The 1% Club

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.

ITV's latest game show off the production line, and actually this wasn't half bad.

In Lee Mack you have a host that can actually give the contestants a bit of lip back, and the format isn't needlessly complicated (hi 'Limitless Win').

It's a bit slow, and won't be for everyone, but I enjoyed what I saw and hope it does well.

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.

Which two letters complete this sequence?

T N E C R E P E

On a digital 24-clock that displays hours, minutes and seconds, how many times in each 24-hour period do all six digits change simultaneously?

These two questions were not featured on high brow quizzes like 'Only Connect' or 'University Challenge'. Instead they were on a new prime time Saturday evening game show on Britain's biggest commercial TV channel, if you please. Scarcely credible really.

'The 1% Club' is clearly something a bit different. It certainly includes all the elements of a successful game show.

1) Easy to follow format 2) Witty and likeable host 3) Great interaction with contestants 4) Exciting climax to the show.

What separates it out from the crowd are the questions, which stay away from general knowledge. Instead there are logic and reasoning problems, that become more challenging as the show progresses. You can play along at home, and even discuss questions with friends and work colleagues later in the week. 'The 1% Club' deserves to be successful and I just hope it finds an audience.

By the way the answer to the two questions are:- A) N O B) 3 times during the day.

And if you got both of those correct you are clearly in 'The 1% Club' and will surely enjoy this breath of fresh air to Saturday evening TV.

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.