Comedian Romesh Ranganathan is set to host a rebooted version of the classic quiz show Weakest Link, acknowledging that he is not trying to emulate the original host Anne Robinson. The show, which originally aired for over a decade and more than 1,500 episodes, was known for Robinson's steely persona and frosty treatment of contestants.
Ranganathan, 43, says he is bringing his own style to the programme, which has been updated for a modern era. 'Anne was amazing at it, and she was a big reason why that show was so popular,' he said. 'But I don't think any good can come from trying to emulate that or be like that.' The new version will feature celebrities competing for charity, with a top prize of £50,000.
The format remains the same: contestants work as a team to bank money by answering consecutive correct questions, but at the end of each round they vote off one player, aiming to eliminate the weakest link. However, tactical voting often leads to strong players being ousted. Ranganathan noted that the competitive environment revealed surprising reactions from celebrity participants.
Among the celebrities set to appear are Gemma Collins, Christopher Biggins, Richard Coles, Clara Amfo, Kay Burley, Chris Packham, Vanessa Feltz, Russell Kane and Anton Du Beke. Ranganathan, known for panel shows and documentaries, admitted he was surprised to be asked to host a prime-time quiz show.
