One member of each team stood at the podium to answer questions, while the other moved along a path lined with 10 television monitors.

Each team had its own path, and the moving contestants started at the first monitor, needing a total of nine steps to reach the other end.

When a team finished answering the questions, the moving contestant advanced one step at a time and pressed the button below each monitor to reveal either a prize (merchandise or cash) or a Hot Spot (between five and eight altogether).

A team on the sixth or seventh step could not ask for any number of questions that would take them past the ninth one, and had to stop there if they reached it after stealing control from an opponent.

Once a team reached this point, they had a choice to either end the turn and bank the prizes, or to attempt one final open-ended question for which conferring was allowed.

The first team to correctly answer their final question won the game, banked any prizes still at risk, and advanced to the bonus round.

From the fourth through the ninth series, teams who failed to win their jackpot received 10% of its value for every safe step they took before exceeding their bid (£300/£200/£100, then £500/£400/£300).