We’re watching this for the parents rather than the kids at this stage.
Last night’s episode of Child Genius on Channel 4 produced more drama than viewers bargained for when a row between parents caused filming to be halted.
The kids’ quiz show has become infamous for its prodigious young contestants and the eager mums and dads who harbour hopes of their child being crowned winner.
But one mother may have taken things to a new level when she accused other parents of cheating.
Susan, who had two children, Olivia, 12, and nine-year-old Fabio, competing, told the quiz’s independent adjudicator that she had seen other parents attempting to help their kids.
“When I was actually sitting in the audience in the last round there was a few family members who continuously throughout their child’s round were mouthing the answers. I’m saying to you with the two eyes, the two glasses, that is what I saw,” she said.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said in a statement that filming was briefly stopped while the quiz’s adjudicator Olivia van der Werff looked back over footage of the kids and their parents.
She said she was satisfied that the parent in question in the audience was making praying gestures and had not tried to help their child.
She warned parents not accidentally say answers to themselves while their kids were being quizzed.
“You need to be very careful because if I believe that your child has benefited from you whether you meant to help them or not then we will have to take whatever action we think is appropriate.”
Susan came under fire from viewers, however, given that she appeared to try and help her daughter Olivia on Tuesday night’s episode.
#ChildGenius .susan helped her kid with Kensal rise gesture. But she accuses others of cheating. pic.twitter.com/eEoT2nc2uI
— Taff (@TaffyBoz) August 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/vikkiespencer23/status/897548087228588033
Child Genius continues on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm.
