The Waiting Game

The Waiting Game was a Saturday night game show that aired on BBC One from 17 November 2001 to 15 June 2002 and it was hosted by Ruby Wax. Gameplay Round 1 Three teams of two start the game, with one player from each team at the buzzers and their teammates standing behind them. Wax asks a total of eight questions during this round. Once she finishes reading each question, a 10-second timer starts; the point value is determined by how long the players wait to buzz in. Values start at 1 point, then increase to 3, 5, 8, 12, and finally 15 points just before time expires. The timer is not shown to the teams, and the question value is only announced once a player buzzes in. That player's teammate must answer the question without conferring; a correct answer awards the points to that team, while a miss awards them to both opposing teams. For the last three questions, a miss automatically scores 15 points for the opposing teams regardless of the current question value. After all eight questions have been asked, the team with the lowest score is eliminated. If, on the last question, the team in third place buzzes in so early that they cannot catch up, they are immediately eliminated without being permitted to answer. The round can end early if one team falls so far behind that they cannot at least tie for second place even by scoring all remaining points.