It probably won’t look exactly like the original 1980s-90s version above and Holness certainly won’t be hosting (and if he is it will be weird), but I’ve been told the original gameplay survives intact andthe prizes will be proper cash money.

Plus, this time you DON’T have to be a spotty wee student but you might still be able to take part with a hilarious mascot. As far as I’m aware, they’re happy for you to be a grown-up if you like.

The Edinburgh audition is this Tuesday (17th Jan 2012) and they still have slots.

I’m applying and you can too. Just drop an email to Lauren Tee tomorrow (Monday 16th Jan 2012) and she’ll sort you out. Tell her Dr Paul sent you.

If you’re not in Edinburgh, then I’m sure they have other auditions elsewhere. Get in touch and ask her.

Email either:

Lauren.Tee@talkbackthames.tv

blockbusters@talkbackthamesk.tv

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My view: I thought the show may have had a germ of a good idea behind it but it wasn’t properly thought-out or executed.

There was too much pub quiz for reality TV fans whilst there was not enough of a structure for quiz fans to know what the hell was going on quiz-wise.

The show ended up being neither much of a reality show nor that great a quiz show. Christopher Biggins is plainly a pro, but his commentary added little insight or gaity.

From my personal point of view I thought our episode (the Thursday) showed little of the fun of the Dr Paul quiz (I can’t believe they didn’t show the quite extraordinary dance off  we had that night!)

But I can’t grumble too much cos at the end of  the day its free publicity and you can’t buy that.

Thanks to everyone who came along to the filming and I hope you got to see yourself onscreen. You can still watch the episode at http://www.channel4.com/programmes/quiz-trippers/4od#3206471

…and I’ll be adding some screenshots to the Dr Paul Facebook page soon so you can see yourself!

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How to apply? Go to the website at http://www.itv.com/entertainment/quiz/thechase/applicationform/default.html and fill in the form.

Auditions start in August and when you get there, try to give them the impression that you won’t be shit on TV. It’s not necessarily about knowing lots of trivia answers!

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Jane from the production team says “The winning money is much like ‘Eggheads’ -  £1000 per game, and the money is rolled over if nobody wins.  Each episode contains 2 games so the jackpot can increase quite quickly.  As far as I know (and the production team know) the most that has been won is £8000 or £9000 – I don’t have a specific figure though.  The show usually airs at 4.15pm on BBC 2 – weekdays.”

What to do? Email them perfection@12yard.com or give them a bell on the dick a dum bone: 0800 032 0151

Read more about the show on UK Gameshows

Terms:

All applicants must be aged 18 years or over and be legally resident and currently living in the UK
The closing date for requesting application forms by phone is Friday 1st July 2011
The closing date for returning application forms is Friday 8th July 2011
Applications received after this date may not be considered.
Applications are subject to the terms and conditions in the application form.

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The quiz was filmed as one episode new show which will me broadcast as a 5-episode pilot.

The show is due to be shown on telly sometime in May but scheduling of these type of things often change. If you want to know when its going to be on, I recommend either signing up to the email or joining Dr Paul facebook

The idea for the show is a pub quiz road trip. Five people are thrown together to make a quiz team and they travel round the country competing together in pub quizzes for five nights in a row.

Every night they attempt to win a quiz and then get back in the camper van to head to the next location.

At the end of the week, the team collect everything they’ve won and vote amongst themselves to decide which team member deserves the spoils the most.

Channel 4′s team for the pilot included bubbling Edinburgh resident Lauren Berning who knows her Dr Paul quizzes and is part of the TBC Improv crew. Lauren comes from the States and no doubt added a bit of pizzazz to the otherwise-British quiz team.

One of her team-mates was poodle-maned madman Alan Hazlie from Glasgow who loved the Dr Paul quiz so much in my Glasgow days that he became a Dr Paul quizmaster before striking out on his own.

The other three I didn’t know but there was reputed to be a Mastermind contestant in there so they were no fools.

By the time they reached the Newsroom it was night 4 of their quest; they had already quizzed in Aviemore, Inverness and Dundee. The night after trying to win the Newsroom quiz they would be on their way to Moffat for the climax of their week.

This is the first time Moffat has been used as a climax for anything.

You’ll have to wait for the broadcast to see how the TV team were doing but I think its fair to say that there was a bit of in-team tension going on by the time they faced the might of the Dr Paul quiz teams.

The quiz itself wasn’t quite the usual Dr Paul situation. The program makers did not have a budget to paying for PRS for music so: no I was barred from playing music.

I don’t just mean no music round, I mean no music and, of course, I play quite a lot of music in between questions. Silent Bummer!

Also, they couldn’t pay for rights for still pictures, so no picture round. Visual Bummer!

Plus they were coming down hard on defamation – so no Riddle of The Beast. Beast Bummer!

I had to show them the questions beforehand for fact-checking and taste and had several questions rejected. Including this: “True or False: technically speaking, the Pope is NOT a Catholic?”

This is one of my favourite T/F questions but was rejected on the  grounds that it “may cause offence”. Help ma boab!

I was allowed to keep the question “What are there more of in Scotland: left handers or ginger people?” on the provision that I change “ginger” to “red-haired” because “ginger” is, apparently, an offensive term.

In any case, we had 17 teams turn up for a chance at TV glory but it was our old friends THE DUDE ABIDES who came out on top and finally made off with the £75 that the Newsroom had rounded up (that’s right: Channel 4, despite being a national broadcaster, also didn’t put up prize money).

Let’s hope the show works out, althoguh I suspect they might have to play with the format a little bit.

The director seemed troubled that their TV team had been relatively unsuccesful, almost as if it was expected that they would be winning a lot of quizzes just by turning up. Real pub quiz truth: its not that easy.

Here’s some snaps from the night:

You can see more pics of the event in this album of photos on Facebook

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Amusingly, this may result in old Harold Shipman getting a mention in a Channel 4 entertainment show.

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Have a look at the details on Facebook, but basically its one of my quizzes, its gonnae be on the telly and there’s a £75 jackpot prize (must be won).

The quiz starts at 8pm but you’ll probably need to be there from 7pm, certainly from 7.30pm.

Free entry and no team names with the word ‘cunt’ in because Channel 4 are cunts. If that rule leaves you heigh and dry, you might find some team-name inspiration here.

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Eggheads: PASSED audition – didn’t win money

Postcode Challenge: PASSED audition – didn’t win money

Weakest Link: PASSED audition – currently on contestant shortlist

The Chase: PASSED audition – but FAILED to progress from shortlist to becoming actual contestant.

Win Beadle’s Money: PASS audition, appeared on show, won £330!

Deal or No Deal: filled in application form a while ago and haven’t heard, so looks like I FAILED.

So how do you pass auditions? I got an email from Alison asking me how she should go about passing her forthcoming audition for The Chase which is coming up in March.

Of course, The Chase is the only one I’ve really failed to get through, so perhaps she’s askign the wrong person.

But I did get to the shortlist so I must have done something right.

The audition is a chance for the TV company making the show to size you up. They have a profile and they want you to fit that. The reasons why you do or don’t make it are up for grabs and there is endless debate amongst quizzers as to whether or not you should underplay your knowledge or whether you should be more or lesss exuberant.

It’s dark arts and smoke and mirrors, so taking it all with a pinch of salt, here are some rules of thumb that should help you, Alison.

LIST 1: THINGS THAT DEFINITELY GO IN YOUR FAVOUR

1. Turning up on time.
2. Being polite to production staff.
3. Speaking clearly and confidently when its your turn.
4. Being able to follow instructions.
5. Smiling.
6. Being clean and tidy.
7. Being natural.

LIST 2: THINGS THAT DEFINITELY WORK AGAINST YOU

1. Being rude or hostile.
2. Being late.
3. Stinking of booze.
4. Dressing like a tramp.
5. Mumbling.
6. Being fake.

You’ll notice there’s not much in there about quizzing ability. That’s because sometimes they’ll be looking for super-brains and sometimes they’ll be looking for total dunces. Mainly they will be looking for ‘average’ people but it completely depends on what show you are auditioning for.

Your best bet is always to directly ASK the production staff what they are looking for and play to that.

Good luck with the audition Alison!

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She says  “We are making a pilot for a brand new Channel 4 quiz show and would love to hear from you if you would love to test your knowledge in an exciting new quiz format.”

She was specifically asking for pub quizzers – so that’ll be you then.

For more information please contact Hayley on hayley.brunton@stv.tv

She sent me another email yesterday  reminding me that the application forms are ready, so get in touch now if you fancy stardom and cash. Tell her  the Doc sent you.

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If you’re in London in December, there’s this one which is a Channel 4 pilot and includes a £500 prize: http://tinyurl.com/38rz8c7

Or if you think Victoria Coren is hot crazy quiz mamma and you want to be near to her body, there’s the 5th series of Only Connect are looking for playaz:

http://tinyurl.com/39touxk

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