Attention à la marche !
| Company type | Television game show |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television entertainment |
| Founded | March 10, 2001 |
| Defunct | June 26, 2010 |
| Headquarters | France |
Key people | Jean-Luc Reichmann (host), Marie Schneider (producer), Hervé Hubert (producer) |
| Products | Television game show |
Attention à la marche ! was a French television game show broadcast on TF1 starting from 10 March 2001. Initially aired on weekends, it transitioned to a daily schedule from 3 September 2001 until its conclusion on 26 June 2010. The program was scheduled on weekdays at 12:10 p.m. and was succeeded by the daily quiz show Les Douze Coups de midi beginning 28 June 2010.
The show was presented by Jean-Luc Reichmann and produced jointly by Formidooble, the production company owned by Reichmann and Marie Schneider, alongside DV Prod, established by Hervé Hubert and affiliated with the Endemol group. The series celebrated key achievements with its 2999th episode airing on 2 November 2009, followed by the milestone 3000th episode the next day. The finale marked the close of its tenth season. Subsequently, Reichmann continued his hosting duties on Les Douze Coups de midi.
Gameplay
During weekdays, the competition involves individual contestants who are not publicly known. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, children or teenagers participate alongside their parents. Sundays typically feature celebrities competing on behalf of charities or groups sharing common interests, such as ventriloquists or magicians. Celebrities commonly take part in the initial stage on Saturday and then in the final two rounds on Sunday.
The objective is to ascend through "steps" to win a top prize of up to €20,000, a figure set since 2007. Only one contestant among four can secure this maximum amount, which is shared with a viewer.
Pre-Step
Implemented from 20 June 2008 onward, candidates are randomly selected from the audience. Prior to the first round, four contenders respond to general knowledge questions using a "mushroom" buzzer device. Questions are revealed progressively, and participants may buzz in at any moment; however, an incorrect interruption results in a penalty period during which buzzing is disabled. The first player to answer correctly earns a point symbolized by a CGI "buddy" displayed on their screen. Accumulating two buddies qualifies a candidate for advancement to the first Step.
This Pre-Step phase continues until three contestants have qualified; the fourth is eliminated.
1st Step (Step to 3)
Three contestants or pairs (previously four before summer 2008) compete by answering questions involving logic, general knowledge, or surveys conducted with 100 French individuals. Responses must be provided as precise numbers.
For each question posed, the participant whose answer is farthest from the correct figure loses one of two "buddies." In case of a tie, the slower respondent forfeits a buddy. Losing both buddies results in elimination from the game.
Providing a correct answer grants an "all up" and a prize. Initially, no reward was offered for correct responses; later, contestants selected between two envelopes containing gifts of varying value.
Between questions, players share anecdotes related to the theme of upcoming queries.
This round features the customary "naughty question" concerning love matters, accompanied by Joe Cocker's song "You Can Leave Your Hat On," referencing the movie 9 1/2 Weeks.
During summer 2008 exclusively, both contestants losing buddies were eliminated simultaneously. The audience then voted for their preferred eliminated contestant, who advanced as "The Public's Favorite." The candidate retaining both buddies was declared overall winner. This format concluded in September 2008.
When three contestants each have one buddy remaining, a tie-breaking "golden question," characterized by a more serious tone, is asked while an excerpt from Morton Gould's concerto Spirituals for Strings Choir and Orchestra plays in the background.
2nd Step (Face-to-Face Round)
Commencing on 1 March 2007, the last two contestants or pairs engage in the second Walk. Each participant is allotted two rounds of 45 seconds each to respond to questions, earning one point per accurate answer, with no points awarded for incorrect responses. The host has discretion to pause the timer for unusual replies, requests for clarification, or music-related queries.
The competitor with the highest score proceeds to the final stage, while the other is eliminated and usually awarded an LCD screen as a consolation prize. If both contestants tie, a sudden-death "golden questions" tiebreaker determines who advances; this continues until one answers correctly and the other does not.
3rd Step (Climbing the Steps)
Starting with a guaranteed prize of €500, the finalist can double their winnings by correctly answering up to three consecutive questions, potentially reaching €4,000. Following this, they face a multiple-choice question with four options aimed at quintupling their earnings. The contestant initially provides an answer, then consults previously eliminated players for consensus before deciding whether to change their response.
Successfully answering all questions results in a €20,000 prize, accompanied by the celebratory playing of Michael Jackson’s "Earth Song." The program frequently captures and highlights the emotional moments experienced by contestants.
Between 3 July and 5 September 2009, an updated rule allowed the runner-up from the head-to-head round a chance to win during the final through a seesaw question exchange. The winner of the face-off answers first; if incorrect, the runner-up attempts the same question. Correct responses determine prizes ranging from €1,000 up to €20,000. This modification was not applied in celebrity or children’s versions of the show.
International Adaptations
This format, originally developed in France, has been licensed and adapted internationally as follows:
- Spain: Números locos aired on Antena 3 during 2005 with Carlos Sobera as host. - Russia: Ступени (Stupeni) was broadcast from September 2007 to August 2008 on Russia-1 and Bibigon channels, hosted by Sergey Belogolovtsev. - Vietnam: Starting December 2007, Con số vui nhộn aired on VTV9 featuring presenter Đại Nghĩa. - Portugal: Quem Quer Ganha briefly adopted this format on TVI from June to October 2009 before returning to its original version. - Turkey: Aman Dikkat! was shown on Kanal 1 in 2006 with Vatan Şaşmaz hosting.
| Country | Title | Presenter | Broadcaster | Premiere | Finale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France (origin) | Attention à la marche ! | Jean-Luc Reichmann | TF1 | 3 September 2001 | 26 June 2010 |
| Portugal | Quem Quer Ganha | Teresa Peres | TVI | 29 June 2009 | October 2009 |
| Russia | Ступени (Stupeni) | Sergey Belogolovtsev | Russia-1, Bibigon | 3 September 2007 | 23 August 2008 |
| Spain | Números locos | Carlos Sobera | Antena 3 | 24 January 2005 | 1 July 2005 |
| Turkey | Aman Dikkat! | Vatan Şaşmaz | Kanal 1 | 7 August 2006 | 29 December 2006 |
| Vietnam | Con số vui nhộn | Đại Nghĩa | VTV9 | 20 December 2007 | 2009 |