Paul’s TV Showdowns puts stars to the test

Paul Sinha is more used to answering questions than asking them – he’s best known for being one of the resident quiz experts on The Chase.

But in the new series Paul Sinha’s TV Showdown, he’s going to be the one putting celebrities to the test as he finds out how much they really know about the small screen.

It seems a job that’s tailor made for him. He not only has a wealth of knowledge about all things telly, he’s also has a background in comedy.

The Sinnerman, as he’s affectionately known on The Chase, began performing while he was working as a junior doctor – he’s since claimed to be Britain’s first gay Anglo-Bengali GP turned stand-up comedian.

He also had a side-line in competing on TV quizzes (he’s been on The Weakest Link, Mastermind, University Challenge: The Professionals and Are You an Egghead?) before turning professional with The Chase in 2011.

Paul has since found ways to combine two careers. He’s said that the quiz show has brought him to a new audience – he sold out venues in New Zealand, where The Chase is shown every teatime. He does admit he was initially surprised when the crowds at his UK shows suddenly started getting older, but he’s now embraced it.

He told The Guardian: “I’ve lost my anxiety about that. If you’ve bought a ticket to see me perform, you’re heroes in my book. You’re better than the people who didn’t buy tickets.”

Paul has also suggested that being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2019 has affected his attituded towards audiences. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: “The thing that has changed most since the diagnosis is that I’ve lost my fear.

“I’ve always been one of those comics who doesn’t say much on panel shows because I’m terrified of saying the wrong thing or offending the wrong person. But now, I’ve lost all that. I’ve got the exaggerated carpe diem that a lot of people get with their diagnosis.”

So, he might not hold back on TV Showdown as he finds out whether the nation’s celebrities watch show they aren’t on.

Each week, regular team captains Fay Ripley and Rob Beckett will go head-to-head with their respective teams, which will include guests like Emilia Fox, Adil Ray, Melvin Odoom, Laura Whitmore, Janet Street-Porter, Roman Kemp, Shirley Ballas and more.

The questions span the decades, drawing on much-loved shows and adverts from the past, as well as more up-to-date hits.

The opening round sees contestants answering questions based on a clip, while in the second round, a celebrity guest will arrive to give them a set of clues to the identity of a mystery TV star.

In round three, team members get a chance to pick a category, while show concludes with each panellist put under pressure with their own set of questions in a quick-fire Q&A round.

Then it’s time for Paul to announce the winner. Could any of the celeb contestants show they have what it takes to be a Chaser?

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