Success
Much of the show's success has been attributed to its host, Anne Robinson. She was already famous in the UK for her sarcasm while presenting the consumer programme Watchdog, and The Weakest Link saw her develop this further, particularly in her taunting of contestants. Her sardonic summary to the team, usually berating them for their lack of intelligence for not achieving the target became a trademark of the show, and her call of "You are the weakest link—goodbye!" became a popular catchphrase.
The presence of elements inspired by Big Brother and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? differentiated the programme from most previous quiz shows, as it invites open conflict between players, and uses a host who is openly hostile to the competitors, rather than a positive figure.
Initially, there was outcry by national newspapers and some viewers regarding the UK licence fee being used to fund such a potentially high jackpot prize. However, when it became apparent that contestants rarely managed to win even close to the maximum jackpot, these criticisms generally disappeared.
In autumn 2001, for the first time ever, The Weakest Link was placed directly head-to-head with Millionaire in the television schedules. Between the two, Millionaire ultimately emerged on top, attracting 10.2m viewers compared to The Weakest Link's 3.8m.
From 9 to 13 August 2010, five "10th Anniversary Specials" aired at the usual time on BBC One.
Read more about this topic: The Weakest Link (UK game show)
Famous quotes containing the word success:
“Woman’s success in lifting men out of their way of life nearly resembling that of the beasts—who merely hunted and fished for food, who found shelter where they could in jungles, in trees, and caves—was a civilizing triumph.”
—Mary Ritter Beard (1876–1958)
“The measure of a master is his success in bringing all men round to his opinion twenty years later.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“We mothers are learning to mark our mothering success by our daughters’ lengthening flight. When they need us, we are fiercely there. But we do not need them to need us—or to become us.”
—Letty Cottin Pogrebin (20th century)