COMEDIAN Jason Manford has landed an exciting new gig hosting an upcoming quiz show for the BBC.
The move comes just weeks after Jason, 43, signed onto Morning Live as a guest co-host.
Jason took on a Morning Live guest host role in June. He co-hosted for a few weeks alongside Gaby Roslin, discussing topics like travel money savings and antidepressants.
Now, Jason will host another TV programme for the broadcaster – the upcoming series The Answer Run, which promises to be a fun and unique quiz show as it gives its contestants the answers. They just need to take a 50/50 swipe at which one is right. And it’s Jason’s job to guide contestants through “The Run.”
The format of the show follows three pairs of contestants as they compete by swiping their way through the fast-paced, general knowledge questions, hoping to bank a cash prize.
Two answers are provided with the question fitting into one of them. Answer categories will range from ‘Dolly Parton or Barbie’ to ‘Venus or Saturn’ through to ‘Eastenders or Coronation Street’ and everything in between.
But as the episode progresses, two teams will be eliminated, leaving the final pair facing “The Final Run” in the hope of taking home the money they’ve banked during the episode.
Believing BBC fans will be able to easily follow along at home, Jason said: “It’s such a really simple format which is what makes it perfect for those at home to play along with. There’s two answers in each category, then the question is asked and the players have to decide which answer to go with.
“For example, if the answers were Birds or Bees, the question could be… ’the famous emblem of the city of Manchester is…?’ Obviously, it’s a bee! And I really should know that one!”
The Answer Run is comprised of 25, 45-minute-long pre-recorded episodes and is set to arrive on screens this month.
Opening up about the filming experience, Jason gushed: “We had so much fun filming The Answer Run earlier this year and the contestants across each episode were brilliant! I can’t wait for audiences to see it on screen this month and play along themselves at home.”
The Benidorm alum admitted it is a dream come true to be hosting the quiz show.
“I love presenting, as well as my acting and theatre work presenting is something I’ve always enjoyed so when The Answer Run knocked on my door I couldn’t pass it up,” he said, before adding, “The contestants really are the stars of the show though.”
However, he admitted that there were lots of nerves on the set of The Answer Run when filming began.
“Obviously a lot of contestants would be nervous because for most it’s their first time on TV. Even I was nervous! I think the best thing to put people at ease, though, is to have a laugh and a joke with them,” Jason revealed.
There’s plenty of fun moments, he added: “Some of the players had great back stories and it was fun to bring some humour to what can be a really tense time.”
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Teasing a little bit more of what viewers can expect from the show, Jason revealed that there will be some big losses, but not everyone will be going home empty-handed.
“There were pairs who walked away with really decent sums of money and you just know that money was going to go towards something really special,” he concluded.
The Answer Run will premiere in August on BBC.
