Can one contestant beat the Wisdom Of The Crowd?

John Bishop is to host a new quiz-based entertainment show  for BBC One.

Wisdom Of The Crowd comes from the makers of The 1% Club pitches contestants against the collective knowledge of the group.

The comedian said: ‘This big new entertainment format gives an interesting take on group dynamics - not only testing what the individual contestants know, but also testing what the crowd knows (or what they think they know!) I can’t wait for audiences to see it.’

Producers Magnum Productions got the inspiration from statistician Francis Galton’s 1906 observation of a competition to guess the weight of an ox at a country fair in Plymouth,

More than 800 people entered and the average guess of everyone put together was  accurate within 1 per cent of the true weight, leading to a theory that has been used in politics, economics and philosophy. 

Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment commissioning for the BBC, said: ‘We’re delighted that John Bishop is back on the BBC; his quick wit and natural charm make him the perfect host for this fascinating new entertainment quiz show. 

‘Wisdom of the Crowd is the perfect game for viewers to play along with at home, and if you like The 1% Club, then you’re in for a treat.'

Eight hour-long episodes of Wisdom Of The Crowd will be filmed  in MediaCity, Salford. Broadcast details have yet to be announced.

Made by: Magnum Productions
Created by: Dean Nabarro and Andy Auerbach
Commissioned by: Kalpna Patel-Knigh
Executive producers: Andy Auerbach, Clare Barton, Dean Nabarro
Commissioning editor: Katie Taylor

Published: 5 Sep 2025