Total Wipeout

This article is about the 2009 BBC Endemol game show. For the 1988 game show, see Wipeout (1988 game show). For the original US version, see Wipeout (2008 game show).

Total Wipeout
Created by	Matt Kunitz and Scott Larsen
Directed by	Richard Valentine
Presented by	Richard Hammond, Amanda Byram
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	8 + 1 Awards show (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Andrew Norgate
Production locations	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Running time	55 minutes 30 minutes (TW Fast Forward)
Production company	Initial
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	3 January 2009 – present

Total Wipeout is a British game show, hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram that first aired on 3 January 2009. Each week, 20 contestants compete in a series of challenges in an attempt to win £10,000. These challenges are based in large pools of water or mud and generally involve large assault courses that participants must cross. The show is a licensed version of Wipeout, the Endemol show that originated in the United States in 2008, with the name slightly altered to avoid confusion with the BBC version of the earlier game show of the same name. It has been confirmed by the BBC that the show will return for two more series which are to include celebrity specials.

Format

Total Wipeout is hosted by Richard Hammond, who commentates as the contestants attempt to complete the challenges. He is also seen in a studio to provide certain links within the show. Although the main footage is filmed in Argentina, Hammond records his sections from a studio in Britain. Meanwhile, Amanda Byram interviews the contestants during the show and continues to stay on the sidelines as they go through the course.

Celebrity Wipeout

In March 2009, the BBC announced that two Celebrity Wipeout specials are to be aired, celebrities will face the same format as the original show, only Paul Gascoigne has been announced as a celebrity contestant.

Gameplay

During Total Wipeout, contestants are put through a series obstacle courses and challenges. After each one, a certain number of them are eliminated from the competition. After the fourth and final round, the fastest of the remaining three competitors around the course wins the game and cash prize. The eliminated contestants can be seen sitting at the side of the challenges throughout later challenges.

The Qualifier

The Qualifier involves twenty contestants getting around the course in the least time possible; eight contestants will be eliminated and the other twelve will advance to The Sweeper. The Qualifier always contains the Sucker Punch and the Big Balls. The first and last obstacles change every week, however the first obstacle is set over either a pool of water or one of mud, and the final obstacle is always a 'swing' to the goal.

• So far only three contenders, Jo and Carole from episode 5 and Kierron from episode 7, have managed to conquer the Big Balls.

• So far Kierron from episode 7 is the only person to have conquered every obstacle in the Qualifier.

The first obstacles are either the Slippery Stairs, Topple Towers, Tumble Tubes or the Hurtle Turtles. The last obstacles are either the Wall Swing, Leap of Faith or the Bubble Bath.

The Sweeper

The Sweeper involves the twelve contestants standing on tall podiums, over water, whilst an arm spins around with the contestants having to jump over it, with the arm getting faster and higher after every rotation. This round does not feature any of the varations that the US version adds to the game, and while the game does continue to until a single player remains, the winner does not receive a prize.

The six contestants who fall first are eliminated, whilst the rest carry on and move on to Dizzy Dummies.

Dizzy Dummies

Dizzy Dummies involves three rounds with one contestant being eliminated in each round. The six contestants are strapped onto a "human merry-go-round" and spun at speed for 40 seconds. When they're released the contestants must make their way over to the finish line by crossing the obstacles in their way. The challenge has two different routes. Rounds One and Three use the first route, while Round Two uses the second. The final contestant who reaches the finish line (or gives up), or the first contestant to withdraw in each round is eliminated. The rest spin again and take part in the next round.

Examples of obstacles in Dizzy Dummies include; Tippy Tables and Doughnuts.

Wipeout Zone

The Wipeout Zone is the final stage. The final three contestants must complete the course in the quickest time they can. Whoever completes the stage the fastest wins the prize of £10,000. The Wipeout Zone is always made up of the same six obstacles, in the same order: Killer Surf, Barrel Run, Water Wall, Spinner, Rolling Beam and the Launch Pads.

Differences from US version

Whereas the US version begins with 24 contestants, Total Wipeout begins with 20, though in both versions 12 progress to the second round. In the second round there is no bonus prize in the UK version for being the last one standing, so once six of the twelve have been eliminated, there is no incentive for the remaining contestants to finish the round, causing contestants in some episodes to simply jump off their podiums when they know they are safe. Three contestants move from the third round into the final, rather than four, with the selection process being slightly different. There are three parts to the third round, with the slowest contestant in each part being eliminated and bringing the remaining contestants from six down to three. All contestants, bar the one that has been eliminated, have to compete all subsequent parts of the round and not be last so that they may reach the final. This contrasts with the US version where there are four parts, with the winner of each part automatically moving to the final and not having to compete again. Finally, in the US version, the winner stands to receive $50,000 (approx £30,000). In the UK version the winnings are £10,000.

Episodes

Main article: List of Total Wipeout episodes

Series 1

There are eight standard episodes in series 1, plus one compilation show, Total Wipeout Awards the first being aired on 3 January 2009, on BBC One. Later, episodes were edited down and appeared on Friday nights as Total Wipeout Fast Forward.

Series 2

It was announced on 24 March 2009 that the show would return for a second series which is due to be shown in the 2nd quarter of 2009 (official dates are to be announced) however there is no news yet if the same presenting team will return, or how many episodes this series will feature. A third series was announced at the same time.

External links

• Total Wipeout at BBC Online
• Total Wipeout at IMDb
• Wipeout Zone - Show info and guides