Random Rewind: The Button, BBC One

Random Rewind: we look back at some the best, and occasionally worst, entertainment shows from the past decade.

The Button

2018, BBC One

The Button was a primetime BBC One gameshow which ran for one series in Spring 2018. The show’s host and judge was an actual button. The game show took place in the houses of five UK families who compete to win challenges in the comfort of their living rooms.

Arriving in all five locations simultaneously, The Button will set the households a series of fiendishly fun challenges requiring skill, determination and intellect, over one anything-can-happen day.

At any time The Button can decide to turn red, meaning all five families must keep a vigilant eye on their talkative new house guest and press it as soon as they can to start – the games are played at precisely the same time in each home so a late push of the button puts a team at a serious disadvantage.

Drawing on the resourcefulness of all members of the house, from whip-smart kids to ever-wise (you’d hope) grandparents, the families compete for big money prizes.

With different amounts of money up for grabs for each challenge, The Button lets the most successful household pocket everything they’ve won during the show. The losing teams get... absolutely nothing, but do return to try again next week.

Each episode’s winning family must then decide whether to keep the cash and exit the series, or accept The Button’s tempting offer of a bonus £10,000 in the belief they can win again next week (although if they don’t, they lose it all).