The Weakest Link

"You are the weakest link — goodbye!" The Weakest Link is the trivia-elimination game with a cold, sarcastic twist: every round, contestants vote out the teammate they think is dragging the chain down, culminating in a final one-on-one duel for the entire team's bank.

Created by Fintan Coyle and Cathy Dunning, The Weakest Link premiered on BBC Two on August 14, 2000 with Anne Robinson — whose frosty delivery and sardonic putdowns made her one of British television's most recognizable hosts. The U.S. version premiered on NBC on April 16, 2001 to 10.6 million viewers and ran until 2003. A NBC revival with Jane Lynch ran 2020–2024. Lynch returned to host the FOX Celebrity Weakest Link in 2025, which was renewed for a second season in the 2025–2026 television year. The format has been adapted in more than 40 countries.

What makes it unique: Most team game shows reward cooperation; Weakest Link punishes it. After each trivia round, teammates anonymously vote to eliminate someone — and they're supposed to vote out their weakest or most threatening player, leading to whipsaw social dynamics (do you vote out the dumbest? the smartest? your rival?). The host's theatrical contempt for poor performers is part of the format, and Anne Robinson's unflinching putdowns in the UK version remain a touchstone of game-show hosting.

Quick Facts

• Hosts: Jane Lynch (NBC 2020–2024, FOX Celebrity 2025+); Anne Robinson (UK, original)
• Network: FOX (Celebrity revival); NBC (2020 revival, 2001–2003 original)
• Premiere Year: 2000 (UK); 2001 (U.S. NBC original)
• Seasons: FOX Celebrity: Season 1 in 2025, Season 2 for 2025–2026
• Filming Location: NBC Universal Studios (NBC revival); Los Angeles (FOX Celebrity)

Learn more: fox.com/the-weakest-link · Wikipedia