McEnroe brings The Chair to UK

John McEnroe still has the intensity of his youth

Former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe is to bring the American extreme quiz show The Chair to the UK in autumn.

McEnroe will front 10 episodes of the BBC One show which puts individual contestants in an intense studio environment where they have to answer questions and control their heart rate.

McEnroe is a popular pundit

If the heart monitor attached to them as they sit in the eponymous chair shows them exceeding a pre-determined range they lose prize money.

In the American version, broadcast on the ABC network, loud bangs, shooting flames on both sides of the chair and even a baby crocodile dangled into front of the face were used to jolt contestants.

But the BBC version will steer clear of the more outrageous devices used to unsettle players.

McEnroe has already proved to be a success as a Wimbledon commentator for the BBC, mixing brutally honest punditry with a surprisingly laidback manner.

And it is hoped he will add spice to The Chair, although he could not stop plunging ratings and the cancellation of the show in the US.

Physical fear

BBC light entertainment editor Jonathan Glazier said the emphasis of the show would be about responding to pressure rather than fear.

"Rather than putting them through any rounds that induce physical fear, the stress measured by The Chair will be intellectual and psychological."

British programming distributor Target negotiated the deal with the BBC as well as selling the format in the US.

"The Chair takes the game show format into a totally new dimension and the BBC has recognised this. Never before have contestants had to restrain themselves from answering questions by getting their heart rate under control," Target managing director Alison Rayson told Media Guardian.