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

Only one 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 only just met, but to win they'll 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 Steve, I'm 48, I'm from Leicestershire and I'm a sales director.

I'm Moira, I'm 54, I'm from Purley in Surrey and I'm a retired solicitor.

I'm Ben, I'm 38, from Basingstoke and I'm a recruitment consultant.

I'm Gemma, I'm 27, I'm from Liverpool and I'm a deputy data intelligence manager.

I'm John, I'm 67, I'm from Newport in South Wales and I'm a greeter in a supermarket.

I'm Claire, I'm 34, I'm from Coventry and I'm a teacher.

I'm Peter, I'm 58, I'm from Newcastle Under Lyme and I'm a social worker.

I'm Linda, I'm 40, I'm from Essex and I'm a purchase ledger clerk.

I'm Paul, I'm 25, from Sheffield, and I'm a PhD student.

OK, in each round there is £1,000 to be won.

The fastest way is with a chain of nine correct answers.

Break the chain and you lose all the money in it.

Say, "Bank!"

first and it is safe.

Round 1 - three minutes on the clock.

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

Let's play the Weakest Link.

The first question is for £20.

Start the clock.

Which day comes between Saturday and Monday?

Sunday.

In children's activities, catching butterflies is most commonly done using which item - a rod or a net?

A net.

In food, an egg that's cooked in its shell in a saucepan of water until set is usually said to be hard what?

Hard boiled.

In maths, when applied to a whole number, what E means exactly divisible by two?

Equal.

Even.

In human anatomy, which part of the body includes a ball, arch and heel?

The foot.

At a traditional wedding, the chief attendant of the groom is referred to as the best what?

Man.

In Britain, female school crossing patrols are known informally as lollipop ladies because of their figures or signs?

Their signs.

In Christian belief, who was the mother of Jesus?

Mary.

In music, what B is the term for a hollow body of cast metal formed to produce a clear sound when struck by a clapper?

Bell.

When describing persuasive measures, if punishment is indicated by a stick, which root vegetable is a reward?

Carrot.

In TV, the long-standing comedy partnership with a duo known as The Two Ronnies comprised Ronnie Barker and who else?

Ronnie Corbett.

Which weather feature is sometimes said to whistle - clouds or the wind?

The wind.

The 1983 film in which Sean Connery played James Bond for the final time was entitled Never Say Never what?

Again.

In games, a traditional noughts and crosses grid is divided into how many sectors?

Nine.

Correct.

Bank!

OK, you've reached and banked your £1,000 target.

That money will go through.

One of you will not.

Who thinks a perfect 10 is their IQ?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

In an impressive first round, Peter is the Strongest Link.

Claire is, statistically, the Weakest Link, but who will be the first to take the Walk of Shame?

Voting over.

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

Claire.

Claire.

Claire.

Claire.

Claire.

Steve.

Claire.

Claire.

Claire.

What do you do, John?

I'm a greeter in a major supermarket.

Which supermarket?

Asda.

Do they pay you or is it just somewhere to keep warm?

They do pay me and I keep warm.

Where's the supermarket?

In Cwmbran in South Wales.

Oh.

Exactly.

Can you tell people what's on the shelves?

More often than not.

If I walked in, could you direct me to the caviar?

Tinned salmon, maybe.

Caviar I don't think so.

No lobster?

Occasionally.

What do you do the rest of the time?

I'm with my grandchildren and my wife.

And in the pub, usually.

Is it one of those pubs where they sing Welsh songs?

Oh, no.

I wouldn't go to those places.

What do they do in there?

Sit down looking miserable and morose.

Oh, just sort of Welsh, really.

Yeah.

So you don't sing in your pub?

Oh, no.

I thought all Welsh people sang.

With enough beer and lager down my neck.

What can you sing for us?

A karaoke number - Elvis.

When no one else can understand me When everything I do is wrong…

And that's it.

Why Claire?

Well, she got one question wrong.

What do you do, Moira?

I'm a retired solicitor.

How old are you?

I'm 54.

Only 54?

Only 54.

So why have you retired?

I wanted to be a full-time mum.

Oh, you've got a child at home?

I have a child who is at home from time to time.

What do you mean?

He's at boarding school.

So what's the point of retiring?

Yes, I agree that it's ironic to do it at this stage in his life.

It's not so much ironic as lazy.

Yes, definitely.

So when he is at school, where is he at school?

At Eton.

Is he?

So there's a rich husband?

No, I'm not married.

Have you ever been?

Yes, twice.

Successfully?

As you can tell, no.

Did you get a house with each divorce?

With the first one, but I gave it away with the second.

Where do you live?

In Surrey.

Do you live in a little house?

I doubt if many people would describe it as little.

Describe it to us.

It's a detached house.

Has it got an in and out drive?

Yes.

Has it?

So you've invested a lot of money in it.

I inherited it.

And you thought that was better than investing in your appearance?

Yes, you're quite right.

A better return on property.

Why Claire?

She got one wrong.

What do you do, Steve?

I'm a sales director.

Are you?

What do you sell?

Parts for trucks, buses and trailers.

Gosh, that's exciting(!

) It's not.

No.

Put your board down.

Are your prices competitive?

Very.

Yes.

So could you sing for me The Axles On The Bus Go Down, Down, Down?

I could try.

Yes.

With the hand movements.

Cos you are a sales director.

Of course, yes.

So people are meant to take you seriously.

Exactly.

OK.

The axles on the bus go down, down, down Down, down, down, down, down down

The axles on the bus go down, down, down all day long.

I don't think that was very good.

Put your board up.

Why Claire?

Because she got a question wrong.

Claire, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

I definitely don't think I would have been a contender to win!

With the nerves and Anne's presence, I feel more relaxed now!

Round 2 and you have £1,000.

We take 10 seconds off your time.

We'll start with the Strongest Link.

That's Peter.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

In cinema, the British actor born in 1940 who has appeared in over 100 films including Alien and The Elephant Man is John who?

Hurt.

In the City of London, the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street is a nickname for which major financial institution?

Don't know.

The Bank of England.

According to the title of the collection of romantic songs that was a UK number one album in 2009 for Barbra Streisand, what Is The Answer?

Pass.

Love.

In the term for a paid promotion of a product or service, the abbreviation "ad" is short for what?

Advertisement.

In athletics, the field event previously called the hop, step and jump is commonly referred to as the what jump?

Long jump.

Triple jump.

On a bicycle, what T are the parts made from rubber that are fitted to the wheels?

Tyres.

In vocabulary, which colour of the rainbow is also a word meaning an open space, especially in a village?

Green.

In clothing, the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have each given their name to sweaters or swimwear?

Sweaters.

In cinema, the title character of the 2009 comedy entitled Bruno is supposedly from which country?

Austria.

In the children's game Operation, if a player fails and sets off the buzzer, which part of the patient lights up?

The organ.

Nose.

The female singer who had a UK hit single with a song called Dominique in the 1960s was The Singing what?

Bell?

Nun.

In maths, what is eleven and a half multiplied by two?

23.

In Scottish football, the Old Firm is the collective name given to the two Glasgow-based teams called Celtic and what?

Rangers.

In a comment about personal appearance, somebody who is very thin is said to be skin and what?

Bone.

In an orchestra, which instrument typically has 47 strings - a harp or a cello?

A harp.

Correct.

Bank!

In TV, which science fiction series first shown from 1993 to 2002 used the tag lines, "The truth is out there," and, "Trust no one"?

The X…

Pass.

The X Files.

What was the real family surname of the three sisters who published work under the pseudonyms Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell?

Bronte.

Correct.

The process of cooking an empty pie shell to prevent it from becoming soggy when filling is added is known alliteratively as baking what?

It's baking blind.

You won just £200.

Who thinks Nintendo Wii is a computerised loo?

Who thinks academia is a blood condition?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

With the most questions correct, Peter is the Strongest Link.

The Weakest Link, statistically, is Linda, but will the votes pick up on the facts?

Voting over.

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

Linda.

Paul.

Linda.

Paul.

Paul.

Linda.

Paul.

Linda.

We have a tie, team.

Linda and Paul have four votes each.

Where are you from, Linda?

Essex.

Nice part of Essex?

Very nice.

Where's that?

Chafford Hundred.

What do you do there?

I'm a purchase ledger clerk.

Who do you work for?

I work for a transportation company.

What do they transport?

Wines and spirits.

Around Essex?

All over the world.

Is it an emergency service?

Delivering wines and spirits in Essex?

Can be, Friday and Saturday.

Are you a typical Essex girl?

No.

I'm from Essex, but I wasn't born in Essex.

Where were you born?

In East London.

And what do Essex girls do in their spare time?

Go drinking, dancing.

Do you?

Round their handbags.

I go out dancing.

Put your board down.

What sort of dancing?

Belly dancing.

OK, move next to Paul.

Off you go with the belly dance.

All right?

Oh, very good.

Is there anyone at home to appreciate you?

Yeah, my husband Paul.

Hop up.

Put your board up.

Why do you want to get rid of Paul?

I think Paul had a bad round just like I did.

I can't vote for myself.

What do you do, Paul?

I'm a PhD student at Sheffield studying chemistry.

How old are you?

25.

When will you be finished with your PhD?

Hopefully, by the age of 26, 27.

That's a lot of years you've avoided having a proper job.

Some may put it like that.

I would say a lot of years advancing science in this country.

What will you do with all that knowledge?

Will you invent something?

It's quite possible.

What could that be?

It could be a smart material to use as a composite for aerospace or certain applications of that sort.

I'm guessing you haven't got a girlfriend?

You'd be wrong.

I do.

Really?

She's a biochemist.

Is she?

You two must be fun in the pub.

Why Linda?

Em, I don't think she got one right in that round.

As part of your PhD, do you do copying?

Em…

I don't copy and I understand that I have got the name spelt wrongly.

When the vote's tied, the Strongest Link casts the deciding vote and that was Peter.

What do you do?

I'm a social worker, Anne.

Who do you look after?

I look after people with illnesses.

And what do you do for them?

Well, try and sort out practical problems for them, give them support and help and assistance.

Do you help people all the time?

Yes, most of the time.

Do you never get tired of being a goody-goody?

Well, I wouldn't call myself a goody-goody.

What do you do in your spare time?

Well, I'm an unpaid priest…

Oh, you're a goody-goody in your spare time!

Got a dog collar?

I have.

Have you?

Yes.

How part-time can you be and have one?

It's being ordained that gives you the dog collar, not how much you can do.

Oh, I see.

Why didn't you come in your dog collar?

It wasn't in the dress code.

What a shame.

Why Linda?

I think Linda was the Weakest Link.

She got two questions wrong.

Yes.

You've got a choice now - stick with Linda or move on to Paul.

I'll stick with Linda.

She was the worst player.

Linda, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

My impression of Anne was just as she is on the telly.

You know, gives you the banter, you throw it back to her.

I felt I gave a good response and went out on a high because I had a little belly dance with her.

Round 3 and you've got £1,200.

Another 10 seconds off.

We'll start with Peter.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

On Desert Island Discs, what C is the term used to introduce the guest each week?

Pass.

Castaway.

In equestrianism, what name is given to the long narrow straps that are attached to the bit and used to control the horse?

Reins.

In cinema, the songs Snow and The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing feature in a 1954 film starring Bing Crosby entitled White what?

Christmas.

In wildlife, which of these is a tree-climbing omnivore native to the Andes - the spectacled bear or the monocled meerkat?

Spectacled bear.

Correct.

Bank!

In US geography, Chelsea, Soho and Coney Island are in which city?

London.

New York.

A tutu is traditionally worn by female performers in which form of classical dance?

Ballet.

In astronomy, in 2006 Pluto was reclassified as a what - dwarf planet or gnome star?

Dwarf planet.

One of the novels by CS Lewis that is part of the Narnia series is The Voyage of the Dawn what?

Raider.

Treader.

The love bird, the cockatiel and the lori are all members of which family of brightly-coloured birds?

Parrot.

Correct.

Bank!

The humorous expression meaning before you were conceived is a twinkle in your father's what?

Eye.

In modern history, when he was elected in 1991, Bill Morris became the first black leader in the UK of a political party or trade union?

Trade union.

In art, the Prado gallery is in which European capital city?

Prague.

Madrid.

Salt is frequently kept in a container known by what name that is also a room below ground level?

A cellar.

In pop music, the 2009 UK number one album entitled Sunny Side Up is by the singer-songwriter Paolo who?

Pass.

Nutini.

The only two countries in South America whose names begin with P are Paraguay and which other?

Peru.

Correct.

Bank!

What's the three-letter abbreviation for the term binary digit?

Bit.

Correct.

Bank!

The prehistoric…

Time's up and you won £160.

Who is not backwards at being backwards?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

With no correct answers, Ben is the Weakest Link.

The Strongest Link, statistically, is Paul, but who will the team want off?

Voting over.

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

Peter.

Ben.

Peter.

Ben.

Peter.

Ben.

Ben.

What do you do, Gemma?

I work at the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo in newspaper sales.

Do you live in Liverpool?

I do.

By Crosby.

By Crosby?

By the iron men.

What iron men?

The Antony Gormley statues.

Where are they?

On Crosby beach.

Why?

Cos they look nice.

Do they?

What do they do on Crosby beach?

Just…

stand there and get covered by the tide.

People sometimes dress them up in Liverpool shirts and scarves in the winter.

Do they get cold?

Yeah, it must be cold in the Mersey.

Do you swim in the Mersey at Crosby?

No.

Why not?

It's too cold!

I'd get run over by a ferry.

Why would you get run over by a ferry?

There's ferries on the Mersey.

Anyone famous from Crosby?

I think some people.

Really?

Why Ben?

Em, he got two questions wrong in that round.

So Moira from Purley with the son at Eton, what's your son called?

Fergus.

Do you go and see him at Eton?

Yes.

And he comes home.

Have you thought of moving?

No.

Really?

Have you thought of finding another man?

Yes.

What are you doing to improve your life in that direction?

Absolutely nothing.

Oh.

Why?

I'm far too busy enjoying myself.

Why Ben?

Because, sadly, he got two questions wrong.

Ben, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

It's regrettable to be voted off.

I had two quite strong rounds.

The third didn't go my way.

Round 4.

In the bank, £1,360.

Another 10 seconds off the time.

We'll start with Paul.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

The political thrillers entitled The Odessa File and The Dogs of War were written by Frederick who?

Pass.

Forsyth.

In the natural world, what B is the usual name of the yellowish fatty substance produced by insects to construct honeycomb?

Pass.

Beeswax.

According to the title song of the musical first performed in 1963, half a what is better than half a penny?

Sixpence.

In sport, the cyclist from the Isle of Man who in 2009 won six stages in the Tour de France is Mark who?

Pass.

Cavendish.

The painter Pablo Picasso once said that the women in his life were of two types - goddesses and what?

Doormats or doorbells?

Doormats.

The name of which biblical character swallowed by a whale or great fish is sometimes applied to a person thought to bring misfortune?

Jonah.

Correct.

Bank!

An aircraft or satellite to gather military intelligence is known as a spy in the what?

Sky.

In film, which 2002 animated comedy had sequels in 2006 and 2009 respectively subtitled The Meltdown and Dawn of the Dinosaurs?

Pass.

Ice Age.

In history, what K was the first name of the 13th-century Mongol ruler and emperor of China, the grandson of Genghis Khan?

Pass.

Kublai.

In maths, what is 37 plus 31?

68.

Correct.

Which four-letter word means the part of the human body from the shoulders to the base of the spine and the upright section of a chair?

The back.

The 2009 collection of short stories by Irvine Welsh has what title - Microwaved Sushi or Reheated Cabbage?

Microwaved Sushi.

Reheated Cabbage.

Which type of road is the British equivalent of a French autoroute?

Motorway.

Correct.

Bank!

What T is a starch obtained from cassava and used to make a milk pudding?

Tapioca.

Correct.

Bank!

The main building of the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg in Russia is a palace named after which season?

Winter.

The US rapper born Robert James Ritchie…

Time's up and you won £90.

Whose sense has been censored?

Who's tending to tragedy?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

John is the Strongest Link with all his answers right.

Steve is, statistically, the Weakest Link, but how will the votes go?

Voting over.

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

Peter.

Paul.

Steve.

Steve.

Gemma.

Peter.

We have another tie.

Peter and Steve have two votes each.

Gemma, why Steve?

He got two questions wrong in that round.

Steve, why Peter?

I had a bad round, Anne, but I think Peter's was as bad as mine.

The Strongest Link was John.

He gets to decide.

Why Steve?

He did get two questions wrong.

OK, you've got a choice.

I'll stay with Steve, thank you.

He was the worst player.

Steve, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

Anne picked on me very early.

I had to do a version of The Wheels On The Bus Go Round and Round, which, afterwards, I realised that I am going to look very silly doing.

But at the time it just flowed, I just had to do it because I'd got no choice!

Round 5.

Your total is £1,450.

Another 10 seconds off the time.

We'll start with John.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

The veteran Labour parliamentarian once nicknamed Wedgie, who left the Commons in 2001, is Tony who?

Benn.

In history, which Dutch term for a farmer is used in the names of two wars that began in South Africa in the late 19th century?

Boer.

Correct.

Bank!

In the name of the UK organisation known by the initials RNLI, the letter L stands for which word?

Lifeboat.

In geography, which city is the capital of the Australian state of New South Wales?

Melbourne.

Sydney.

The Roman love deity, originally a goddess of the fertility of gardens, was named Venus or Serena?

Venus.

In theatre, the song Oh, What A Beautiful Morning comes from which 1943 musical by Rogers and Hammerstein?

Oklahoma.

In eastern England, the Great Ouse river empties into which large bay of the North Sea between Norfolk and Lincolnshire?

The Wash.

Correct.

Bank!

In Harry Potter films, the character played by Richard Harris and then Michael Gambon is Prof Albus who?

Pass.

Dumbledore.

In botany, what's the term for any plant that germinates, grows to maturity, bears flowers, gives seeds and dies in 12 months?

Annual.

In archaeology, the early Bronze Age people named after a drinking vessel are the Muggers or Beaker Folk?

Muggers.

Beaker Folk.

In TV, Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding are the team captains in which panel game?

Pass.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

In horse racing, an investigation immediately after a race to see if there was a breach of the rules is called a steward's what?

Inquiry.

In the animal kingdom, what H is a large edible flat fish whose liver oil is sold in tablet form as a source of vitamin A?

Halibut?

Correct.

Bank!

Oasis had a UK number one single in 2005 with a song called The Importance Of Being what?

Earnest.

Idle.

In Greek food, the calamata is a black variety of which small…

Time's up and you won £200, but who puts the mug in smug?

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

Moira is the Weakest Link, with the most wrong answers.

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

Voting over.

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

Paul.

Moira.

Gemma.

Paul.

Moira.

Another tie.

Paul and Moira, two votes each.

Paul, why Moira?

Em, she definitely got two wrong in that round and she doesn't need the money.

Moira, why Paul?

I lost track and Paul is opposite me.

His name was the shortest to write.

The Strongest Link was Peter.

Why Paul?

Well, he didn't get a question right that I thought he would have done and he voted for me previously, but fortunately John saved me.

Do you want to change your vote to Moira?

No.

Paul, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

I think some of the voting today has been a bit out of order, especially Moira just voting for people with short names.

She voted for me pretty much in every round.

Maybe I'm not quite posh enough for her.

Round 6 and you have £1,650.

Another 10 seconds off your time.

We'll start with Peter.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

Duties imposed on potentially harmful products, such as alcohol and tobacco, are often referred to as sin taxes or lust levies?

Sin taxes.

In landmarks, in 1987, which famous hotel in Singapore was declared a national monument?

Raffles.

In expressions, a dangerous situation is commonly compared to a game of chance called Russian what?

Roulette.

In African geography, the Aswan High Dam is in which country?

Egypt.

The Latin phrase widely used in English that translates roughly as tit for tat is quid pro what?

Quo.

Correct.

Bank!

Shakespeare addressed his later sonnets to a mysterious woman known as the Dark Lady or Black Beauty?

The Dark Lady.

In human anatomy, the left and right atria are two chambers of which major organ?

The heart.

In music, which annual series of concerts was held at the Queen's Hall in London from 1895 until the building was destroyed in World War Two?

The Proms.

In maths, what is 96 minus 25?

71.

Correct.

Bank!

Which two-word term means to tighten a spring on a clockwork device or, colloquially, to provoke?

Wind up.

Correct.

In the 1996 remake of The Nutty Professor, which actor played five members of the Klump family?

Eddie Murphy.

Correct.

Bank!

In tennis, which innovation devised by Jimmy Van Alen was first used at Wimbledon in 1971 - tie breaks or metal racquets?

Metal racquets.

Tie breaks.

The Roman Catholic cleric who succeeded Cormac Murphy O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster is the Most Reverend Vincent who?

Nichol.

I'll accept.

In food, the soup called borscht that originated…

Time's up.

You won £550.

But consider this - will Gemma be out of circulation?

Perhaps John isn't making you cheerful.

Is Moira too posh to be pushed?

Or perhaps Peter doesn't have a prayer.

Time to vote off the Weakest Link.

As the only player with an answer wrong, John is the Weakest Link.

Peter is, statistically, the Strongest Link, but whose game is over?

Voting over.

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

John.

John.

Moira.

John.

Peter, why John?

John was the only one that I can recall getting a question wrong.

Gemma, why John?

He was the only person to get a question wrong.

Sorry.

John, you are the Weakest Link.

Goodbye.

Anne's a very attractive lady, but that stern face sometimes worries me.

But I did make her smile once or twice and that pleased me a lot.

Round 7.

And you have £2,200.

Another 10 seconds off the time.

We'll start with Peter.

Let's play the Weakest Link.

Start the clock.

What G is a Welsh peninsula that extends westward from Swansea?

Gower.

The 1782 French novel about a nobleman who is challenged to seduce a virtuous young woman has the English title Dangerous what?