Pointless (Australian game show)

Pointless (Australian TV series)

Industry	Television production
Founded	July 23, 2018 (2018-07-23)
Fate	Cancelled
Successor	Celebrity Name Game (Australian version)
Headquarters	Pyrmont, Sydney , Australia
Parent	Endemol Shine Australia

Pointless was an Australian quiz show adapted from the original British format. It was broadcast on Network 10 from 23 July 2018 until 10 May 2019, with Mark Humphries serving as host alongside Andrew Rochford.

The production took place at Network 10 Studios located in Pyrmont, Sydney, under the banner of Endemol Shine Australia.

History

In May 2018, Endemol Shine Australia initiated a search for contestants within New South Wales for Pointless, confirming that Network 10 would be the airing network after other major broadcasters such as Nine Network, Seven Network, ABC, SBS, and Foxtel declined to acquire the rights.

The show was publicly announced in June 2018 as a replacement for Family Feud on Network 10’s programming lineup.

By February 2019, rumors about the show's cancellation emerged due to unsatisfactory ratings. On 15 March 2019, Network 10 officially declared that Pointless would be discontinued and revealed that it would be succeeded by Celebrity Name Game, hosted by Grant Denyer and adapted from the American version. This successor remained on air until May 2020.

Gameplay

The Australian version adheres closely to the British Pointless format but features fewer contestants and rounds. Instead of four teams as in the UK, three teams of two players compete, striving to provide accurate yet uncommon answers.

Prior to each episode, a survey of 100 people is conducted with general knowledge questions. Contestants then answer these same questions during the show, earning points corresponding to how many surveyed individuals gave identical responses. A "pointless" answer—one that is correct but not mentioned by any survey participant—earns zero points. Incorrect answers receive the maximum penalty of 100 points.

The competition starts with an elimination phase where teams with the highest scores are knocked out. The two remaining teams then compete in a "head to head" round aiming for the lowest scoring answers; the victor proceeds to the final stage. Each pointless answer achieved before reaching the final contributes $500 to the jackpot. Teams eliminated once may return for another chance; however, those who have appeared twice or reached the final are ineligible to return.

During the final round, teams must supply two answers within one of two categories under a 30-second time limit, including at least one pointless answer to claim the jackpot. Failure to do so results in the prize money rolling over to subsequent episodes.

The jackpot begins at $2,000 and increases by $2,000 plus any additional increments earned from pointless answers if not won. The largest jackpot recorded was $24,000 on 20 September 2018. Upon a jackpot win, it resets back to $2,000.