Weakest Link Rugby Special - Part 3

Anne Robinson goes skittish

In the first two rounds of the Rugby Special of the Weakest Link, first broadcast on 20 March 2004 and then again on 31 October, the players, all rugby internationals, answered all their questions correctly and banked £10,000 for charity. Round 3 did not go as well but Anne Robinson, the black-clad Queen of Acerbia, became skittish and flirtatious - surely a first for the famous television quiz show's sharp-tongued, grim-faced presenter.

The players taking part were Will Greenwood (England), Colin Charvis (Wales), Brian Moore (England), Geordan Murphy (Ireland), Austin Healey (England), Matt Dawson (England), Simon Taylor (Scotland), Thomas Castaignède (France), Matt Dawson (England) and Martin Bayfield (England).

At the end of each round the players are required to vote off one of their number, who is then labelled the Weakest Link. The first weakest link was Austin Healey, the second Matt Dawson.

Anne Robinson got it going again. She is QA on our list.

QA: Round 3, team. You've banked ten thousand pounds. You're down to seven players and there's another ten seconds coming off the time. And we'll start with the strongest link from the last round. That's Thomas. Let's play the Weakest Link. Start the clock.

QA: Thomas, what 'p' is a medication order written by a doctor to take to a pharmacist?
TC: Ordinance.
QA: Prescription!

QA: Simon, in science the Darwinian theory of natural selection is commonly explained and referred to as survival of the what?
ST: Fittest

QA: Martin, in entertainment what is the name for a show featuring married puppets which quarrel violently - Punch & Judy or Richard & Judy?
MB: Punch & Judy

QA: Will, in UK media the equestrian magazine first published in 1884 is called Horse and what?
WG: Hounds

QA: Colin, in rugby union what is the title of the official anthem of the Scotland team?
CC: Flower of Scotland

QA: Brian, in public speaking what 'm' is the name of a simple device shaped like a funnel that's used to amplify the voice?
BM: Microphone
QA: No, megaphone!

QA: Geordan, in the animal kingdom, adders, pythons and asps are types of which reptile?
GM: Snakes

QA: Thomas, in English criminal law the letters GBH stand for Grievous Bodily what?
TC: Actors
QA: Harm

QA: Simon, in imperial measurements a gallon is used mainly to measure what - solids or liquids?
ST: Liquids

QA: Martin, in geography, Tokyo is the capital of which Asian country?
MB: Japan

QA: Will, in politics what is the name of the international leader who arrived in the UK on November 2003 on a state visit?
WG: Pushkin
QA: No, George Bush!

QA: Colin, in Christianity what 'h' usually proceeds the word Bible on the front cover of the Authorised Version?
CC: Holy

QA: Brian, in gardening a flower bed in a public place incorporating a timepiece is known as a flower what?
BM: Display
QA: Clock!

QA: Geordan, which play by Shakespeare is set mainly in Elsinore Castle in Denmark?
GM: Macbeth
QA: Hamlet!

QA: Thomas, in pastimes a boogie board is sued in what kind of activity - surfing or diving?
TC: Surfing.

QA: Simon, which British sportscar manufacturer produced a model in the 1950s and 60s that was affectionately known as the Frog-eyed Sprite?
ST: Triumph
QA: Austin Healey!

QA: Martin, according to tradition when a couple become engaged the man presents his fiancee with which item of jewelry?
MB: An engagement ring

QA: Will, in language what is a word that can mean a container for a liquid, a boat or a tube for carrying blood?
WG: Vessel

CC: Bank! (After all the ups and downs of the round there was £250 to bank. Loud music ensued.)

QA: Time's up and what happened to you? You only banked £250. Who's had too many knocks on the head? Who perhaps scored at the wrong end? One of you is about to leave with nothing. It's time to vote off the weakest link.

Ghost voice: Answering the most questions correctly, Martin is the strongest link. The statistics reveal that Brian is the weakest link, as he failed to answer a single question correctly. Will the other players realise that?

QA: Voting over. It's time to reveal who you think is the weakest link?

The players click on their screens showing their vote.

WG: Thomas
CC: Thomas
BM: Thomas
GM: Thomas
TC: Geordan (which he spells Jordan)
ST: Brian
MB: Thomas

QA: So, Geordan, you're known as the Georgie Best of rugby, I understand.
GM: It's a nickname I was labelled with unfortunately by my ex-coach. I think he meant it in a flattering way but it seems to have stuck.
QA: You like a drink, do you?
GM: Well, I like a couple.
QA: You got a wife?
GM: I do.
QA: Really?
GM: No, not really.
QA: Have you got a girlfriend?
GM: I do indeed, yes.
QA: What does she do?
GM: She's actually a singer.
QA: Is she now?
GM: She is indeed.
QA: So your the Posh and Becks of rugby?
GM: Not at all, no.
QA: And why'd you want to get rid of Thomas?
GM: Well, I think that because he's a fluent French speaker he may struggle with some of the English questions, plus he voted for me in the last round as well.
QA: Oh, I think that might have come first.
GM: Well, I don't know. I don't know.

QA: Tell me, Shaggy. Pushkin - where's he international leader of?
WG: Somewhere in my brain. I thought he was an Eastern European leader. I think I should probably have said P-U-T-K-I-N?
QA: I'm not here to answer any questions, Shaggy. Why Thomas?
WG: I think we're here to raise as much money as possible and I think, as Geordan said, he may struggle with the language side of things, and I'm sure Thomas will agree that if we raise as much money as possible then the weakest link is the winner.

QA - her excitement rising during this conversation: So, Thomas, are you married?
TC: Yes.
QA: How will you explain to Mrs Thomas how you are voting for Geordan spelt G-E-O-R-D-A-N and you've voted for J-O-R-D-A-N?
TC: They sound the same.
QA: Who were you thinking of, Thomas?
TC: I didn't see that ... (pointing at Geordan's name on the screen.) Sorry. (Looking at Geordan)
GM: That's OK, big guy.
TC: I wish you looked like her but..... (French accent heavier, a little shrug).
QA: Speak to me some more. I Love it. (Smiling, head moving, unusually animated) Where are you going for your holidays?
TC: I was in South Africa.
QA: And where are you going for your next holidays?
TC: Caribbean.
QA: Oh, lovely. I love the Caribbean. Thomas, it's been an absolute delight. I'm so sorry you're going, that you are the weakest link. Goodbye.
TC: Goodbye.

Thomas Castaignède leaves with a coy but pleased smile and speaks to the television audience, softly, grinning, very French.

TC: She was quite sorry to see me go. It's quite a disappointment because I think there was something romantic between us. Yeah, Ginger. You're hard but quite cheeky. Um, she's cute.