Number One
Number One is presented by Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
The quiz is completely buzzer based and until the "Number One" has been decided, the question category is purely general knowledge.
The opening round sees the 10 contestants do battle for their position in the main part of the game. A question is asked, if they buzz in and get it right, they go to the number one position (or lowest numbered position available). If they buzz and get the answer wrong, they are sent to the highest numbered position (number 10 at the start). This continues until all 10 positions have been filled. The last position is therefore given to the only person who has yet to contribute to the game.
Krishnan then explains the importance of getting out of positions 9 and 10 as the players in the two highest numbered positions have a one question play-off every 60 seconds to see which one of them gets eliminated.
Questions are then asked and they can be one, two or three "place" questions. Buzzing in and getting one of these right moves you up the appropriate number of places (towards the number one position). If you buzz in and get it wrong, you move down the appropriate number of places (towards number 10).
If you get a question correct when standing at the number one position, you can elect to move any one of your opponents all the way down the line (to number 10) or freeze someone out of answering the next question.
There are also "Number One Questions" that Krishnan reminds us are "very rare". If you get one of these right (they're usually harder), you move straight to the number one position. Buzz in and get it wrong and you move to the highest numbered position available and run an increased risk of going out.
The play continues with players moving up and down for correct and incorrect answers, and with play-offs eliminating one player every 60 seconds until only five players remain. At this point in the show, there is a commercial break.
After the break, the objective is to decide who is going to be "The Number One" for the particular day via a series of play-offs beginning with the players at positions 4 and 5. This time, it is the first to three points. You get a point for answering correctly, and you also score a point if your opponent buzzes in and gives a wrong answer.
As before, the winner of each play-off moves up, towards the number one position, and the other is eliminated. The two top players eventually compete for the number one position. When this is finished, the "Number One" is declared as the winner of the final play-off.
Invited back for the next show (for a maximum of 4 shows), the "Number One" player then has to compete in one question play-offs to determine the amount of money he / she wins. The other competitors are then brought back in the positions where they expired. The monitors on their desks now show ascending levels of money from £50 to £1000 on desks 10 to 2. These amount to a maximum possible win of £2500.
Desks 10 to 2 - £50, £50, £100, £100, £200, £200, £300, £500, £1000
Nine categories also appear on the screen and the once-eliminated competitors, beginning with the person at number 10 have to pick a category to compete with the "Number One" contestant at, on the buzzer. After the category is picked, the "Number One" can elect to challenge the player in a one question play-off or move the money up to the next player, "increasing the risk".
If the "Number One" moves the money up, the contestant who picked the category goes home with nothing as the money is transferred to the next player and the same decisions take place. If the "Number One" decides to compete with the player who picked the category, they play a one question play-off for the appropriate amount of money (initial level plus any moved-up money).
If the "Number One" wins a play-off, they add the money to their bank and the other contestant goes home with nothing. They are usually informed of this in a phrase that comprises the words "No money for you".
If the challenger wins the play-off, they take the money and play moves up to the next player with increasingly large amounts of money being played for. Eventually, the "Number One" contestant plays the number two competitor in a question on the final remaining category for £1000 plus any money that has been moved up.
Because of this end-game structure, it is possible for the "Number One" contestant to win less money than one of the players, an even possible for them to win nothing.
It is a good quiz where it is rare for any one player to be safe and thus, the audience is kept entertained. Krishnan Guru-Murthy also presents the show in a manner that is enthusiastic but still respects it as a serious quiz, making it very watchable.