Brains with brawn wanted

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 6

Brains with brawn wanted

The search is well under way for New Zealand’s answer to the Bionic Man or Wonder Woman — someone who can climb mountains, leap tall buildings, or swim oceans, and then turn round and win a Mastermind contest. For the last week, Television New Zealand’s head of promotions, Mr Chris Bourn, has been looking for the country's best combination of brains and brawn to represent New Zealand in the British . television contest called “The Krypton Factor.” ’ ' ~ So . far, he has bad about 100 written applications and

many more telephone calls from people who think they. could fit the bill. The contest, described as a cross between Mastermind, Superman and Wonder •’ Woman, and Mission Impossible, will be held in Britain at the beginning of December. Finalists from Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will compete for the prize. New Zealand’s finalist will be . chosen by the British producer of “The Krypton , Factor,” Mr Nick Turnbull, who , will be in New Zealand early next month.

Britain’s finalist was chosen from 20,000 applicants. Mr Bourn is confident that New Zealand’s representative will match up to the best of them, whoever he or she is. He has had applications from people at the school of physical education in Dunedin, from university students, from teachers and lawyers, from computer experts, and from the Outward Bound school. “But I have had very few applications from women,” he said. j ' Before, contestants take part in [the general know-

; ledge quiz, they have -to complete an Army assault course, which seemed to be troubling the few women who had applied, Mr Bourn said. “Yet in the semi-final in Britain, it was a woman who did best on the assault course. She was well ahead of the three other men,” he said. ' “Sure, it. is very physically demanding, but women need not worry about it any more than men?’ Only about 5 per cent of the applicants were women, and Mr Bourn said he- hoped a lot more would apply before next week.

Several well known sporting names were on the list of applicants — people who have competed overseas for New Zealand, and some who were away competing at present. When all the applications are in, Mr Bourn and the contest organisers will whittle them down to a short list of about 20. “Even though that 20 is just 1 per cent of the number of people the British had to choose from, I am confident that we will find a good representative. There are some very fit and very articulate people on the list already,” Mr Bourn said.