Search for Kiwi superperson

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 18

Search for Kiwi superperson

The search for the Kiwi superperson of 1989 starts tonight (Saturday) with heat one of “The Krypton Factor” (7 on One), and this year the producer, Brian Stewart, expects at least one, if not two, women in the final. “The women who applied to take part this year were generally a lot more determined that they were going to do well and succeed than in previous years,” he says. “When we asked them why they had applied they said they were determined to show the public women could do it.” Stewart says this high level of motivation, determination and commitment had shown through in the pre-record tests and he was sure the female contestants could do well and claim their share of success. The number of applications from would-be mega-beings is up on previous years — 850 compared to 380 in the first year of the competition and 750 in 1988 — and the general standard of contestants has also risen considerably. “Whereas in the first series probably only about 50 applicants were of a high calibre and last year only about 250, this year nearly all of the 850 had to be considered,” says Stewart. “The reason for the rising standard being the programme is better known, and as a result the concept of a finding superperson is better accepted and more people are applying to win the title. "Obviously too the words gets around that taking part is a lot of fun. People gain an enormous amount out of the experience. A large number have said the programme changed their lifestyle and increased their quality of life... now superfit both mentally and physically they found life more enjoyable. People recognise the benefits to be gained from the effort.” The 1989 version of “television’s toughest quiz” will follow the same format as last year, with sections testing contest-

ants’ general and specific knowledge, intelligence, mental agility, powers of observation and physical ability. And, of course, the hopefuls must also do battle on “The Krypton Factor’s” Army-su-pervised assault course, which is seen by many as the show’s highlight. Recorded at Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch, this gruelling physical section of the show has been the downfall of more than one potential special being. As usual this year’s contestants have been put through an Intensive fiveweek progressive fitness training programme, which is designed by New Zealand Army personnel to maximise results and reduce the risk of Injury to competitors. Again no prizes are up for grabs, apart from a special trophy for the winner. Contestants compete solely for the glory of becoming New Zealand’s Superperson. Dougal Stevenson will be on hand once more to host the show. Professor Derek Holton of Otago University is the brains behind the mental agility and intelligence tests again this year. His job is to devise the tricky number sequence section and to adapt the large puzzles which tax the contestants’ ability to think logically in a given period of time.