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00:06So, Alan, we're in Oxford.
00:08We're here to crown the winner of Secret Genius.
00:11Are you excited?
00:11I am excited.
00:12I just don't know why we have to come to your old college.
00:16It's almost like my drama and theatre studies degree
00:18at Middlesex University isn't the stuff of genius.
00:21Well, to be fair, Oxford has produced a lot of geniuses.
00:24I mean, Einstein formulated a lot of his groundbreaking theories here.
00:27Yes, but could Einstein explain one of his precious theories
00:31through the medium of expressive dance?
00:36In an imaginary box?
00:40So, Susie Dent, I ask you, who's the genius now?
00:45Four weeks ago, our search for Britain's first-ever secret genius began.
00:51Being a pastry chef carries certain connotations.
00:54If you work in a kitchen, it's because you're not clever enough
00:56to work elsewhere.
00:5848 ordinary people.
01:00I'm a delivery driver.
01:02I've met hundreds of people.
01:03I remember all of them.
01:04I'm known as a super recognizer.
01:06With extraordinary brains.
01:09When I was a kid, I used to know everybody's reg play
01:12on a state where I lived.
01:13Took on a series of mind-stretching games designed with Mensa.
01:18Dark door, loud, trap, fast, fast.
01:21That was impressive.
01:22I mean, that was incredibly fast.
01:23To test their raw intelligence.
01:26Oh, my goodness.
01:27This is so sharp.
01:29There we are.
01:30How'd you get that?
01:32Oh, my God.
01:33I got it right.
01:34Wow.
01:36I've literally just figured it out.
01:38Super powers.
01:39Press the button.
01:40Take time.
01:41Okay, I'm done.
01:43She's so impressive.
01:44Only the top three from each heat
01:48earn themselves a place in the finals.
01:51I don't know whether I'm laughing or not.
01:54Now at Oxford University.
01:57Who thinks they're out the deck?
01:59Oh, definitely.
01:59I wasn't nervous.
02:00Now I am.
02:01The games are going to be harder.
02:03Oh, Christ.
02:05Than anything they've played before.
02:08Quite daunting, but it would be lovely to win.
02:10And they'll have less time.
02:12You have one minute left.
02:14To complete them.
02:16I'm not an idiot.
02:17This is really going to separate the wheat from the chaff.
02:20Do or die.
02:21All because only one can be crowned.
02:24The winner of Secret Genius is...
02:36I spent so many years trying to fit in
02:39and be what other people wanted me to be.
02:41I finally got to that point
02:42where I'm comfortable enough
02:43to put myself in the firing line
02:45and find out if I'm a Secret Genius.
02:48Welcome to Secret Genius.
02:50We're at Oxford University,
02:52the birthplace of Mensa,
02:54and where this modern architectural marvel
02:57awaits our 12 finalists.
03:01I'm a waitress,
03:03although I love the job at the restaurant.
03:04I think it's fair to say
03:05I've been hiding my intelligence
03:07for quite a long time.
03:08Some have been overlooked by the school system
03:11and are here to prove they have more potential
03:14than they ever thought possible.
03:17It took me four attempts to get five O-levels.
03:20I really, really struggled to do them.
03:22Fingers crossed.
03:22I can prove that I'm not as thick
03:24as the school teachers said.
03:26From each heap,
03:27these are our top performing players.
03:29Put it this way,
03:30if they've won the genetic lottery,
03:32I've won a fiver on a scratch card.
03:35It's exciting,
03:36but now the games are going to get harder,
03:38so it's all very intimidating.
03:41This is where it gets intense.
03:43Bring in the clever people.
03:47How are you feeling?
03:48I have been nervous in the run-up to it,
03:50but now I'm here,
03:51it's just like, yeah, bring it on.
03:51Love it.
03:52Just ask me again later
03:54when I'm probably going to be a puddle on the floor,
03:55to be honest.
03:56Oh, hello.
03:57Hello.
03:58Hello.
03:58Hello.
03:59More people, new people.
04:01Today, the finalists from all four heats
04:04are meeting for the first time.
04:06I'm Justin.
04:07All of a sudden,
04:08we're against nine other people.
04:10They've come from different heats,
04:11so they're the best in those regions as well.
04:13So we're now against people
04:14who are potentially cleverer
04:16than the other people within our group.
04:17I'm Nathan.
04:18I'm Ollie.
04:19I think it's just it me.
04:21Final 12 feels really quite big.
04:23What is it you're doing?
04:24Oh, I'm an ambulance tech.
04:26I'm not quite a paramedic.
04:28Uh-huh.
04:29I get old ladies off the floor
04:30and stuff like that mainly.
04:32What's your name?
04:33Hadja.
04:34Hadja?
04:34Hadja.
04:35Yeah, Hadja like badger.
04:36How'd you take your coffee?
04:38That's actually the first time I heard that.
04:39There we go.
04:40Yeah.
04:40Sitting in that waiting room
04:41with those other finalists,
04:43there's lots of people that seem,
04:45you know, certainly on the surface,
04:46seem very intelligent.
04:47I'm a machine learning engineer.
04:49Everyone seems just as nervous
04:52and terrified as each other.
04:54Mm.
04:54Mm.
04:55Oh, no.
04:56The...
04:57I'll spill something on myself later on
04:58for solidarity, don't worry.
05:02Hello, everyone.
05:04Welcome to Oxford University.
05:09Graduates from here have included
05:11Stephen Hawking, Oscar Wilde,
05:14and also Liz Truss and Rupert Murdoch.
05:17So, what a freshers' week that must have been.
05:20But what an amazing achievement to reach this far.
05:24Who thinks they're out the depths?
05:26Oh, definitely.
05:27Really?
05:28You don't.
05:29You've scared me a little bit.
05:31You've scared me a little bit.
05:32Well, obviously, I can't do it all by myself.
05:35It's time to meet the brains behind the operation.
05:38It's Miss Susie Dent!
05:40Hello.
05:42Hello.
05:43Welcome to Oxford.
05:45Today's games are going to be a bit of a step up
05:47from the ones that you've been through before.
05:49Aww!
05:50Not only are they going to be a little bit harder,
05:53but you will have less time to complete them.
05:56First of all, we've got two quick-fire rounds.
05:58After those, 12 will be reduced to just eight.
06:04And that's when things get really, really tough.
06:06Because for the first time in the competition,
06:08you're going to go head-to-head against each other.
06:11No!
06:13There will be a knockout round,
06:14which will decide which four of you
06:16will go through to the final round.
06:19No pressure.
06:20Good luck.
06:21See you later.
06:24This is terrible.
06:25Isn't it?
06:27I'm shitting me, son.
06:28I didn't actually feel that nervous before.
06:31Because it feels ten times worse this time round.
06:35You smashed it last time.
06:36You'll be great.
06:37I'm lucky.
06:39There's definitely a lot more pressure.
06:41And I just put a lot of pressure on myself.
06:43I want to do really well.
06:45So, one in three chance to be here tomorrow.
06:48I think that's not.
06:50Great odds.
06:51This way, please.
06:53You're so polite, Susie.
06:55It's the name of the first quick-fire round, Alan.
06:57Oh, you weren't being polite.
06:59So, in this first game,
07:01the players have to work out the missing distance
07:03on a signpost,
07:05following the pattern that has been set
07:07by the other ones.
07:09The second quick-fire,
07:10they will see a 3D model of a college
07:12with its various rooms.
07:13They have to make their way out of this college,
07:17passing through every single room,
07:19but they then have to memorise the route.
07:22And they have not got long.
07:23They've got ten minutes for the total.
07:24Ten minutes!
07:25Yes.
07:25So, for this final 12,
07:27we're really upping the ante, aren't we?
07:28We really are.
07:29I think this is really going to separate
07:31the wheat from the chaff.
07:34All of a sudden,
07:35it's just all got very, very real.
07:37It does. It's crazy.
07:37I'm terrified.
07:38I think, whether they want to or not,
07:40everyone feels a little bit like
07:41there's more on the line.
07:42First to face the quick-fire round,
07:45village pharmacist Amy.
07:47I'm going to go for a pee in a minute
07:48and probably have a cry
07:50and then come back and be OK.
07:53OK, Susie's number is 01316.
07:59Her lightning-fast processing skill
08:01saw her come out top
08:03in the South Western Wales hoot.
08:05OK, I'm done.
08:06Yes, she's got it.
08:08The person who scored the highest
08:10is Amy.
08:11Yay!
08:14How do you deal with, like, the pressure?
08:15I do get a bit nervous.
08:17Pressure?
08:18With people.
08:18I work really well under pressure.
08:20It is more the case of,
08:21my biggest weakness
08:21is getting in my own way.
08:24I think my lack of self-belief
08:26comes from school.
08:28Bullies.
08:29If I ever say,
08:31I think that I'm smart,
08:33I think there'll be somebody
08:34waiting in the wings
08:35to shoot me down
08:36and say,
08:36fraud.
08:37No, you're not.
08:39So I'm feeling a bit apprehensive
08:40about going to Oxford now.
08:42The nerves are starting to set in
08:44and I don't know why.
08:45I've got every confidence in you.
08:46I always knew
08:47that you were
08:48a clever little madam
08:49because, you know,
08:50your first word was helicopter.
08:53But
08:54you've always had
08:55a little bit of self-doubt.
08:56She is a very intelligent,
08:59articulate woman,
09:01but
09:01she's hidden it.
09:03It's been a long time coming, Amy,
09:05and that is,
09:05as a parent,
09:07that's a very, very nice thing
09:08to see.
09:09Thanks, Mama.
09:13Amy.
09:15Oh, go have fun.
09:18Good luck, mate.
09:22If out of this
09:23I find out
09:24that I do have
09:24that slightly higher IQ,
09:26I think I'll hold my head
09:27a little bit higher.
09:28I think I'll feel
09:29a little bit more confident
09:30in voicing my opinions
09:32and my thoughts.
09:33This is the diving board
09:35and I'm ready to jump off.
09:40OK.
09:49Solve the puzzle
09:50to work out
09:50how far it is
09:51to Genius District.
09:54Solve the puzzle.
09:56So what parts of the brain
09:58are they going to have
09:58to use for this one?
10:00This is all about
10:00fluid reasoning,
10:01so this is about
10:02recognising the pattern.
10:03OK, so we've got
10:04London, 24,
10:05Swansea, 28,
10:06Manchester, 70,
10:08Glasgow, 35.
10:10What is the relationship
10:11between these places
10:12and these numbers?
10:1428, 17, 35
10:16all divided by 7
10:17but 24 doesn't.
10:18Do you think
10:19we're going to get
10:19letters from people
10:21going,
10:21London isn't 24 miles?
10:23Where are you
10:24if London is 24 miles
10:26and Swansea's 28?
10:28Are they mileage?
10:30There's no place
10:31that is 24 miles
10:32from London
10:32and 28 miles
10:33from Swansea,
10:34so throw that out.
10:35It's nothing to do
10:35with geography.
10:36To crack this,
10:38the players need
10:38to work out
10:39the mathematical
10:39relationship
10:40between the place
10:41names and the distances
10:42and then apply that
10:44to find the missing
10:45number on Genius District.
10:46But it's not easy
10:47because there are
10:48a lot of false trails
10:49on this one,
10:50lots of red herrings.
10:51A, B, C,
10:51A, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, 12.
10:55No, that's not going to work.
10:56Ten minutes is so little time
10:58for these challenges.
10:59I mean, that's almost
10:59the most difficult thing
11:00of these.
11:03One, two, three, four, six.
11:04London has six letters.
11:0624 is four times six.
11:08Five, six, seven.
11:09Swansea has seven letters.
11:1128 is four times seven.
11:13OK.
11:14Four by seven.
11:16One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
11:18Glasgow has seven letters.
11:2135 is five times seven.
11:24It's related to the number of letters.
11:26Yes.
11:28What's the relationship?
11:31I know there is a relationship
11:32between the number of letters
11:34in these words
11:34and the distances they give me.
11:36I know that's what it is.
11:37What is it?
11:38Ooh.
11:39Six times four consonants, 24.
11:42Seven times one, two, three,
11:44four consonants, 28.
11:45OK.
11:46Isn't it amazing
11:47when you see it just click
11:48and she goes...
11:50Yeah, all right.
11:50Ultimately,
11:51they just have to distill it down
11:52to number of letters,
11:54number of consonants.
11:55Simple when you know it.
11:56How many letters
11:57are in Genius District?
11:58It's 14.
11:59OK.
12:00How many consonants?
12:02Nine times 14
12:05is 28
12:07times four,
12:08which is 112
12:09plus 14
12:10is 126.
12:12126 miles
12:13to Genius District.
12:14It is 126.
12:15Well done.
12:16Well done.
12:18She has got the first one
12:20but she's left herself
12:20with a little time
12:22only for this one.
12:23Using the 3D model provided,
12:26work out the starting position
12:27and make your way
12:29to the exit.
12:30This second game
12:31is a maze modeled
12:32on University College.
12:34The players must find
12:35the start point
12:36then plot their route out
12:38but they must pass
12:39through every door
12:40once.
12:42This tests logical reasoning
12:44but that's really
12:44only half of it.
12:46OK, so
12:48if that's the exit
12:50this is the last room
12:51I'm in
12:51because there's
12:52no other doors
12:53so the archives
12:54is last
12:55before the exit.
12:56She's working backwards
12:57from the exit.
12:58That's a smart move.
13:00Into the refectory,
13:01into the inner hall,
13:02into the senior common room,
13:03into the reading room,
13:03into the head's office.
13:04The head's office is a start point.
13:05OK, so start memorizing it
13:07from there.
13:08Head's office,
13:10reading room,
13:11senior common room.
13:13Now, Alan,
13:13there is a key thing
13:14in this game.
13:15You have the 3D model,
13:17you memorize it,
13:18you move away,
13:19you cannot go back.
13:20Inner hall,
13:21refectory exam hall,
13:22lab,
13:22profs,
13:23lecture,
13:23labs,
13:24study,
13:24archives.
13:25That's just...
13:28I always second guess.
13:30That's definitely a weakness.
13:31You have one minute left.
13:34Right.
13:35Head's office is first.
13:41Archives were lost.
13:46Oh, I've lost it already.
13:48Oh, you can just see the rising panic.
13:52Oh, crap.
13:53Oh, she needs to really speed up here.
13:57Senior common room.
13:59In the room.
14:00Time has been stopped.
14:02And the time is up.
14:04Oh!
14:05Oh, that was really tough.
14:07Oh, I've just noticed your footwear.
14:20What's the soul like?
14:22In the heart of Oxford University,
14:25our 12 finalists are all vying to be crowned Britain's first secret genius.
14:31Amy, how are you feeling?
14:33I ran out of time.
14:33And now I'm just, like, a mess.
14:35So far, only village pharmacist Amy has faced the quickfire round.
14:40Did you find when you had your kids that you kind of changed how you thought about your intelligence?
14:44Just because, like, I thought, like, a big chunk of my brain just switched off.
14:47Yeah.
14:47My mum always says, like, she gave her brain cells to us.
14:50So I feel like maybe that's what happened a little bit.
14:52You have to make space in your brain for all the other things, like the name of their teachers and,
14:55like, when their exams are and things like that.
14:57Reminding them to go to the toilet.
14:58But both of mine are going to university, like, away from home, like, moving out of the house in September.
15:03This is the first time in about 19 years that I've had time to do anything just for me without
15:09the family.
15:11You guys are obviously leaving this year.
15:14And, I mean, I'm sad that you're going, but I'm going to have a little bit more time to try
15:19something for myself.
15:20The real me that was around before they were born, it's hard to remember her.
15:25No more laundry, so extra time.
15:27Until we come back.
15:29Yeah, don't bring it all home at Christmas, yeah.
15:32Just getting this far has been good for me.
15:34I'm just looking to go home and show my sons and be like, I'm not that stupid, actually, you know.
15:42OK, on with the next.
15:46Eleven finalists are still to face the first round, where they must tackle two games in just ten minutes.
15:54Oh, Christ.
15:55Damn, OK, that's pretty hard.
15:57But only the top eight will make it through to the next round of the competition.
16:02Poor.
16:03It seems this is all the information I have.
16:06I'm going to have a look and see if there's anything behind.
16:08And there's not.
16:10Pink, orange, yellow.
16:13Pink isn't in the rainbow, though.
16:14Pink isn't in the rainbow?
16:16A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
16:19I think there's a lot of overthinking going on.
16:22E, E, E, E, E.
16:25Oh, time's going quick.
16:26Oh, God.
16:27I don't know.
16:28I am now realising that, if anything, it's going to be a guess.
16:3252.
16:3359.
16:3480.
16:3540.
16:3664.
16:37115.
16:3815.
16:40Oh.
16:41Oh.
16:43She's sussed it.
16:45Six letters times four consonants.
16:48I can see there's a connection between the number of letters and the words and the consonants.
16:52I do London first, and I'm like, oh, this actually works.
16:56My final answer is 126.
16:58Yes.
16:59Well done, Selena.
17:00Selena.
17:01My final answer is 126.
17:04Yes.
17:05Yes.
17:06So I move on to the next game.
17:10Oh, Christ.
17:12I'm not going to remember this at all.
17:13So, our cause is the exit.
17:15You must come through the lavatories.
17:16I love the way you've put lavatories instead of toilets.
17:19This is a classy show.
17:20Of course.
17:21I've noted that.
17:22The lav.
17:23Okay, so we're starting at the head's office.
17:25Remember, Alan, once you've left the 3D model, you can't go back.
17:30That's it.
17:31What do I have to do with this, then?
17:32Oh, what's this?
17:34Ha-ha!
17:35Fuck!
17:35So I can't go back.
17:37Oh, sugar, I was meant to remember all the rooms.
17:40My brain is a little bit too frazzled.
17:42Let's just take a guess, shall we?
17:44There we go.
17:46Read the instruction.
17:48Yeah.
17:48It's how they cope with the pressure.
17:49I mean, in some ways, we're testing that as much as anything.
17:53Oh.
17:54Fuck, I don't remember.
17:56The first game wasn't playing to my strengths.
17:58The second game isn't playing to my strengths.
18:00You have one minute left.
18:03Jesus Christ.
18:04Is there a pen?
18:05Oh, my God.
18:07Oh, I can't find anything.
18:09Fuck, I can't remember.
18:10Ah, no!
18:11You can really feel the pressure, can't you?
18:14Fuck.
18:15Ha-ha-ha, this is where it all falls apart.
18:18Oh, come on.
18:21I feel like Selina was the quiet assassin.
18:24Ten out of twelve.
18:26And she got the first one right.
18:27I've never missed it.
18:28Okay.
18:30Well done, native.
18:36Your time has been stopped.
18:39Oh.
18:41Jesus, that was tough.
18:43Oh.
18:44Pooh.
18:44I think the games have got a lot tougher from here.
18:49Have you prepared, Nathan?
18:50Did you prepare in any way?
18:52No.
18:52No.
18:53Do you?
18:54I didn't know what to do.
18:55No, exactly, you can't.
18:56The final person to attempt the quickfire round,
18:59ambulance crew member Olly.
19:01Her mind-blowing memory saw her come top
19:04in the north-western Northern Ireland heat.
19:07Oh, my God!
19:08That was impressive.
19:09I mean, that was incredibly fast.
19:11Our top performer was Olly.
19:13Well played, Olly.
19:16Oh, I feel so sick about it.
19:18Oh, don't.
19:19You'll be fine.
19:20You've underestimated yourself at every single juncture
19:22and come out all right,
19:23so I don't expect this to be any different
19:25because the less confident you are,
19:27the more convinced I am that you've smashed it.
19:29Yeah.
19:31I don't know what a genius looks like.
19:34I wouldn't have a clue.
19:37Hiya, hon.
19:38Are you okay?
19:39Yes, you.
19:39Hello.
19:40Okay.
19:41I'm covered up.
19:42You fancy a brew?
19:43Shall I put a kettle on?
19:44Yes, please.
19:45What's your tree, Olly?
19:47That one's Circus condensis.
19:49Pansy tree.
19:50She's always been clever.
19:51She's always been switched on,
19:53right from being a tiny tot.
19:55As a child, she'd not got her phone,
19:57and yet, if she'd got her number to recall,
19:59she could tell you faster than I could find it in my phone book.
20:02But Olly didn't achieve grades that she wanted at school,
20:04and for that reason, she's always sort of been down on herself.
20:09At school.
20:11I just used to hate the repetition of it.
20:13I just found it really banal and boring.
20:16I probably wear away with fairies a lot.
20:18It'd be nice if she didn't doubt herself so much.
20:21She doesn't even know what she's capable of yet.
20:23And I think it will be good to see.
20:29Olly!
20:30Oh, yeah.
20:30It's your time.
20:31Good luck.
20:32Good luck, Olly.
20:33You'll smash it.
20:34Yes.
20:37I'm really, really nervous about the first game.
20:40It feels ten times worse this time around.
20:42Overall, it's just fear of failure on my part.
20:45Right, just send Olly in.
20:55Solve the puzzle to work out how far it is to Genius District.
20:59I start looking at the first two numbers that are 24 and 28,
21:04and then I go down to Manchester,
21:05and it's a huge difference between 28 and 70.
21:08So I'm thinking, oh, it's not just a linear thing.
21:13Oh, God.
21:16I feel sick.
21:18That's something that I can normally do,
21:20and I'm completely letting the nerves get the better of me.
21:23I'm not getting anywhere here.
21:26Oh, poor thing.
21:28I might not have time to do the next task.
21:31Come on, come on, come on.
21:32Cut your losses, I guess.
21:36So my final answer for this one is 54.
21:4054.
21:41No, that's not it.
21:43No, what else you got to that?
21:45Why aren't they getting the first game?
21:47The only thing that seems likely is the pressure.
21:52She's got a great memory, Olly.
21:54So she might be a bit more successful in this one.
21:58Right.
21:59I'm thinking, yeah, I think I can do this.
22:02It's reading common in a factory exam.
22:05So I'm starting to work out the route.
22:09It's reading common in a lab professor lecture.
22:12Lecture.
22:13It's reading common.
22:13You have one minute left.
22:16Oh, God, that went quick.
22:18It's reading common in a exam.
22:20Oh, Olly, I think she's got to really leg it now.
22:23Lecture, lab, study, archives.
22:25I'm thinking, yeah, I sort of know the order.
22:29So I walk over to the board and I start placing them down.
22:37And I feel quite, like, confident in what I'm placing.
22:41Come on, come on, come on.
22:43And then I get to the seventh one.
22:48Your time hasn't been stopped.
22:50And then the floor goes red and I think, oh, crap.
22:54Oh.
22:55Oh, what an idiot.
22:56Her score isn't that bad, though, Alan.
22:58Olly managed to get seven out of 12.
23:00Well, she'd have got them all if she had a bit more time.
23:02Yeah, true.
23:04I don't know why I froze on the first one.
23:06I think I've scuppered my chances of getting through to the next round.
23:11What have they done to us, Olly?
23:13I feel like the mood's gone really somber.
23:16Yeah.
23:17Do you know, compared to the heat, it's like, they're really up the ante, aren't they?
23:20Hi, guys, how's the nerves holding up?
23:23Can we talk about the last challenge?
23:26Oh, I'd rather not.
23:27No.
23:28What happened?
23:29You sort of crumbled.
23:31I think it's the nerves, the anxiety just gets on top of you.
23:33Everything was a step up in difficulty.
23:35Like, there was less time.
23:37The puzzles were more complex.
23:38Every little bit was just ramped up that bit more.
23:40Well, as you know, 12 has to become 8.
23:46And it's come down to speed and precision.
23:51Only three of you worked out the distance to Genius District.
23:56And only one of you could recall all the rooms in the right order.
24:01So, the eight people going through, in no particular order, are...
24:23Well, as you know, 12 has to become 8.
24:28In Oxford University, the birthplace of Mensa,
24:32the 12 finalists have now all competed in the first round.
24:37So, the eight people going through, in no particular order, are...
24:49Selina...
24:53Nick...
24:57Justin...
25:00Nathan...
25:01Victoria...
25:04Rosie...
25:07Sarah...
25:09And the last person...
25:14Amy.
25:16Congratulations, guys.
25:18You're through to the final eight.
25:19Well done.
25:21Which means, sadly, we've got to say goodbye to Hadja, Richard, Jess and Ollie.
25:29You know the score.
25:30Do you want to say your goodbyes?
25:32Well done, buddy. Good to meet you.
25:34Thanks, man. Good to hug.
25:35Good to meet you.
25:36Good to meet you.
25:37Good to meet you.
25:37You too?
25:39I'm feeling disappointed in myself, but...
25:41Yeah, I'm glad I've come this far.
25:43I've come here.
25:44Aww.
25:45I have completely superseded myself from when I started.
25:48I feel like I've done so well compared to how I thought I'd do.
25:51I think I've got a little bit more faith in myself than I initially did.
25:56But I'm glad I ain't got to do the head-to-head.
25:58I've been so dumbed and I'm so chuffed that I ain't got to do that.
26:03OK, guys, listen.
26:06The final game of the day is head-to-head.
26:09And the winner of each battle will make the final four.
26:13Now, there's no way I'm going to get involved
26:16and start choosing who you're up against.
26:19That's down to you.
26:20Oh, no!
26:22Yes, you're going to have to pick your opponent.
26:26This is actually nerve-wracking,
26:28because last time we did a pairs game,
26:29it was somebody you think you could work well with.
26:32And now, you know, you're trying to beat this person.
26:35So it's not a very nice feeling, actually.
26:38Selena, you perform best in the quick-fire round,
26:42so you get to choose first.
26:44Selena, who are you going to choose?
26:48Pick your opponent.
26:52Sarah.
26:53Selena, you're going for Sarah.
26:55I was kind of thinking, like, in the final,
26:57if I don't go through,
26:58I definitely want girls to get through.
27:00And I thought, like,
27:00you're the most, like, interesting person to watch.
27:05The next person to pick...
27:08Amy.
27:09Oh, no.
27:10Who's your opponent going to be?
27:12This is horrible.
27:14I'm going to pick Justin.
27:16That's right, you've got to pick someone.
27:17I felt like he was a safe pick.
27:19Nick.
27:21The next person to pick is...
27:23Rosie.
27:24I'm going to pick Nick.
27:26Ooh.
27:27But because I think we have very different strengths.
27:30Mm-hm.
27:31And I'm honestly happy for us to leave it up to what kind of game it is.
27:35OK.
27:36Do you know what I mean?
27:36Sounds good.
27:37Yeah, no, that should be fun.
27:39I mean, you're going down, but, you know, it should be fun.
27:42LAUGHTER
27:43Well, it doesn't take a genius to understand.
27:46It's Victoria and Nathan.
27:49You've got your opponents.
27:51Look at them,
27:53because they are the one person
27:55standing in the way of you getting to the final four.
28:00I think it's definitely more intense now that we're down to eight.
28:03Some people's competitive heads have turned on,
28:05and they're just like,
28:06I will destroy you.
28:08And I'm just like,
28:09OK, chill.
28:13So, what have you got in store for us here?
28:16This involves the periodic table.
28:19I love this game.
28:21I think it might be one of my favourites.
28:22The periodic table will be illuminated
28:24with squares in different colours,
28:26and they have to 60 seconds
28:28to plot their path from one side to the other
28:31using the colour sequence of red, yellow, green and blue.
28:35Now, we make it tricky for them
28:36because when they play the game,
28:39the colours will disappear
28:40and they must make their way across the table
28:42following the route they've memorised.
28:44I wish the periodic table at school lit up like a gay disco.
28:51I just want to get it here for worth now.
28:53The fastest player in the quick-fire round,
28:55restaurant manager,
28:56Selena,
28:57is first to go head-to-head with stay-at-home mum,
29:00Sarah.
29:01Selena,
29:02Sarah.
29:03Are you ready?
29:03Good luck.
29:04Good luck, ladies.
29:05No fighting.
29:06I had so much potential when I was younger
29:09and just didn't live up to any of it.
29:11Now I've gotten this far,
29:12I would love to show my son that anything is possible.
29:16I'm quite introverted,
29:18but I do have this other person inside me that people don't know.
29:22Understanding my intelligence more,
29:24I think it'll just make me more confident.
29:27The grid in front of you will illuminate in a series of colours.
29:30Use the colour pattern below to work out your route across the grid.
29:34Red, yellow, green, blue.
29:36You must move one step at a time to the sound of the beep.
29:39If you step onto an incorrect square,
29:41the grid will disappear
29:42and you must return to the memory plinth for 20 seconds.
29:46In the last third of the grid,
29:47you will not be told if you step on an incorrect square.
29:50You must press the stop button to finish.
29:53Good luck.
29:54We're putting them under a lot of pressure here, aren't we?
29:57Yeah, they are.
29:58They have to 60 seconds to memorise their route
30:01and they must move in time with the beep.
30:02Any hesitation, the board goes white
30:04and they have to start again.
30:06Remember, Alan, this is high stakes.
30:08The person who loses goes home.
30:13It seems easy enough.
30:16You follow a colour pattern
30:18through from one end of the board to the other end.
30:20So, first of all, work out what the route is.
30:24There is only one correct way
30:26and then I just need to memorise it.
30:29This seems to have a lot more riding on it
30:31than the other games.
30:32It's the first time when I'm actively trying to put somebody out.
30:35Your 60 seconds are up.
30:38I love this one.
30:39There's memory.
30:41There's, oh, there's just logic.
30:42There's everything in this one.
30:43My minute finishes and I'm thinking,
30:46I can actually remember the shapes, like Tetris patterns.
30:53So, I'm stepping with the time.
30:56The beeps are making my heart, like, race so fast.
31:01This is feeling much more intense and focused.
31:05And the further along I get,
31:07the more my confidence is starting to fade away.
31:13You can sort of sense what your opponent is doing,
31:17where they are.
31:18You can probably hear their breathing.
31:20You've got the beeps going on.
31:21There's a lot kind of interfering with the brain at this point.
31:26I take one more step.
31:29And the board clears.
31:31So, Selina's had to go back, but you see what happens.
31:33The entire thing is drained of colour.
31:35Back to the memory plinth if you forget.
31:44Just before I get to that final third,
31:46I know if I make a mistake there,
31:48I'm not going to be told I've made a mistake.
31:50So, I need to know that I've got it down.
31:54So, I step off and I will take the 20 seconds
31:57and look at the colours again,
31:59just to make sure I'm getting it right.
32:01It looks like she stepped off on purpose.
32:04Let's hope it doesn't come back to bite her on the arsenic.
32:06As I'm standing for this 20 seconds,
32:09I'm trying to use other strategies
32:10so I can see Krypton is where I went wrong.
32:12So, I look and I'm like,
32:14oh, I have to turn left at Krypton.
32:18Did you select the periodic table?
32:20I didn't really know what was going on.
32:25Once I've done something once,
32:27I don't need to think about that anymore.
32:29It's kind of locked in.
32:31So, I'm confident in like the first 10 steps now.
32:39I'm ready. I'm good to go.
32:41I'm pretty sure Selena has already finished
32:43because there's no stepping noises or anything.
32:45So, I need to have everything right
32:48if I want to stand a chance.
32:50I get to Krypton and my brain kicks into gear.
32:53Krypton go left.
32:58Selena's quite close, isn't she?
33:00But remember the risk of this last third
33:02because from this point on,
33:04she won't know if she's put her foot wrong.
33:06I'm immediately starting to like second-guess myself,
33:09but I have to risk it
33:11because if she's right and faster, she's going to win.
33:14So, I'm going to go for it.
33:16Yes. She's almost there.
33:20The adrenaline is running like crazy,
33:22but I just go and I don't really think about it.
33:26I just end up where I end up and I press the button.
33:34I can't have done this any faster,
33:36so it's all down to how well she did and we'll find out.
33:40That was in 7-11. That's pretty good going.
33:45I press the button straight away
33:47because there's no point wasting another second.
33:50That was so close.
33:51Sarah finished just 39 seconds behind Selena.
33:54But because the final third of the board
33:57doesn't show them what they've done wrong,
33:59they don't know who's won.
34:00No, exactly.
34:02Wow.
34:03Now I'm really double-thinking the last bit, so...
34:06I don't know. I've pressed the button now, so here we are.
34:20It seems a bit tense in here now.
34:23Would anybody appreciate doing some meditation?
34:25Yeah. Yeah?
34:27In Oxford, for the first time in the competition,
34:29the remaining players are preparing for their turn
34:32to compete head-to-head.
34:35Start breathing gently in through your nose for four...
34:40where only the strongest players will make it through to the final four.
34:45In through your nose, out through your mouth.
34:48And just keep that cycle going.
34:50I just want you to imagine in a place that you find calming.
34:55I think people sometimes think Vickers can be a bit daft and a bit silly.
34:58A place you know well.
35:00I guess people don't think you're massively intelligent.
35:02And sometimes that can really knock your confidence.
35:05I want you to imagine a warm sensation starting at the tips of your toes.
35:10I think this competition is about wanting to prove myself to people.
35:14But I think there's probably a big part of it for proving it to myself as well.
35:18When you feel able, slowly begin to open your eyes.
35:23It was very lovely. I'm just a child.
35:27Hi.
35:28Restaurant manager Selina and stay-at-home mum Sarah are the only ones to have faced each other.
35:34Let's see how the rest of the players get on.
35:38Oh, okay.
35:40Red, yellow, green, blue. Red, yellow, green, blue.
35:43So I've got to figure out the only route that will work following that colour sequence.
35:49And then suddenly a minute's gone by and I've not even figured out my route.
35:54Here we go.
35:58The beeps keep on coming. It's like if Danny Dyer did see Bebe.
36:04I've mapped out the route. What do I need to end on?
36:07I'm going to end on Nickel.
36:09I'm now standing on a square and I'm not really sure where to go.
36:16Oh, Justin.
36:17It's four across. It's two down. It's one across. It's one down.
36:24Memory is my weakness. So I'm feeling like really nervous.
36:30I feel like it's getting to some of them.
36:33Annoyingly, I've come to the same point and I'm still can't remember which one I need to go for.
36:40How many times has just been back to that memory plan if you should ask for a loyalty card?
36:46I have finished stepping on all the ones where I'm going to know if I'm going to go wrong.
36:49Do I step off, revalidate what I've done?
36:53Amy always second guesses herself and I think that will be a problem.
36:57Yeah.
36:58Do I just trust myself?
37:02Wow, look at Amy go. That's impressive.
37:04Yes.
37:08He's completed that in seven minutes.
37:11Not sure I got it right, but...
37:15Back yourself. Let's just press the button.
37:19So Amy is now complete.
37:217.45.
37:22I'm really, really hoping that Amy's struggled somewhere along the line.
37:28But I've got a sinking feeling that Amy's already finished and I'm just waiting to be told that the game's
37:33over.
37:37I did the best I could.
37:39Hello, Amy.
37:41Yes, I finished before him, or I believe I did, but it's not to say I might have done it
37:47quicker and wrong and he did it longer and right.
37:53It's just the two of us now.
37:54Yeah.
37:55The final two players to go head to head is public servant Nathan and delivery driver Victoria.
38:02There's a part of me that's trying to big myself up by saying,
38:05no one picked you because they didn't want to go against you.
38:08And that's why we were left to last.
38:10So maybe we're the strongest.
38:11I grew up in a little village just outside Carlisle.
38:15I had a very normal upbringing for someone who turned out to be anything but.
38:20Dad and I, it was evident to us from when you were a little boy that your brain worked in
38:25very different ways.
38:27I do see things a bit differently.
38:29The trickiest situations for me tend to be social ones.
38:33I'm a bit peculiar in my mannerisms, in the way I conduct myself.
38:38I remember you always used to get into trouble for doing your maths tasks and the teachers would be saying
38:43to you,
38:43you need to show all your workings out Nathan.
38:45I've just done it in my head.
38:46You couldn't understand how to do that, could you? It was a real challenge.
38:49I mean, I knew how to do it but I didn't see the point.
38:51I think my mum would be worried about mainly just me settling down.
38:56I just hope it gives him just the belief in himself but also seeing that, you know, there's lots of
39:02other people like him that think the way that he does and that it's not such a lonely place to
39:09have the brain that he has.
39:10I think what this competition could offer me is a chance to understand myself at a deeper level and to
39:18carry myself with more confidence.
39:20Dad and I are really proud of you for getting this far but more importantly than that, you've got a
39:25lot from it, I think, haven't you?
39:26Hopefully it'll encourage you in other aspects of your life as well.
39:30So maybe try different things.
39:34Nathan.
39:34Victoria.
39:35Your turn.
39:36Go on, guys.
39:38Good luck.
39:38Thanks, guys.
39:39Go for it.
39:39Let's go.
39:40Enjoy it.
39:42I've always had a child at home for the last 25 years but my youngest son starts school in September
39:48and delivery driving is definitely not where I want to be.
39:52So, yeah, if I won this, it would definitely open up new doors.
39:56Only one of us can go through which is a little bit scary in that regard but, yeah, I've got
40:00to be prepared to do it if I want to advance.
40:03Nathan and Victoria were the remaining pair so they were head-to-head. They didn't choose each other.
40:07I think they're quite a good match, aren't they?
40:10I think so.
40:13Good luck.
40:17I know right now I need to be quick. It's going to take a good time to advance to the
40:23next stage so I can't hang about.
40:30There are two kind of straight lines of red, yellow, green, blue where you just walk one step forward at
40:36a time and you won't go wrong.
40:37So I've kind of got some anchor points there. I then realised, OK, now I've got to connect them.
40:43The first connection, there's a couple of lightning bolt shapes.
40:47And from the second straight line segment to the end, I realise it's just going to be easier to try
40:51and remember some sort of mnemonic which is just smashing all the symbols together.
41:00Can I do it in time to the beeps? Yes, I can.
41:06Yes, I've remembered the first few steps, they were fairly simple.
41:12They're both doing really well, look, they're neck and neck at this point.
41:16I'm going to see if I can go a little bit further.
41:19But this pattern is just not sinking in today.
41:26Oh, OK, the board's gone white.
41:29Back to the memory plinth for Victoria.
41:40What? Nathan's like Usain Bolt.
41:42Ooh!
41:45It's almost like steam coming off his moccasins.
41:48His memory is genuinely phenomenal.
41:51Wow!
41:53I'm feeling relatively confident.
41:57But I don't know how Victoria is going to do, but I don't want to leave it to chance and
42:02so I take a risk.
42:06I press that button first time.
42:09That was 3.51.
42:11That's incredible, he only looked at the table once.
42:14No other player's been able to do that.
42:20I'm not confident at all, but yeah.
42:24I took a risk and it'll either pay off and I'll look quite competent or it won't and I'll look
42:30very silly.
42:31But I went with my gut.
42:33Hopefully it works out.
42:34Hi everyone!
42:35So what did you think of that last challenge?
42:38Frustrated.
42:39Some of you struggled, some of you, it was just a walk in the park.
42:43Did any of you find it weird having that wall there?
42:46Did anyone know someone was a little bit further ahead?
42:49Yeah, me. I didn't hear him come back once.
42:51Really?
42:52Well, as you know, eight must become four.
42:56Those fantastic four will then battle it out and then one of you will be crowned Britain's secret genius.
43:04Let me put you all out of your misery.
43:07Selena and Sarah, you went head to head in a really close game.
43:12The person going through is...
43:19Selena.
43:20Yeah.
43:20Well done.
43:21Well done, mate.
43:22Good effort.
43:25Amy and Justin, you also went head to head.
43:27The person going through is...
43:32Amy.
43:33Well done.
43:35Well done, Amy.
43:40Oh, bless you.
43:41Are you all right?
43:43Bless you, mate.
43:45Are you feeling relieved?
43:47I thought I messed up cos I overthought it, but I trusted my gut.
43:51And you were right to trust your gut.
43:53Rosie and Nick.
43:55The person going through is...
44:00Nick.
44:02Well done.
44:03Oh, bless you.
44:06And so, the last couple going head to head was Victoria and Nathan.
44:12The final person going through to the final four is...
44:19Nathan.
44:20Well done, buddy.
44:23Well done, well done.
44:25You took a risk and it paid off.
44:28Nathan, your time was incredible.
44:31Well, listen.
44:32It's time for you all to say your goodbyes.
44:35Bye.
44:36It is disappointing.
44:37I think I've done...
44:38I do think I've done really well.
44:41I think it's just been, you know, shown to me that I am actually clever than I actually realised I
44:45was.
44:46You are incredible.
44:48And you were going to go places.
44:51I've really impressed myself by how far I've gotten.
44:54This has really helped my confidence.
44:56It's the end of the day.
44:57That's all that matters.
44:59Well done.
45:01I'm definitely feeling more confident about my intelligence level now.
45:07I think, finally, that's the moment that's clicked and gone.
45:11You know what? Actually believe in yourself a little bit.
45:14You trusted your gut and that is the thing to do, okay?
45:17Final four, guys.
45:17You are much, much more powerful inside than you realise, yeah?
45:21Yeah.
45:22I can't believe that I'm in the final four.
45:25I'm chuffed.
45:26You can relax now.
45:27Yeah, I can relax now.
45:29I suppose I should start standing tall.
45:31Final four.
45:32Final four.
45:33Final four.
45:34Everyone says, say it with your chest.
45:36I'm final four and seek your genius.
45:41Susie, I've embraced my imposter syndrome.
45:43I've got myself a gown, got myself a hat and got myself a top knot.
45:47Next time.
45:49I'm sorry, guys.
45:50You're going down.
45:51It's the final showdown in Oxford.
45:54Do or die.
45:56Solve the anagrams. Oh, good God.
45:59Where our four finalists play with the greatest genius.
46:03Shakespeare must be in a blue square south of Curie.
46:06Oh, Christ.
46:07This is so frustrating.
46:08Where one move could be the difference between going home.
46:11My final answer is to pass.
46:14I'm 25.
46:16Nathan's got his age wrong.
46:17And taking the crack.
46:19He's so close.
46:20Wow.
46:21The winner of Secret Genius is...
46:28To apply for a potential future series of Secret Genius,
46:33go to Channel 4, take part.
46:49would be exactly the best show up soon.
46:56.... so...
47:00Two or two....
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