Format

Talpa Studios continues to drive the international rollout of its quiz format Caught in the Middle, as Spanish broadcaster Atresmedia commissions a local version for Antena 3. The show, created by the global content company founded by John de Mol, will be produced by Fremantle Spain in partnership with Talpa Studios and recorded later this year at Talpa’s international production hub in the Netherlands. The new commission strengthens the ongoing collaboration between Talpa Studios and Atresmedia, following previous adaptations such as The Jump and The Quiz with Balls.

Carmen Ferreiro, Director of Entertainment Programming at Atresmedia, added: “For Atresmedia, a leading group in Spain, it remains a priority to continue investing in successful international formats in order to stay at the forefront of entertainment in our country. The most-watched game shows on Spanish television are on Atresmedia and, therefore, we are very pleased to have acquired Caught in the Middle, as it perfectly fits our type of entertainment, allowing viewers to play along from home at the same time.”

Originally launched on SBS6, Caught in the Middle has emerged as the network’s top-performing new game show of the past six years, achieving an average market share of 18.1% across its first eight episodes—well above the slot average of 12.9%. A second season has already been confirmed in the Netherlands, while the format also secured a paper format deal in Australia ahead of its Dutch debut, with the local version set to premiere later this year.

Sebastian van Barneveld, Director Global Distribution at Talpa Studios, said: “Following its strong performance and renewal in the Netherlands, it’s great to see Caught in the Middle continue its international expansion. The format combines a clear, easy-to-follow gameplay with a striking visual identity, brought to life in our international production hub. This makes it instantly engaging and highly adaptable for broadcasters looking for a scalable, high-impact game show.”
The format places one duo at the center of a vast LED arena, surrounded by 100 opponents gradually closing in. Across 15 questions, contestants must strategically choose answers that match those given by as many rivals as possible, eliminating them round by round before they reach the center and claim the €50,000 prize. The gameplay combines knowledge with crowd psychology, building tension as the circle tightens and culminating in a final high-stakes Top 10 round.