Weakest Link gets stronger

Mean TV: Anne Robinson is famous for her putdowns

A new series of the quiz show The Weakest Link will be shown on BBC One later this year, the corporation has confirmed.

The programme, which began life on BBC Two last August, quickly became a hit, partly thanks to host Anne Robinson's mocking catchphrase, "You are the weakest link - goodbye".

Contestants have to answer general knowledge questions, building up a prize fund between them and eliminating contestants who are performing badly - the "weakest link".

The final contestant remaining wins the money.

A series of "champions' league" specials were screened last year on BBC One, filling its schedule when the Nine O'Clock News moved to 10pm in October.

You had a surprisingly good round. Was that a mistake?

One of Anne Robinson's put-downs

These used winners of previous shows from BBC Two.

But now BBC One is commissioning a new series, which is expected to stick to the original format.

No transmission dates have been confirmed.

The show's daytime run on BBC Two was recently re-commissioned, with 100 new episodes being made of the programme, which runs daily at 1715.

The show's popularity was confirmed when Prime Minister Tony Blair used Robinson's catchphrase to put down Conservative leader William Hague in a House of Commons debate after the state opening of parliament.

Mr Blair had himself been dubbed "the weakest link" by protestors angry about the price of petrol.