Dara O Briain is to host One & Six Zeros, a Channel 4 quiz show in which contestants can win a million pounds.

The six-episode series focuses on teams of three players who start with £1,000,000 and must answer seven general knowledge questions correctly to keep the jackpot intact. Each right answer locks in a digit of the prize fund.

Channel 4 teases: "Original and compelling, One & Six Zeros is the new quiz where just seven questions separate three players from one million pounds."

Talking further about the format, the producers explain: "If the teams answer any of the questions posed by the presenter Dara O Briain incorrectly, they will lose a zero from the prize fund and it could very quickly go from £1,000,000 to £100!

"But there is a lifeline. If the team doesn't want to risk answering a particular question, they can swap it for a different one. However, swapping questions also comes at a cost to the team...

"And not only that, after three questions, the team is reduced from three players to two. Then after five questions, just one player is left to tackle the final two questions alone."

O Briain will continue to host Mock The Week, which is due to return to BBC Two this autumn. Talking about the new show, he says: "I'm delighted to host this new quiz show for Channel 4 and Mighty Productions. It should be funny and tense and you, at home, will definitely think you could have done better than the contestants. Plus, I get to keep any of the money they don't win! I think that's the deal, I didn't read the small print."

Jo Street from Channel 4 adds: "Having one million pounds up for grabs in a quiz is thrilling and it also makes me feel a bit sick. One & Six Zeros is a really clever format which the audience will be able to play along with, and Dara is the perfect host to steer the contestants through the nerves, the laughs and the drama of potentially winning a life changing amount of cash."

Executive producer Lynn Sutcliffe comments: "We are delighted to be making this quiz with the amazing team at Channel 4, and so excited to be working with the brilliant Dara. He will bring wit and warmth to this high jeopardy show, which we believe has massive international potential. Luckily, loads of other countries seem to use ones and zeros as well - so the format should travel..."