Worst quiz show in the world is on RTE 1

TV Watch with Declan Tierney

In the history of quiz shows, game shows or any other shows for that matter, there is no doubt in the world which has been the very worst. In fact it is so cringe-inducing that not even TG4 would dare to show it – and believe me, they have put on some terrible quiz shows in their time.

But the outrageous standard of Winning Streak should be the subject of a public inquiry. This is equally as serious as the whistleblowers controversy in that it is the source of massive injustices to the public at large.

There should really be a standards in public broadcasting commission established to seriously look at the quality of programming that is out there and particularly when it comes to this show that would be dumped after one session if anyone decided to put something similar on any of the British channels.

For decades we have tolerated this crap without any question. The format has not changed, the silly games still similar to what was there years ago and even the contestants don’t seem to have changed either.

What are we looking at? The female contestants are invariably roundy women who are either up to their neck in the ICA or singing the praises of bingo. They have 12 kids who are in the audience waving silly banners and screaming like lunatics.

The male contestants are mainly retired people who don’t need the money or bachelor farmers who also don’t need the money. There are occasions when a young lad under the age of 50 gets an opportunity to participate in this stupidity.

After watching an enthralling rugby match between Leinster and Munster on Saturday evening, I happened to switch over to this rubbish to witness the fact that this whole mess has not evolved since the days of Mike Murphy. It is probably the most scandalous way to give away a quarter of a million euro.

I was watching participants being asked to choose numbers on a board, behind which there are sums of money. They then turn around to the audience asking for advice as if they have some insider knowledge of what lies behind these doors. How ridiculous is that.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.