The podiums for Bremner and the six contestants are arranged in a circle similar to a clock, with Bremner facing the group across the centre.
Seven lights begin to flash on the front of the host's podium, one at a time in random order. One contestant, chosen by drawing lots before the show, presses the buzzer on their podium to stop the light at the beginning of Round 1. Each of the lights is secretly assigned to a different length of time ranging from 30 seconds to two minutes and 30 seconds, but no one in the studio is told what time has been selected. It is shown on-screen for the home viewer's benefit, however.
The host begins to ask questions, starting with the player who won the draw, as the clock begins to run. The first correct answer given on a turn is worth £50 to that player; the value increases by this amount for each of the next three consecutive correct answers, then rises to £300 for the fifth and beyond. A correct answer allows the contestant in control to either take another question or pass to the opponent of their choice, but a miss requires them to answer another question. An incorrect answer or pass resets the question value to £50. A sound effect is played after every 30 seconds.
When time runs out, the studio lights flash and the host announces the time for that round, which is then removed from play. The contestant in control at this point is eliminated from the game with no winnings. The opponent who passed to this contestant, if any, receives all of their accumulated money. If the eliminated contestant had kept control for the entire round, their money is forfeited.
Rounds 2 through 4 are played in the same manner, with the lowest scorer from the previous round setting the time for the next one and having initial control. In case of a tie for low score, the contestant closer to the host's left has priority.
The two remaining contestants are given separate clocks, each set to 60 seconds. Only one clock runs at a time, starting with the low scorer, as the host begins to ask questions with no monetary value. The contestant in control must answer a question correctly in order to stop their clock and turn control over to the opponent. When one contestant's clock runs out, they are eliminated and their money is transferred to the opponent.
The last contestant must answer five questions correctly within 60 seconds in order to win any money, and may pass or miss as often as needed. Doing so within 30 seconds awards the full jackpot, but each additional 10 seconds or portion thereof cuts it in half, with the value rounded up to the next highest multiple of £5 if necessary. If the contestant fails to give five correct answers before time runs out, they leave with nothing.
