Here are the nine contestants preparing for today's show.

Only one of them will win up to £10,000.

The others will leave with nothing when voted off as the Weakest Link.

Welcome to the Weakest Link.

Any of the nine people in the studio here today could win up to £10,000.

They've just met, but to get the money they have to work together.

However, eight will leave with nothing as, round by round, we lose the player voted the Weakest Link.

Let's meet the team.

I'm George, I'm 28, from Bedford, and I'm a futures trader.

I'm Pat, 72, from Little Chalfont, and I'm retired.

I'm Alex, I'm 18, from North Wales and I'm a student.

I'm Colette, 44, from Christchurch, and I'm a learning resource centre manageress.

I'm Michael, I'm 63, from Burton on Trent, and I'm a fork lift brewery worker.

I'm Sara, I'm 31, from South Wales, and I'm a support worker.

I'm Ricky, I'm 44, from Wakefield, and I'm a hairdresser.

I'm Amy, I'm 21, from Redditch near Birmingham, and I'm a student.

I'm Ed, I'm 36, from Bromley, Kent, and I'm a change manager.

OK, just to remind you, in each round there's £1,000 to be won.

The fastest way is to create a chain of nine correct answers.

Break it and you lose all the money in it.

Say "bank" before the question and the money is safe.

Round 1 - three minutes on the clock.

We'll start with the person whose name is first alphabetically.

That's you, Alex.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

The first question is for £20.

Start the clock.

The skin of a ripe tangerine is which colour of the rainbow?

Orange.

Correct.

In the kitchen, which fixed receptacle set into the worktop is the usual place where washing up is done by hand?

The sink.

Correct.

In clothing, what B is the three-letter name for an item of underwear worn by most women that has two cups?

Bra.

According to the song known as Cockles and Mussels, Molly Malone sold her wares in which Irish city?

Dublin.

Correct.

In education, the extra 12-month break taken by some students between leaving school and starting university is called a gap what?

Year.

Correct.

In the modern English alphabet, which letter comes later - M or Q?

Q.

Correct.

In TV, the presenter who has hosted the shows Supermarket Sweep and In It To Win It is Dale who?

Winton.

Correct.

In the UK, which of the four main compass points precedes the word "country" in the name for the area that includes Devon, Cornwall and Somerset?

West.

Correct.

In touch typing, on a QWERTY keyboard, the thumb is normally used on the long key called the what bar?

Pass.

Space.

In celebrities, in 2000, Michael Douglas married which Welsh-born actress?

Catherine Zeta Jones.

Correct.

In personal styling, handlebar, pencil line and walrus are all styles of which facial adornment?

Moustache.

In the animal kingdom, there are still bears living wild in which part of Europe - the Pennines or the Pyrenees?

Pyrenees.

Correct.

In definitions, which four-letter word can mean a type of cereal crop and a painful lump on the foot?

Corn.

Correct.

In Australia, what B is the name of the weapon designed to return when thrown?

Boomerang.

Correct.

In food, the French name for potatoes is pommes de what?

Terre.

Bank.

At many UK pedestrian crossings, the green figure that lights up when it's safe to cross the road is a man or a zebra?

A man.

Correct.

In maths, what is 47 plus 6?

53.

Correct.

Which British-born film director, remembered chiefly for thrillers, was known informally as Hitch?

A-Alcock.

No, Alfred Hitchcock.

The usual two-word name for the lengths of lacy mesh fabric draped on the inside of windows for privacy in daylight is net what?

Curtains.

Correct.

Bank.

In 2009, according to Forbes magazine, which golfer became…

Time's up.

You only won £470.

Whose fault was that?

Who's the globetrotter and who's the Del Boy Trotter?

Who thinks Scrabble is a way to cook eggs?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

The only player with all her answers wrong, Pat is the Weakest Link.

Statistically, the Strongest Link is Alex, but will the votes follow the facts?

Voting over.

It's time to reveal who you think is the Weakest Link.

Pat.

Sara.

Pat.

Pat.

Pat.

Pat.

Pat.

Pat.

Pat.

What do you do, George?

I'm a futures trader.

What's that?

A future is a financial derivative.

What's a financial derivative?

It's a product for…

sort of…

hedging or trading in something where you don't actually trade…

Would you buy my future?

You can buy futures in wheat, oil, sugar, frozen orange juice.

Ageing TV presenters?

No, I don't think so.

You mean I have no future?

I wouldn't say that.

So why can't you trade in me?

I don't know that I could sell it on.

Do you work in the City in a big office?

No, it's not massive.

There's about eight of us.

Who do you work for?

I'm self-employed.

So why are you in a big office?

I rent my desk.

You rent a desk?

I do.

Do you rent a Porsche?

No, I don't have a car.

You probably rent a girlfriend.

I have a very lovely girlfriend.

She's there of her own accord, amazingly.

Why Pat?

I think Pat was the only person to get a question wrong.

What do you do, Sara?

I'm a support worker, Anne.

Where?

In Newport.

Do you live in Newport?

No, I live north of Newport in Ebbw Vale.

Does everyone in Newport need help?

In various degrees, yes!

Like who?

It varies, really.

People with Down Syndrome, people with learning difficulties, ex-alcoholics, ex-drug addicts…

You're qualified as a support worker?

I am.

What qualifications?

I've got A Levels and an NVQ.

An NVQ in what?

Purchase and supply.

What, an NVQ in shopping?

Well, I used to run a shop, so I'm sure that qualifies me for shopping.

And why Pat?

Because she got a £1,000 question wrong.

What do you do, Ricky?

I'm a hairdresser.

Where?

In Wakefield.

Do you know what's fashionable in Wakefield?

Absolutely nothing!

Is your Walnut Whip fashionable?

Not really a Walnut Whip, unless it's white chocolate.

What sort of hair do you do?

Mainly old people's.

Good with pensioners.

Are you?

I'll help you out later if you want.

You're voting off one of your clients.

Yeah.

She's booked in for later.

Do you have a love life?

No, not at all.

Why's that?

I think I'm president of the Celibacy Club.

Oh.

Board down.

How long have you been in the Celibacy Club?

About five years.

Did the Walnut Whip come before the celibacy or after?

I think they came at the same time.

Put your board up.

Why Pat?

Unfortunately, she got two wrong.

She did.

Pat, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

I'm relieved that I didn't have a banter with Anne because I do get carried away with myself and I might have gone over the top.

I went out on a high and happily did the Walk of Shame and here I am.

Round 2.

In the bank, £470.

We'll take 10 seconds off your time.

We'll start with the Strongest Link.

That's Alex.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

In industry, what C is the type of belt running on rollers to transport materials from one place to another?

Conveyor.

In vocabulary, which word for a vessel that travels on water is also a term for a jug for serving gravy?

Boat.

In pop music, the ABBA song that was a UK number one single in 1977 has the rhyming title The Name of the what?

Pass.

Game.

In religion, an organisation founded by William Booth has what nickname - the Sally Army or the Daisy Navy?

The Sally Army.

In literature, which adjective precedes Gatsby and Expectations in the titles of works by F Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Dickens?

Great.

In scientific measurements, what A is the term for the height of an object above sea level?

Pass.

Altitude.

A pair of cables fitted with crocodile clips to charge a flat car battery are known in the UK as jump what?

Jump leads.

In hairdressing, teaser, rake and detangling are names given to different varieties of which implement?

Comb.

In geography, Iberia is a peninsula occupied by Spain and which other EU country?

Gibraltar.

Portugal.

The 1971 film in which Michael Caine plays a gangster who travels to Tyneside to investigate the death of his brother is Get who?

Carter.

In sport, there are more individual disciplines in which event - the pentathlon or the decathlon?

The pentathlon.

No, the decathlon.

In gardening, a flower show held by the Royal Horticultural Society is named after which area of London?

Pass.

Chelsea.

What C is the name of the stimulant that is present in coffee, cocoa, chocolate and cola?

Caffeine.

In celebrities, the actress, conservationist and human rights activist born in 1946 with the surname Lumley has what first name?

Joanna.

In men's formal dress, a cummerbund is designed to be worn around which part of the body - the neck or the waist?

Waist.

Correct.

George…

Bank.

In physics, the visible spectrum is between the two bands of electro-magnetic radiation called the ultraviolet and infra-what?

Red.

In children's literature, in the Noddy stories by Enid Blyton, what's the name of the policeman?

Plod.

Correct.

In cinema, what B goes before Returns, Forever and Begins to make the titles of three films about a superhero?

Batman.

Correct.

Time's up.

And you won £100.

But who's been stood up on their date with destiny?

Who thinks jogging bottoms is a medical complaint?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

Having answered the most questions, Colette is the Strongest Link.

Michael is, statistically, the Weakest Link, but who will the team want off?

Voting over.

It's time to reveal who you think is the Weakest Link.

Michael.

Michael.

Michael.

Alex.

Michael.

Michael.

Michael.

Michael.

What do you do, Ed?

I'm a change manager.

What does that involve?

It means I ensure that changes to technology for people are covered in a way that enables the business to make money.

Are you telling people they will be changed for a computer?

There's all aspects of change that are required.

You have to take all of those factors into account.

So how would you tell me you were firing me to use a computer instead?

Well, I would have to think about why we need to let you go.

OK, let's play it out, then.

Do you come to me or do I go to you?

It can be either way.

Will you have that little quiff?

Quite possibly.

If the hair lasts.

Is it because you had your hair cut or has your hair just melted?

It's got a life of its own, but I'm trying to cover up that I'm growing into a slaphead.

Is it super trendy or are you dying to be 62?

People say I'm older than I am.

Maybe I'm dying to be 62.

Do people with a quiff at your age have a partner?

They do, yes.

I've had a partner for a long time.

Is your partner a hairdresser?

No, sadly it's not Ricky.

And I'm not in the Celibacy Club.

Why Michael?

I'm sorry, but there were a couple of questions wrong.

Sorry, Michael.

What do you do, Alex?

I'm a student.

What are you studying?

Software engineering.

Oh, very technical.

Yes.

Where?

In Aberystwyth.

Why would you choose to do something technical in Aberystwyth?

Aberystwyth University's really good for the course I'm doing.

How old are you?

I'm 18.

Have you been in a relationship?

Yes.

How many?

Three serious ones.

In how long?

Four and a half years.

Can't have been that serious, then.

I am only 18.

Do you come from Aberystwyth?

No, from North Wales.

It's the only place you could get a place?

I actually got a scholarship to pay my fees.

Do they give everyone a scholarship if they'll go to Aberystwyth?

Possibly!

Why Michael?

I think he got two questions wrong and failed to bank.

Michael, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

I think the team has lost a valuable player.

With my mature years, questions of the '50s and '60s I would know and they wouldn't.

Round 3.

In the bank, £570.

Another 10 seconds off the time.

We'll start with the Strongest Link.

That's Colette.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

In confectionery, penny chews flavoured with aniseed that make the tongue turn blue are black what?

Jacks.

In football, in October 2009, Arsene Wenger became the longest-serving manager in the history of which club?

Chelsea.

Arsenal.

In the New Testament, according to the Gospel of St John, Jesus turned water into which drink?

Wine.

In TV, the fox glove puppet whose refined voice is believed to have been based on the actor Terry Thomas, has what two-word name?

Basil Brush?

Correct.

In medicine, what A is the word used to describe healthcare for pregnant women and their unborn babies?

Pass.

Antenatal.

New York City is divided into five boroughs named Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the what?

The Bronx.

The epicentre is the point on the surface of the Earth directly above the origin of which type of natural event?

Earthquake.

In games, the object of Ludo is for a player to get how many counters round the board and home?

Six.

Four.

In English folklore, an alternative name for the fairy Puck is Robin who - Gibb or Goodfellow?

Gibb.

Goodfellow.

In classical concerts, the Last Night of the Proms takes place in which month of the year?

October?

September.

In literature, the 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas about wrongful imprisonment and a quest for revenge is called The Count of where?

Pass.

Monte Cristo.

In food, what G is the Indian state where the vindaloo curry was created?

Goa.

Correct.

In film, in the 1942 animation Bambi, which young rabbit befriends the title character?

Thumper.

In American English, which term for a baseball stadium is used in a slang expression for an approximate figure?

Pass.

Ballpark.

The home of the first purpose-built TV studios in the UK, which in 2009 was given Grade 2 listed status, is known as Television what?

Centre.

Correct.

In diplomacy, what P precedes the words offering, keeping and conference to give three terms about conflict resolution?

Peace.

Correct.

Bank.

The plexus of nerves in the abdomen is known by what name because its radiating branches resemble the rays of the sun?

Solar.

Correct.

Bank!

Time's up.

Your bank was in time, which is just as well as you only won £70.

Who should mind the gap in their knowledge?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

George is the Strongest Link with all his answers right.

The Weakest Link, statistically, is Sara, but can she survive the vote?

Voting over.

It's time to reveal who you think is the Weakest Link.

Sara.

Sara.

Amy.

Ed.

Sara.

Sara.

Sara.

What do you do, Amy?

I'm a student.

Where?

In Hull.

What are you studying?

Psychology.

What sort of psychology?

I've studied pretty much everything.

At the moment, it's forensic and health.

What's involved there?

It's looking at the way psychology can impact on the criminal world…

Impact?

Like help victims out when they've had a crime against them, and help rehabilitate criminals.

Have you looked into the psyche of a criminal?

I'm sure we will.

What do you think makes a criminal?

It can be anything.

It can be upbringing, bad socialisation…

Not because they steal and mug old ladies?

Usually there's something behind it.

They're not just bad.

Oh, I see.

So they're criminals in a nice sort of way?

I'm not saying they're nice people.

But usually there's a reason.

To get the money off the old lady.

What year are you in?

Third year.

Good.

Are we paying for you?

Yes, you are.

Thank you.

Good(!

) Why Sara?

Em, she hesitated quite a lot on one of the questions.

Ricky…

who's been celibate for five years.

That's a bit of a loss to the gay community in Wakefield.

I'm not sure it's a loss.

It's more of a relief for me.

But you look so chic.

For Wakefield.

Chic?

! Grand chic!

What do you do with your spare time?

I like the internet.

I like bingo.

You like bingo?

Don't you dress up and go out?

I do dress up and don something sparkly, like yourself.

Where do you go when you don something sparkly?

I go to Leeds on a Friday and a Sunday.

Do you sing and dance?

No, I play music for other people.

Can't you sing?

A little bit.

OK, put your board down.

I thought you might want me to do this.

So we've got to imagine you in what?

Sequins and diamante.

Sort of drag?

I am a drag artiste.

Oh, you are?

Yes.

What are you going to sing for us?

A song I used to sing every night.

OK, crack on.

What good is sitting alone in your room

Come hear the music play

Life is a cabaret, old chum

So come to the cabaret.

You didn't put your arms out at all.

I've got no rings to show off.

Put your board up.

Why Sara?

Unfortunately, she hesitated and got a question wrong.

Sara, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

My son suggested that I apply for the Weakest Link after I'd got a series of questions right, but now that I've been voted off in the third round, he's probably going to be mortified.

Round 4.

In the bank, £640.

Another ten seconds coming off the time.

We'll start with the Strongest Link.

That's George.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

The Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London, known as Beefeaters, wear uniforms from which period?

Tudor or Georgian?

Georgian.

Tudor.

In pop music, the 2009 UK hit album entitled Reunited marked the 50 years since Cliff Richard first recorded with which backing band?

Pass.

The Shadows.

In reference books, what's the full title of the work often known as the OED?

Pass.

Oxford English Dictionary.

In maths, what is 132 divided by 12?

13.

11.

In biology, what H is the term for any organism whose body provides nourishment for a parasite?

Host.

Correct.

Which dance that originated in 19th century France features a line of women on stage kicking their legs and lifting their skirts in the air?

Can-can.

Correct.

Bank!

In tennis, which term is included in the scoreline announced by the umpire when a player has won the next point after deuce?

Advantage.

Correct.

In computing, an older or grey-haired internet enthusiast is sometimes referred to as a silver surfer or green goblin?

Silver surfer.

Correct.

In children's comics, the naval sidekick of Tintin whose catchphrases include "Blistering barnacles!"

is called Captain what?

Haddock.

Correct.

Bank!

A person who is suffering from a vexing and long-standing problem is said to have which animal on their back?

Tiger.

Monkey.

At fashion shows in the UK, what C is the narrow platform walked down by models to display the designs?

Catwalk.

Correct.

Bank!

Which adjective goes before "Twelfth" in the name of the first day of the grouse shooting season?

Pass.

Glorious.

In pop music, the 1987 UK No.

1 single by The Pet Shop Boys which includes the line, "Father, forgive me" is called It's A what?

Pass.

Sin.

In US education, which Ivy League university has a name that begins with the letter Y?

Pass.

Yale.

In geometry, the formula "pi r squared" is used to calculate the area of which two-dimensional figure?

Circle.

Correct.

In British food, which meat is minced…

Time's up and you won £170.

But who is switched on and who is switched to "standby"?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

With no correct answers, Ricky is the Weakest Link.

Statistically, Amy is the Strongest Link, but will the other players realise that?

Voting over.

It's time to reveal who you think is the Weakest Link.

Alex.

Ricky.

Ed.

George.

Alex.

Alex.

So, Ed…

Hello.

You're not a hunting, shooting, fishing sort of IT man with a quiff?

No, I'm not.

I'm a bit more of a sci-fi, sort of nerdy type, geeky kind of man.

How long have you been a sad person?

All my life.

I'm sure my mother will tell you that.

Why do you want to get rid of Alex?

Everybody there did very, very badly, so it was really hard.

Well, apart from George.

George did very well.

George, have you never heard of The Pet Shop Boys?

I have.

I think that song was a little before my time.

Why do you want to get rid of Alex?

The questions he got wrong I think I would've got right.

Alex, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

The banter between me and Anne was never going to go down that well, me being an IT geek and from Wales.

Not going to be the most popular thing.

I think she may have taken a bit of a shine to me, but with that poker face of hers, you can never tell what she's thinking.

Round 5.

Your total is £810.

Another ten seconds off the time.

We'll start with the Strongest Link.

That's Amy.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

What T is the name of the area of inner-city Liverpool that was the birthplace of Arthur Askey, Ringo Starr and Robbie Fowler?

Tyneside.

Toxteth.

In science, bell metal that is used for casting bells because of its resonance is a variety of which alloy of copper and tin?

Brass.

Bronze, did you say?

Brass.

No, bronze.

In the Shakespeare play Henry The Fourth Part Two, Mistress Quickly complains that Falstaff "hath eaten me out of house and" what?

Home.

Correct.

What's the surname of the ghoulish 1960s TV family that included children called Wednesday and Pugsley and had a butler named Lurch?

Addams.

Correct.

Bank!

In sport, the Spanish cyclist who won his second Tour de France in 2009 is Alberto who?

Matador or Contador?

Contador.

Correct.

In traditional dress, an alpine hat frequently has which avian body part stuck in the head band?

Feathers.

Correct.

In medieval architecture, what G was the name of the European style that featured pinnacles, pointed arches and flying buttresses?

Pass.

Gothic.

The 1957 spy novel by Ian Fleming with a title that was inspired by a greeting used on British holiday postcards is From Russia With what?

Love.

Correct.

Bank!

In maritime history, in 1909, the vessel SS Arapahoe became the first American ship to use which three-letter distress signal?

SOS.

Correct.

The action performed by a bishop during confirmation, ordination or healing is the laying on of what?

The hands.

Correct.

Bank!

In film, the 1949 thriller The Third Man is set shortly after World War Two in which European capital city?

Berlin.

Vienna.

In food, what T is the name of a spice that gives piccalilli its yellow colour?

Turmeric.

Correct.

Bank!

In TV, the childcare expert known as Supernanny is Jo who?

Gosling?

Frost.

In archaeology, the remains of the Toltec civilisation are located…

Time's up.

You won £140.

But who is now massively meagre?

Who is enormously ignorant?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

According to the statistics, the Strongest Link is Ricky.

Ed is the Weakest Link, but will the voting reflect reality?

Voting over.

It's time to reveal who you think is the Weakest Link.

Ed.

Ed.

Ed.

Colette.

Colette.

What do you do, Colette?

I'm a learning resource centre manager.

What's a learning resource centre?

It's school-speak for a librarian.

Why don't they call you a librarian?

It's not just books.

It's to do with computers too.

It's joint learning.

What do you mean?

Before, we didn't have a computer base.

We just had books.

Now we've got a new unit and it has the two together.

They had to give you a four-word title?

Yes.

That wasn't my doing.

There's no man in your life?

Oh, yes.

A very nice one.

Really?

Yes.

What's he called?

Barry.

What does Barry do?

Bricklayer.

Barry the brickie.

Has he built you a house?

No, he builds other people's.

Is he a building resource centre manager?

No, he's a brick technician.

Why Ed?

I got one wrong, but I think Ed did too.

I'm sorry.

Ricky, don't you like Ed's quiff?

No, it's fine.

It's not.

No, it's not, really.

Why are you getting rid of him?

He can't stay too long.

His hair might fall out.

Ed, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

I think it's fair to be voted off at this stage in the game.

I was pretty rubbish in that round, so, a good thing.

But I think it's important that the team are making the right decisions and it seems to be honest voting, so I'm perfectly happy with that.

Round 6 and you're up to £950.

Another ten seconds off the time.

We'll start with the Strongest Link.

That's Ricky.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

The US R&B singer who has had UK hit singles entitled U Remind Me, U Got It Bad and U-Turn is known as Usher or Pageboy?

Usher.

Correct.

In trees, the tall, evergreen conifer with black needles and oval-shaped cones, named after the Scottish botanist who cultivated it, is the Douglas what?

Pine.

No, fir.

In drama, which preposition goes before Milk Wood to make the title of a work by Dylan Thomas, originally broadcast in 1954 as a radio play?

Pass.

Under.

In fashion, what "A" is a French word meaning "applied", used in English as a term for decorative pieces of fabric sewn or glued on to a garment?

Applique.

Correct.

In medicine, if the identification of a disease is called a diagnosis, a prediction of its effects and outcome is known by which very similar word?

Prognosis.

Correct.

Bank!

A campaign by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to aid British tourists preparing to travel overseas has the slogan, "Know before you" what?

Fly.

Go.

In US public figures, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Bill Hicks were all famous for being stand-up comedians or psychiatrists?

Stand-up comedians.

Correct.

Bank!

In Whitstable in Kent, which type of shellfish are known by the name of Royal Natives?

Crabs.

Oysters.

In film, the 1970 western starring Richard Harris as an aristocrat captured by Native Americans is entitled A Man Called what?

Pass.

Horse.

In the 19th century, what D was the term coined by the philosopher John Stuart Mill