Secret Genius
Synopsis
"Could you possess an incredible intellect without even realising it?" Secret Genius says that it's exploring that question. The show tests puzzle-solving skills, such as spotting the missing letters from months of the year, or organising the right ice cream for the right people. 48 people compete in regional heats, whittling down to a dozen for the grand final in Oxford.
"It's like Gladiators of the mind. You know when you're watching World's Strongest Man and they pull a caravan, and you're thinking, 'How do you do that?' I got that same rush watching these players tackle the games," host Alan Carr was quoted as saying.
Promotion for the series went on about how pleasant it was. "This isn't humiliation, it's validation. It is about the workings of the brain, but not in the traditional academic sense. We're testing a sort of innate intelligence that a lot of people don't realise they have, and I love the idea of sending them on their way with a new confidence in their hearts," said host Susie Dent in press coverage.
The challenges were compiled with Mensa, and test a wide range of skills - verbal reasoning, pattern recognition, memory, and many more. "The games are just so fun, and they have such play-along-ability," said Alan Carr.
This programme has not yet aired. A full review will appear here after broadcast.