Gorman develops R4 idea

Dave Gorman is developing a new Radio 4 programme based on listeners’ ideas to make the world a better place.

He’s already inviting suggestions big and small for a pilot edition of the show, called Genius, on the BBC website.

Those chosen will be put to the test by Gorman and a celebrity guest, then put to the vote by a studio audience .

Saying the show is for those with “badly thought-through concepts or logic-defying proposals”, Gorman is inviting both brilliant and silly suggestions.

He said: “If you have an idea which you'd like to air on our pilot show that you think could rival the brilliance of Marmite-rippled butter or the sheer pointlessness of printing a broadsheet copy of The Sun then I'd love to hear it.

“As well as inventions, what I'm looking for are your policies for solving problems, both small and large, and schemes for making the world a better place.”

The show has echoes of Gorman’s previous live show Better World, in which he acted on newspaper readers’ ideas to improve life. The difference with the radio show is that contributors know they are contacting a comedian.

Official BBC webpage for Genius >>

Published: 18 Aug 2004