Weakest Link proves strong contender in TV ratings game

Matt Wells, media correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Monday September 25 2000 02.08 BST

For years, Richard Whiteley has been the undisputed king of teatime quizzes. But now there is a pretender to the pun-loving Countdown presenter's throne, in the form of Anne Robinson and her hit new BBC game show.

The combination of Robinson's schoolmistress manner and a format that forces contestants to vote out their worst-performing team members has made The Weakest Link one of the most dramatic TV successes of the year. Gaining a cult following at teatime, the BBC2 show is now beating Channel 4's stalwart afternoon quiz.

With her catchphrase "You're the weakest link," delivered sternly to each departing victim, topped off with a jaunty "goodbye," Robinson has transformed herself from Watchdog's consumer champion to quirky quizmistress queen.

The show, dubbed "mean TV" by the BBC2 controller Jane Root, has gained some unexpected fans. During the recent petrol crisis, one trucker fan draped his vehicle with a banner which read: "Tony Blair, you're the weakest link, goodbye."

Now it is enjoying ratings success: in the past week, the show has gained audiences of up to 4m at its peak, making it one of the best-performing shows in its timeslot, 5.15pm. On average it gets 2.5m, beating Countdown, which airs at 4.30pm, by about 200,000.

Jane Lush, the BBC's controller of daytime programmes, has commissioned 90 more episodes of the programme. It will run every day, except for a break at Christmas and during a handful of major sporting events, until well into next spring. "I knew we had a hit on our hands, but I didn't think it would be this big," said Ms Lush.

She believes its success comes from its human interest. "You get to know the contestants, and you start rooting for them. Then there's the drama when they are voted off."

Robinson's mean manner - she berates contestants who are performing badly - has polarised the audience, Ms Lush said. "People either love her or hate her."

Since Who Wants to be a Millionaire? torpedoed its way through the television schedules, TV executives have been searching for the next hit game show. Bosses at rival TV channels are concerned that the BBC might attempt to capitalise on the success of The Weakest Link by showing it at peak time.

Ms Lush will fight to keep the programme at teatime, but Lorraine Heggessey, the new controller of BBC1, might have her eye on it.