Why quiz shows are not Pointless

WHAT is it with our obsession with quiz shows?

I wondered this the other day as I drove into work while listening on the radio to, of all things, the fall-out from the Theresa May vote.

Clearly, I’m bored with the whole political system as my mind, rather than focusing on what I’m being told is the story of the week, drifted away into memories of Saturday nights watching Celebrity Squares instead.

Actually, what really pricked my mind as I frantically tried to switch stations to try (and fail) to escape listening to any talk of either Brexit or Strictly Come Dancing, was how so much of life appears to be some sort of competition.

It is the frustrated driver who I saw taking his life in his own hands by dangerously undertaking so he could reach his destination ahead of the motorist in front of him on the A52.

It’s Jacob Rees-Mogg wanting to take over from the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

And, yes, it’s the quiz shows that we have all watched change and evolve over the years.

As someone who is well-known for not watching much TV and who works mainly during the day, I don’t catch shows such as Pointless very often.

Unlike my retired father who watches it five nights a week while eating his tea.

My mate Mike, who lives in Edinburgh, marvels at Tipping Point, a quiz show based on the old 2p slideand-ride slot machines I used to play at Mablethorpe as a kid.

Genius or desperation? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

And I see that one of the shows I used to enjoy watching back in the day – Who Wants to be a Millionaire – is returning.

Although, as the new format is being hosted by Jeremy Clarkson I won’t be tuning in, thanks.

Clearly, quiz shows work or we wouldn’t be tuning into them in the vast numbers we are. But why do we love them so much?

I Googled ‘obsession with game shows,’ and that wasn’t much help. And I don’t have the time to contact a psychologist to get their take on it for a weekend opinion piece.

So I’ll go with this – we all like to challenge ourselves.

One of the shows I try and tune into each week when it is on is University Challenge.

I probably average three correct answers per episode but I find the whole tradition of the long-running series fascinating – along with Jeremy Paxman’s acidic attitude towards the young contestants.

I love how an 18-year-old student from Kent knows her way around the periodic table, or how a 20-yearold from Northern Ireland has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gustav Mahler’s work.

And when I get a question right that neither team knows there’s my victory, my success, my hook. I know what the first single released by The Damned was ahead of someone far cleverer than me.

And maybe that is why we love a quiz show?

I have a friend, Craig, who appears to live his life as a quiz.

For example, most days on social media he will post a photograph of a chocolate bar without its wrapper and ask his friend to guess what it is.

It might be a Twix, a Bounty or something more obscure from a foreign country, but he engages with his pals through this.

I never take part because I think the concept is pointless but it amuses him and whiles away some time. But those who do join in the hullabaloo get that sense of satisfaction that they’ve ‘won’ something.

And isn’t that what life is all about?