Cheating claims mar ‘Child Genius’

IT IS supposed to be an opportunity for some of Britain’s brainiest children to pit their wits.

But this week the TV competition Child Genius descended into an undignified battle of pushy parents amid claims that some have been cheating to help their fiercely intelligent offspring.

The show was temporarily suspended as the adjudicator was called on to decide whether there was any truth in accusations of parents cheating.

Earlier, mother Susan had been accused of using a hand gesture to help her 12-year-old daughter Olivia.

When Olivia, who has since been knocked out, struggled to name a station starting with “Kensal” (Kensal Rise), Susan was shown in the studio audience raising her hand.

Viewers on social media suggested the upward gesture may have been a clue for “Rise”, and noted that Olivia’s father Rob also “raised” a good luck sign.

But after Susan’s son Fabio, 9, performed poorly, it was her turn to accuse others of cheating.

She complained: “When I was actually sitting in the audience in the last round there were a few family members who continuously, throughout their child’s round, were mouthing the answers.”

The contest was temporarily suspended as the adjudicator reviewed footage, warning there would be “serious repercussions” if she spotted any cheating.– Daily Mail

Town’s massive omelette

A BELGIAN town honoured its 22-year-old tradition of making a giant omelette earlier this week amidst an egg contamination scare, cooking 10 000 eggs in a pan four metres wide on Tuesday.

The omelette was cooked over an open fire in the town of Malmedy by The World Fraternity of Knights of the Giant Omelette, which was created in 1973. President of the local branch of the giant omelet fraternity, Benedicte Mathy, said she was confident the dish was safe to eat. – Reuters