Format

Australia’s Channel Nine has commissioned a new series of iconic quiz show Weakest Link from BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand. The BBC Studios format will be fully produced by BBC Studios’ local production arm led by Kylie Washington and has been commissioned by Adrian Swift at Channel Nine.

Adrian Swift, Nine's Head of Content, Production and Development said "Weakest link is one of the world’s most loved and enduring quiz formats. It’s not just about what you know, but also knowing who’s your biggest threat and when to bank your winnings. We are very proud to have the new Weakest Link here on Nine".

The new series of Weakest Link will deliver the fast-paced and quick-witted pillars of the original British format with a few modern twists.

The hybrid game show sees contestants answer general knowledge questions to bank prize money across multiple rounds. At the end of each round, the contestants vote out who they perceive to be the “Weakest Link” remaining.

The massively successful BBC Studios format has been produced in 46 territories around the globe with more than 1500 episodes having been aired in the UK alone. It has recently been recommissioned for a second series with NBC in America where it is hosted by Jane Lynch (Glee) with the premiere attracting over seven million viewers. The new series marks a return to Australian screens for the popular quiz that was last shown in Australia on Seven Network in 2002.

In each episode, eight contestants enter the studio as total strangers but must work together to bank the maximum amount of prize money available in each round. The contestants take turns to answer general knowledge questions to build chains of correct answers. Consecutive correct answers greatly increase the value of the chain, while incorrect answers break the chain and force the contestants to start over on the lowest rung with the smallest amount money. At the end of each round, contestants vote to eliminate the fellow contestant they consider to be the “Weakest Link” in the chain. The contestant who receives the highest number of votes leaves the game as the host declares the iconic phrase, “You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye.”

BBC Studios is also currently in production in Australia on a third series of Mastermind and Celebrity Mastermind for SBS and is co-producing Dancing With The Stars: All Stars with Warner Bros International TV Production Australia for Seven.