Unbeatable
Jason Manford on his ‘intense’ brand-new daytime quiz show
MONDAY-FRIDAY / BBC1
Host Jason Manford tells TV Times he’s convinced this show has got what it takes to crack the crowded daytimequiz market – a simple concept, cash prizes and nerve-jangling jeopardy. Jason’s sold on it, but can he win over Pointless superfan Nana Manford..?
NEW MONDAY-FRIDAY / BBC1 / TIMES VARY / ENTERTAINMENT
Jason Manford is a big fan of daytime quiz shows. ‘I know how important they are for a lot of people,’ says the popular actor, comedian, presenter and singer, 39. ‘I used to sit with my Nana Manford and mum watching them. They keep the brain going, they’re a chuckle and I’m really looking forward to being a part of this exciting, brand-new one.’
Jason is all set to present
Unbeatable, which makes its debut on BBC1 this Monday and challenges contestants to put their general knowledge to the test for the chance to win up to £10,000.
Here, he tells TV Times more...
How would you sum up the show?
It’s an absolute dream! Four contestants go head-to-head in battles. There are no wrong answers, because we give them all the answers! But only one is unbeatable, and that’s the one that the contestants are trying to find. It’s a format I’ve not seen before.
Is a straightforward concept the key to a game show’s success?
Absolutely! Sometimes they overcomplicate these things. I always think if you can describe the show in a sentence, then you’re laughing. I come on and say, ‘This is the show where they’re not just trying to find the right answer, but they’re also trying to find the unbeatable answer. Let’s meet the contestants…’
What’s the atmosphere like in the studio?
It gets really intense. Unbeatable definitely rattles nerves! We’ve got an Unbeatable buzzer, and if contestants think they’ve got the unbeatable answer, they can press it and double their money. There’s something about a red button that people feel they need to press! We have people leaving with nothing, and other contestants leaving with thousands of pounds.
Did anything surprise you?
Yes! You could study for years at university and not be good at this show. Yet you could have had a conversation with a taxi driver and win it, just because weird facts have gone in over the years. One woman won simply because she had not heard of any footballer apart from Alan Shearer!
Which daytime quizzes do you like to tune in to?
I watch all the big ones – The Chase, Pointless, Tenable, Tipping Point… I once got an answer right that one of the Chasers got wrong, but no one was there to see it happen! When
Unbeatable came along, it sounded fun. It’s an honour to be on TV at the best of times, but daytime TV is part of people’s routines and an important part of the day. If you ring my Nana during Pointless, she will not answer her phone!
You started out as a stand-up comedian and have gone on to musical theatre and presenting. Has this happened naturally?
Yes, I would never have envisaged that these opportunities would come along. My dad’s a janitor and my mum is a nurse. My mum loves her job, my dad less so, but he always says, ‘If you find a job you love, then you never work a day in your life.’ I love working, so it’s nice to do jobs where you get to have a great time.
What’s next in your diary?
I’m filming Starstruck for ITV [a new talent show hosted by Olly Murs with Jason, Sheridan Smith, Adam Lambert and Beverley Knight on the judging panel]. We’re in the same studios where we filmed The Masked
Singer and I’m actually in the same dressing room I was in when I was Hedgehog! The last time I wasn’t allowed out of my dressing room, but this time I can wander around!