{{Use British English|date=April 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox television | image = Britain's Brainiest Kid logo.JPG | alt_name = ''Britain's Brainiest Kid'' | genre = Game show | creator = David Briggs<br>Colman Hutchinson | presenter = Carol Vorderman<br>Tess Daly (2002: Kids Heats) | theme_music_composer = Matthew Strachan | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 2 | num_episodes = 18 | location = Elstree Studios (Shenley Road) | runtime = 30–90 minutes | company = Celador | network = ITV | first_aired = {{Start date|2001|08|09|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|2002|12|31|df=y}} }}

'''''Britain's Brainiest''''' is a British television quiz show produced by Celador and aired on ITV. The show originally aired as a one-off special as ''Britain's Brainiest Kid'' on 9 August 2001, hosted by Carol Vorderman. An adult series ran from 2 January to 6 February 2002 and a subsequent kids series aired from 9 to 31 December 2002.

==Format== ===2001 special=== The original featured four different rounds:

* A set of 12 multiple choice questions, whittling down the number of male contestants from 12 to 3. * A set of 12 multiple choice questions, whittling down the number of female contestants from 12 to 3. * A subject-based round, where contestants answered questions on two subjects, this halved the number of competitors to 3. * A final round, where the remaining 3 contestants were tested on their own specialist subject and that of their fellow finalists

The winner of the original special was Laura Hibbert of North Yorkshire, whose specialist subject was Charles Dickens.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2001/8/11/163065.html |title=Laura is Britain's brainiest youngster |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=11 August 2001}}</ref>

Alex "Brains" Marshall was runner up. Marshall's specialist subject was the United Arab Emirates. Richard "Helium" Thomas came third. His specialist subject was the Plantagenets.

===2002 adult series=== Following the success of the one-off special, a full adult series was commissioned and aired at the beginning of 2002. 12 contestants that shared the same occupation (e.g. taxi drivers, estate agents) competed in each episode.

The format was largely the same from the 2001 special, with some changes. Only a single set of 12 multiple choice questions were played in the first round, with the best six contestants advancing to the subject-based round. Also, after the mammoth tie-breaker in the 2001 special, any ties for qualifying positions after the first two rounds were broken by a tie-breaker game called 'Missing Link', where the contestants were given two words and had to work out which word in between would connect them. The contestant(s) who solved it in the fastest time remained in the game.

Another game that was also introduced in this series was 'Codebreaker', which was used to determine the order of play in the second and final rounds. Contestants had to crack a numbered code that spelt out a word with a clue to help them, those who cracked it in the fastest time got to play first in the round that followed.

===2002 kids series=== The show was resurrected at the end of 2002 for a full kids series, with ten half-hour heats and qualification to a 90-minute grand final show. The heats were shown across a two-week period in a weekday teatime slot, presented by Tess Daly, and the grand final was shown on New Year's Eve 2002 and hosted by Carol Vorderman again.

The winner of the 2002 series was Christopher Guerin, from Birmingham (specialist subject: Thomas Becket).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/uk/newsid_2618000/2618651.stm |title=CBBC Newsround &#124; Christopher, 12, is Brainiest kid in Britain |work=BBC News |date=1 January 2003 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> He went on to receive three master's degrees including one at the University of Cambridge, and as of 2023 is a maths teacher and assistant secondary school principal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-29 |title=Mensa: What happens when 'child geniuses' grow up |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64426333 |access-date=2023-01-29}}</ref>

==International versions== {{Incomplete list|date=September 2018}}

'''Legend:''' {{Color box|lightgreen|border=darkgray}} Currently airing &nbsp; {{Color box|#FFC0CB|border=darkgray}} No longer airing &nbsp; {{Color box|#FFFFCC|border=darkgray}} Upcoming or returning version &nbsp;

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; line-height:14px;" |- ! scope="col" | Country ! scope="col" | Name ! scope="col" | Host ! scope="col" | Channel ! scope="col" | Year aired ! scope="col" | Status |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Armenia}}'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://armeniatv.am/en/brainiest |title=Brainiest |publisher=armeniatv.am |accessdate=24 March 2015 |archive-date=30 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930184657/http://www.armeniatv.am/en/brainiest |url-status=dead }}</ref> | rowspan="2" |''Ամենախելացին''<br />{{small|Amenakhelatsin}} | rowspan="2" |Nazeni Hovhannisyan | rowspan="2" |Armenia TV | 14 March 2015 – 24 December 2017 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- | 17 March 2019 – 22 June 2019 |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Australia}}''' | rowspan="2" |''Australia's Brainiest'' |Anna Coren (2004) <br /> Samuel Shaed |Seven Network | rowspan="2" | 5 November 2004 – 2006 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- | Sandra Sully (2005–2006) <br /> Samuel Shaed | Network Ten |- |- | rowspan="4" |'''{{Flag|Azerbaijan}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.facebook.com/Elachi.Azerbaijan/|title=Əlaçı|via=Facebook |date= 15 October 2015}}</ref> | rowspan="4" |''Əlaçı'' | rowspan="1" | Leyla Aliyeva (2015–2018) | rowspan="2" | AzTV | rowspan="4" | 19 October 2015 – present | style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="4"| Currently airing |- | rowspan="3" | İlahə Şixlinskaya (2018–present) |- | AzTV |- | İctimai Television |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Belgium}}'''<br />({{Small|'''In Dutch'''}})<ref name="gentv1">{{cite web|url=http://www.gentv.be/visionner.php?video=717 |title=RTL-TVI : Générique Le Grand Concours des Enfants (2006) |publisher=GenTV.be |date=19 September 2006 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> | rowspan="2" |''Het Verstand Van Vlaanderen'' | Koen Wauters (2004–2005) | rowspan="2" |Vtm | rowspan="2" | 2004–2008 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- | Rani De Coninck (2006–2008) |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Belgium}}'''<br />({{Small|'''In French'''}})<ref name="gentv1" /> | rowspan="2" |''Le Grand Concours'' | Alain Simons | rowspan="2" |RTL-TVI | rowspan="2" |23 March 2002 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- | Sandrine Dans |- |'''{{Flag|Denmark}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450908/|title=Danmarks klogeste barn (2005– )|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |''Danmarks Klogeste Barn'' | Thomas Mygind |TV Danmark | 31 August 2005 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- | rowspan="4" |'''{{Flag|France}}''' | rowspan="4" |''Le Grand Concours'' |Carole Rousseau (2002–2018) | rowspan="4" |TF1 | rowspan="4" |23 March 2002 – present | rowspan="4" style="background:lightgreen;" | Currently airing |- |Laurence Boccolini (2018–2020) |- |Alessandra Sublet (2021–2022) |- |Arthur (2022–present) |- |'''{{Flag|Finland}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/uutiset.shtml?333403 |title=Viihde - MTV.fi |language=fi |publisher=Mtv3.fi |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |''Valiojoukko'' | Satu Ruotsalainen |MTV3 | 11 September 2004 – 18 December 2004 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- |'''{{Flag|Georgia}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rustavi2.com/news/programs_ru.php?l=30&rec_start=0 |title=Rustavi 2 |publisher=Rustavi 2 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |''ყველაზე ჭკვიანი''<br />{{small|Yvelaze chkviani}} | Nino Khoshtaria |Rustavi 2 | 2004–2013 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Germany}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl2.de/76307.html |title=RTL 2 - Moderatorin |date=29 September 2011 |accessdate=7 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929075059/http://www.rtl2.de/76307.html |archivedate=29 September 2011 }}</ref> | rowspan="2" |''Deutschlands klügste'' |Sonja Zietlow (2001–2003) |RTL Television | 22 December 2001 – 2003 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- | Bärbel Schäfer (2011) |RTL II | 22 March 2011 |- |'''{{Flag|Greece}}''' |''Ο Πιο Εξυπνος''<br />{{small|O Pio Exypnos}} |Antonis Kafetzopoulos |Mega Channel | 26 January 2004 – May 2004 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- |'''{{Flag|Italy}}''' |''Il migliore - Sfida d'intelligenza'' |Mike Bongiorno |Rete 4 | 4 May 2006 – 24 May 2007 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- |'''{{Flag|Japan}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/brainiest/ |script-title=ja:テレビ朝日｜Brainiest（ブレイニスト） |publisher=Tv-asahi.co.jp |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |''Brainiest (ブレイニスト)'' | Yoko Oshita |TV Asahi | 7 January 2012 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- |'''{{Flag|Lebanon}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mtv.com.lb/Programs/Min_Byaarif/Season_2/videos/Episode_1 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317174150/http://mtv.com.lb/Programs/Min_Byaarif/Season_2/videos/Episode_1 | archivedate=17 March 2017 | title=Min Byaarif / Season 2 | publisher=MTV| location=Lebanon | accessdate=8 April 2018 }}</ref> |''مين بيعرف''<br />{{small|Min Byaarif}} | Nadia Bsat |mtv | 15 March 2016 – present | style="background:lightgreen;"| Currently airing |- |'''{{Flag|New Zealand}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/434905/677166 |title=New Zealand's Brainiest Kid |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213185415/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/434905/677166 |archive-date=13 February 2012 }}</ref> |''New Zealand's Brainiest Kid'' |Bernadine Oliver-Kerby |TVNZ | February – March 2006 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Poland}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medianews.com.pl/info_media1388.php3 |title=MediaNews.com.pl |accessdate=7 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315084011/http://www.medianews.com.pl/info_media1388.php3 |archivedate=15 March 2012 }}</ref> | rowspan="2" |''Dzieciaki z klasą'' | rowspan="2" | Martyna Wojciechowska | rowspan="2" |TVN | 29 March 2004 – 7 June 2004 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- | 6 March 2005 – 5 June 2005 |- |'''{{Flag|Portugal}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/lazer/tv--media/vem-ai-as-mentes-brilhantes|title=VÊM AÍ AS MENTES BRILHANTES - TV & Media - Correio da Manhã|publisher=Cmjornal.xl.pt|accessdate=14 May 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221204426/http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/lazer/tv--media/vem-ai-as-mentes-brilhantes|archivedate=21 February 2014}}</ref> |''Mentes Brilhantes'' |Bárbara Guimarães |SIC | 6 October 2002 – 17 November 2002 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- |'''{{Flag|Russia}}''' |''Самый умный''<ref>In common with Ukraine</ref><br />{{small|Sami‘y umni‘y}} |Tina Kandelaki |STS | 8 March 2003 – 31 December 2012 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- |'''{{Flag|Singapore}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive5.mediacorptv.sg/shows/variety/view/405/1/.html |title=Singapore's Brainiest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103003953/http://archive5.mediacorptv.sg/shows/variety/view/405/1/.html |archive-date=3 January 2009 }}</ref> |''Singapore's Brainiest'' | Cheryl Fox |MediaCorp Channel 5 | 2003–2005 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Sweden}}''' | rowspan="2" |''Sveriges smartaste barn'' | Sofia Wistam (2007) | rowspan="2" |TV3 | 2007 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- | Roger Nordin (2009) | 2009 |- |'''{{Flag|Turkey}}'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cicicee.com/cocuk-haber.aspx?sayfaId=6258 |title=Bilen parmak kaldırsın |publisher=Cicicee.com |date=13 March 2009 |accessdate=14 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214081233/http://cicicee.com/cocuk-haber.aspx?sayfaId=6258 |archive-date=14 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |''Bilen Parmak Kaldırsın'' | Cemil Büyükdöğerli |TRT Çocuk | 20 March 2009 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- | rowspan="4" | '''{{Flag|Ukraine}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telekritika.ua/news/2013-01-14/78135 |script-title=uk:Канал "Україна" відновить формат шоу "Найрозумніший", але без Тіни Канделакі |publisher=Telekritika.ua |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |''Найрозумніший Дорослі ігри''<br />{{small|Nayrozumnishy'y Dorosli igry}} | Paulo Skorohodko<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telekritika.ua/news/2008-08-13/40005 |script-title=uk:Програму "Найрозумніший. Дорослі ігри" на "1+1" вестиме Павло Скороходько |publisher=Telekritika.ua |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |1+1 | 24 August – 28 December 2008 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- | rowspan="3" |''Самый умный''<ref>In common with Russia</ref><br />{{small|Sami‘y umni‘y}} | rowspan="2" |Tina Kandelaki |1+1 | rowspan="2" |8 March 2003 – 31 December 2012 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" rowspan="2" | No longer airing |- |Inter |- | Ludmila Dobrovolska |Ukrayina | 10 March 2013 – 17 June 2013 | style="background:#FFC0CB;"| No longer airing |- | rowspan="2" |'''{{Flag|Vietnam}}'''<br />({{Small|'''National version'''}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/chinhphuc.vietnambrainiestkid |title=Chinh Phục - Vietnam's Brainiest Kid |via=Facebook |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=January 2021}} | rowspan="2" |''Chinh phục - Vietnam's Brainiest Kid'' | rowspan="2" | Nguyễn Thanh Vân<br />An Huy Trần | rowspan="1" |VTV6 | rowspan="2" | 4 December 2013 – 14 January 2015 (season 1–2) 25 October 2017 – 31 January 2018 (season 3) | rowspan="2" style="background:#FFC0CB;" | No longer airing |- | rowspan="1" |VTV3 |- | rowspan="1" |'''{{Flag|Vietnam}}'''<br />({{Small|'''Southern Regional version'''}}) | ''Tìm người thông minh'' | Phương Thảo | HTV7 | 1 March 2008 – September 2008 | style="background:#FFC0CB;" | No longer airing |}

==References and notes== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|0292992|Britain's Brainiest Kid}} *{{IMDb title|0306293}} *{{UKGameshow|Britain%27s_Brainiest}}

Category:ITV game shows Category:Quiz shows Category:2000s British game shows Category:2001 British television series debuts Category:2002 British television series endings Category:British children's game shows Category:Television series about children Category:Television shows shot at Elstree Film Studios