The Floor (Portuguese game show)

The Floor is a Portuguese version of the Dutch game show with the same name. The series is hosted by Vasco Palmeirim and premiered on September 14, 2024, on RTP1.^[1] The game is based around a floor grid of 100 squares. Each square is occupied by a contestant with expertise in a different trivia category. Pairs of contestants face each other in head-to-head trivia duels, with the winner taking over all territory controlled by the loser.

The game progresses over the course of a season with the grand prize of €50 000 awarded to the player who ultimately controls the entire floor.^[1] Secondary prizes of €2 500 are awarded throughout the season to the winner of the final duel with the two players with the most territory at the end of each episode. The played category is unknown until the end of each episode.

The season begins with 100 contestants standing in separate spaces of a ten-by-ten grid on the studio floor. Each contestant has a category in which they feel particularly knowledgeable.

One contestant is chosen at random and shown the categories of all opponents whose territories share at least one edge with their own, then the player chooses one of them to face in a head-to-head duel. The two contestants take turns identifying a series of images, words, or sounds associated with the challenged opponent's category. They are given separate 45-second clocks, only one of which runs at any given time, starting with the challenger. The contestant in control must give a correct answer in order to stop their clock and turn control over to the opponent. Multiple guesses are allowed without penalty, and a contestant may pass whenever desired; however, they must wait three seconds for a new image, text, or sound to be shown. Some categories are sound-based, requiring contestants to identify a specific sound or song.

The first contestant to run out of time is eliminated from the game and gives up all of their territory to the winner, who takes/retains the challenger's category. The winner may then either challenge another opponent or return to the grid; in the latter case, a new contestant is selected at random from those who have not yet played a duel. When only two contestants remain, the one controlling more territory decides whose category will be used for the final duel.

At the end of each episode, except the last one, the two contestants holding the most territory will battle in a final duel with a mystery category. This duel is not eliminatory. Therefore, the winner will win €2 500 , and both contestants will return to the floor. The last contestant standing at the end of the tenth and final episode of the season wins the grand prize of €50 000 . The overall prize money pot for the season is €72 500 .

On April 10, 2024, it was announced that RTP1 had ordered the first season^[2] and later that would be produced by Satisfaction Iberia and Coral Europa.^[3][4] The applications opened on May 22, 2024.^[3][5] The casting process proceeded until July 2024, when the production team selected the 500 best applications for a final casting to cast the 100 contestants who would be the first season's players.^[6] Season 1 was recorded in Lisbon during August 2024.^[6] On August 14, 2024, Vasco Palmeirim was announced as the host for the first season.^[4]

On August 29, 2024, Palmeirim conducted a press conference to present the new format in Portugal.^[7] On the same day, RTP1 announced that the series would premiere on September 14, 2024.^[1]

The categories in bold represent the original theme of expertise of each contestant.

• Official website