 7, 6 Episode 6Season 1 - Oct 1 - 2001, 6 Episode 6, 5 Episode 5Season 1 - Sep 30 - 2001, 5 Episode 5, 4 Episode 4Season 1 - Sep 24 - 2001, 4 Episode 4, 3 Episode 3Season 1 - Aug 13 - 2001, 3 Episode 3, 2 Episode 2Season 1 - May 10 - 2001, 2 Episode 2, 1 Episode 1Season 1 - Apr 16 - 2001, 1 Episode 1 Similar The Chase, Who Wants to Be a Millionair, Eggheads, Minute to Win It, The Million Pound Drop | ||
First episode date August 14, 2000 Final episode date March 31, 2012 | ||
WEAKEST LINK EPISODE September 2008
Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the UK on BBC 2 on 14 August 2000 and ended on 31 March 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ended her contract. The original British version of the show is still aired around the world on BBC Entertainment. Anne Robinson will reprise her Queen of Mean act when Weakest Link returns for a one off special in November 2017 in aid of BBC Children in Need. In 2018 the Weakest Link will return as a Saturday evening prime time quiz. The contestants will be celebrities, much like the Children in Need special.
Contents
- WEAKEST LINK EPISODE September 2008
- Weakest link comedians special 24th august 2001
- Format
- Game rule variations
- Strategy for banking money
- International versions
- References
Weakest link comedians special 24th august 2001
Format
A group of nine (or ranging from five to ten, varying among versions) contestants work as a team to try and win as much money as possible. If a person answers the question correctly, the next stage in the chain is reached. If a person answers the question wrong, the money is lost and the chain starts again. A player can "bank" before their question to save the money, but the chain must be started again. If there are nine correct answers in a row without anyone banking, the maximum money amount is added to the jackpot and the round stops. The time allowed for each round decreases as the game goes on. In some versions, if the contestant takes too long to think, the host may give the answer, and it will be considered incorrect. At the end of each round, the contestants must vote for who they thought was the "Weakest Link" in the round that just occurred, and the person with the most votes is eliminated. If the vote comes to a tie, the Strongest Link can decide which of the tied players should leave. The Strongest Link is the person who had the most correct answers or banked the most money. The host, Anne Robinson in the original UK version, says "(name), you are the Weakest Link, goodbye". The contestant then takes the walk of shame and is then interviewed outside the game. The person who was the strongest link in the last round goes first. If the strongest link got voted off, the second-strongest player starts. In the UK version, the final round has a 90-second triple stake round with no voting but money is still to be earned. After the final round, a head-to-head contest is played, with five questions asked to each player in turn. If there is a draw, the game continues to sudden death. The loser goes home with nothing.
Game rule variations
In the 2nd syndicated version of the American version, after the 2nd last round, the last 2 contestants do not face the clock and the money tree. Instead, the remaining 2 contestants go straight into the head-to-head round. Similarly, the French version (2014 to 2015) also does not use the clock and money tree for the final round, and in the penultimate round is the 3-player triple stake round for €15,000 and lasts 90 sec.
Strategy for banking money
In a New Scientist blog article, Erica Klarreich argues that there are only two sensible strategies in The Weakest Link (the U.S. edition) when it comes to banking money. Either players should choose to bank after every correct answer, or after six straight correct answers to maximize the pot. The correct strategy to take will depend upon the skill at answering questions of the members of the team. For all but the weakest teams, the optimal strategy is to raise the pot six straight times without banking. But since this happens so seldom on the show, Klarreich argues, the dominant strategy will usually be instead to bank after every question. The common practice of banking after just three questions would only outperform the strategy of banking after every question if a team maintained a success rate of over 67%.
International versions
Legend: Currently airing No longer airing Unsold pilot Future version