The 1% Club

I had heard about the 1% Club but wasn't too sure what it was about, but when I heard that Lee Mack was the host, I knew that I had to check it out and I was pleasantly surprised. I love that the questions are not general knowledge-based, it is more like an IQ test, it's fun and quirky and had me playing along since the first episode. Some of the questions really make you think and you think how good you are, but I am sure once you are on set it takes it all into a whole new ball game. I love Lee's interaction with the audience members, he is a fantastic host. This show has definitely got me hooked.

The best (and most controversial) thing about this show is that the questions test actual intelligence (cognitive abiltiy). They are not based on what you learned in school and they have no cultural bias. It does test your ability to think quickly which often makes people nervous, but that's actually good practice for the real world.

I've started watching the show with my kids (of varying ages) and we write our answers down on pieces of paper during each question. The key to making it fun is we don't make fun of anyone who got it wrong, but we discuss the PROCESS of thinking it through and arriving at the right answer. This definitely is helping reduce test taking anxiety (because school questions don't have a click ticking) and improve preparedness for standardized testing (SAT and PSAT) which test some of the same skills.

Intelligence is brain speed, just like running is physical speed. Denying that is just denying reality. I'm not the fastest runner, but that doesn't mean that running is biased.

This game show is different. You don't need to be a brainiac or have a vast amount of general knowledge. The majority of the questions are based on logic and common sense. There are times you have to take the questions literally, and sometimes the answer is hidden in the question. Some of the harder questions are the ones you have to think outside of the box. Lee Mack is a brilliant host, he does make fun of the the contestants, but it's lighthearted and never mean. 30 seconds to answer the question is a lot of pressure. The advantages of watching it at home is I can pause it and try to think of the answer. 😅

I like Lee Mack's humour but his being a host of a game show? It would not be an easy show to make funny as many of the gags are spontaneous, something right up his street.

I have watched the first episode and both myself and my wife enjoyed it. The questions are varied and lateral thinking is helpful for some of them. It is not to be taken too seriously and for those wanting a serious IQ show will be disappointed. Entertainment is the whole point of the show.

I did feel sorry for those who lost out early on an had to sit through the whole show but they must have known the format beforehand.

This is a show for people who like quiz shows. Unlike The Chase or The Tipping point, it doesn't require you to have a really board general knowledge. The questions on this show need you to use your common sense and logic. There are questions that you can immediately see the answers, but others you have to think out of the square. Sometimes, it's almost a trick question, so you need to make sure you read the questions thoroughly and carefully. It is intense at times as you only get 30 seconds per question. Although, there have been times you will find questions that it's really easy that only a small percentage of the population got right and vice versa.

Lee Mack is the perfect host. His jokes and banners with the contestants in between the questions are entertaining.