Secret Genius

Over six episodes, comedian Alan Carr and lexicographer Susie Dent unearth the hidden potential in ordinary people with extraordinary minds who have never had their raw brainpower recognised. They may have been overlooked by the school system, or their families, and have often gone through life feeling misunderstood and dismissed.

Comprised of four regional heats, adults of all ages and from all walks of life descend on Genius IQ to take on a series of epic, immersive intelligence games based on the challenges Mensa uses to measure IQ. From mind-boggling memory and fluid reasoning challenges set in a sweetshop to deciphering an enormous wheel of words, the games are clever and unpredictable— with Alan and Susie providing their signature wit, smarts, and playful commentary throughout.

Alongside the brainteasers, viewers meet the contestants: a tree surgeon with four GCSEs, a shepherd who taught her sheepdog sign language, a delivery driver with an uncanny memory for faces, a village pharmacist nicknamed “Sherlock,” a prison chaplain, an ambulance crew member, and many more. Through laughter, nerves, and sometimes tears, each person shares their story, revealing why this competition matters and how intelligence can hide away undiscovered if the conditions aren’t right for it to shine.

The top twelve contestants from the heats earn a place in the finals at Oxford University, where they face even more painfully difficult challenges. Friendships are forged, confidence blossoms, and in the final episode, the last four go head-to-head to crown Britain’s first Secret Genius.