Tenable Explained

Genre:Game show
Presenter:Warwick Davis
Sally Lindsay
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Series:7 (Regular)
1 (All-Stars)
Num Episodes:306 (Regular)
4 (All-Stars)
Runtime:60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Location:BBC Elstree Centre (2016)
Pinewood Studios (2017–present)
Company:Initial
Network:ITV1
Last Aired:present

Tenable is a British game show presented by Warwick Davis and briefly Sally Lindsay, airing on ITV1 since 14 November 2016.[1] On each episode, five contestants attempt to win up to £125,000 by filling in lists of 10 items each.[2]

Gameplay

The five contestants who have a prior relationship play the game as a team; one is designated as the captain. The goal in each round is to give as many answers as possible out of 10 in a factual list that fits a particular category, such as "The 10 'TAN' countries" (countries whose names in English include the letter sequence TAN) or "The first 10 UK cities after Belfast alphabetically." Money accumulates in each of the first five rounds according to the table below.

For most questions, the host provides a brief explanation of what answers can and cannot be accepted as correct. All correct answers are displayed on a triangular board as they are given. As of the 2020 Christmas Special, some rounds begin with a list of 10 clues displayed on the board; one for each of the required answers. If a contestant's answer is correct, it is shown in place of its corresponding clue. At the end of every round, the host reveals any correct answers not given by the contestant(s) playing it.

Contestants who are deaf or hearing-impaired are allowed to have an interpreter on the stage, who may interpret between spoken words and sign language. However, the interpreter may not suggest answers or take any other active role in the game.

Rounds 1 to 4

After hearing the category for each round, the captain designates one teammate to play it. Each teammate may only play one round and may not confer with anyone else. The one teammate who is not chosen for Rounds 1 through 3 must play Round 4 by default.

The contestant must give at least five correct ("tenable") answers in order to qualify for the Final and may stop after any correct answer at or beyond this point and bank any money earned. If the contestant completes the list, they automatically advance and bank the money.

Two forms of assistance are available until the fifth correct answer has been given:

The contestant is also given one life, which allows them to continue without penalty at any time after giving an incorrect answer or being overruled in favour of one given by the captain. A second such mistake ends the round immediately, eliminates the contestant from the game and forfeits any money earned during the round.

Round 5

The captain plays this round under the same rules as the first four, with the following changes.

Final

The remaining contestants/full team select one of two categories and are given a list pertaining to their choice. They must give one answer at a time, starting with the captain and then proceeding through the other teammates in the order that they played Rounds 1 to 4. Nominates, overrules and lives are no longer in play and no conferring is allowed. Any contestant who gives an incorrect answer is immediately eliminated from the game. Completing the list awards the entire jackpot, split equally among the contestants participating in the Final, while failing to do so awards nothing.

The maximum potential jackpot is £125,000, achievable by banking the full £25,000 in each of Rounds 1 to 5. If the team fails to bank any money during the game, the default jackpot is £500. As of Series 6, if the team fails to complete the list, each member receives a Tenable-themed tea towel as a consolation prize.

Tenable: All-Stars and Specials

A celebrity version under the title Tenable: All-Stars aired sporadically in 2019.

This version is almost the same as the civilian version with one difference where the celebrities receive £1,000 for their charities if they fail to complete the final list. In the 2019 Christmas special, they receive £2,500 for their charities.

Transmissions

Regular

Series Start Date End Date Episodes
1 14 November 2016 9 December 2016 20
2 30 October 2017 24 November 2017 60[3]
12 February 2018 9 March 2018
16 April 2018 11 May 2018
3 3 September 2018 10 October 2018 60[4]
28 January 2019 8 March 2019
4 14 October 2019 22 November 2019 60[5]
6 January 2020 14 February 2020
5 15 February 2021 12 March 2021 50[6]
22 March 2021 25 March 2021
12 April 2021 13 May 2021
1 September 2021
6 8 June 2022 30[7]
20 September 2022 21 October 2022
11 September 2023 15 September 2023
7 7 June 2023 25[8]
18 September 2023 20 October 2023
30 August 2024

All-Stars

Series Start Date End Date Episodes
1 5 May 2019 12 May 2019 3
29 December 2019
26 December 2019 1

Notes and References

  1. Warwick Davis to present new ITV quiz show. 19 October 2016. Radio Times. Jonathan. Holmes. 11 November 2017.
  2. Web site: Warwick Davis gets ready to make ITV afternoons Tenable. 13 November 2016. Mike. Watkins. ATV Today. 3 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Tenable – Series 2 - Outpost . 3 July 2018 .
  4. Web site: Tenable – Series 3 - Outpost . 3 August 2018 .
  5. Web site: Tenable – Series 4 - Outpost . 19 September 2019 .
  6. Web site: Tenable – Series 5 - Outpost . 18 May 2021 .
  7. Web site: Tenable – Series 6 - Outpost . 9 March 2022 .
  8. https://www.outpostfacilities.co.uk/our-projects/tenable-series-7/