The brains of Britain
‘WCHILD GENIUS HAT makes you think you’re a genius?” “Ego” responded the child genius as this series began yesterday.
It’s the nationwide contest to find Britain’s brainiest eight to 12-yearold, with only 19 children making it through from hundreds who applied.
Every year the competition throws up debate and splits viewers. Is it right to put kids through a gruelling, televised contest? Is this pressure from parents or something they want for themselves? We’ll leave that for you to decide.
Either way, quizmaster Richard Osman is absolutely brilliant with the kids, giving them pep talks, making them feel at ease and reminding them that falling out of the competition is not the end of the world.
Yesterday, 11-year-old Karina, dubbed Britain’s brightest toddler because she had an IQ of 160 when she was just two, was eliminated. It just goes to show, if Mensa’s youngest ever member struggles, then this really is tough.
Only 16 children remain in the competition and today it’s all about maths, as the competitors demonstrate extraordinary feats of written and mental arithmetic.
In a twist, the competitor with the highest score will get a fast pass straight through to day three.
The remaining 15 will have to take on one of the most complex recall rounds yet – memorising information relating to companies, sectors and share prices from FTSE 100 companies, as well as having to do complex calculations with the data. It’s astounding to watch. Tune in every night this week and don’t miss the grand finale on Saturday.