Worlds Apart

Pensioners and youngsters (18-25) are paired up and take part in a treasure hunt across Japan, with the winning couple splitting £50,000.

Aired in the plum slot after The Great British Bake Off, Worlds Apart wore its emotions on its sleeve, and served as an excellent primer on Japanese culture. As a game show, it was less successful.

In each city, the pairs are given a guided tour of some element from Japanese culture. This can be any part of the culture - religion, food, beauty treatments, architecture, nature were all used in the series.

Then the contestants are tested in the knowledge they've just learned: a quiz about the religion, make the right food, pick the right plants. Each correct answer earns a coin, and the pair with the fewest coins in each week's challenge ends their tour.

Our game show senses were irked as it quickly became apparent that some of the tasks were easier than others, and the show was not particularly well balanced.

However, the challenges probably weren't the real point of the programme. It was to confirm that people have lots in common, that the shared bonds of humanity are stronger than artificial boxes, and to provide space for viewers to think carefully about what they were seeing.

Rosie and Lawrence

Weaver's Week review