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| Quizmaster Derek O’Brien and co-host Saumya Tandon on the set |
BQC is back! For those who don’t know what that means, it is merely the most popular quiz show in the country. And this time, it is being shot entirely in Calcutta.
The first episode of the Bournvita Quiz Contest, which will be on television after a three-year break, will premiere on Colors at 10.30am on August 14.
“The show will retain its traditional goodness but we have a new format and it is going to be bilingual,” said quizmaster Derek ’Brien, at Aurora Studio where the show is being shot.
The new BQC will be in Hinglish and will be co-hosted by Saumya Tandon (Roop of Jab We Met).“We needed someone who can speak Hindi so that we can reach out to a bigger audience,” said ’Brien.
But that’s not all that is new — people can now post their video on youtube.com/bournvitaquizcontest and be invited to ask a question on the show. Tweeple can answer questions to the quizmaster’s handle @quizderek for 15 minutes after the show (11 to 11.15am) and win prizes.
Twenty-seven schools from across the country who have been previous champions or have done well in BQC were invited to participate in the first season which was shot over five days from August 3 to 7 — with the familiar BQC logo flashing in the background and nervous participants waiting for their place on the podium.
“The BQC semi-finals will have two rounds — First Innings, a multiple choice round, and Super Over. One team makes it to the finals,” explained Andrew Scolt, vice-president, Derek ’Brien and Associates. There will be nine semi-finals, three finals and a grand final, all over 14 episodes.
“It is great to be back, hosting BQC for television. And I’m very happy that it is being shot in Calcutta. Why should everybody run to Delhi and Mumbai?” said ’Brien.
BQC, which began as a live event in 1972 and then became a radio show (hosted first by Hamid Sayani, then by Ameen Sayani), went on air for the first time 1994 on Zee TV and was taken off the air in 2007.
The Bring BQC Back initiative on Facebook, which has garnered over 2,04,282 likes was instrumental in Cadbury’s decision to revive the show.
“We have grown up watching BQC on television. I am both excited and nervous about being here,” said Shayak Chatterjee of Campion School, Mumbai.
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| Semi-finalists at the Aurora Studio on Saturday |
It’s not exactly as heavy a tag as “Oscar winner” but in the world of quizzers, “Bournvita Quiz champion” is a good prefix to wear. At least in the 1990s when every school kid would have a Sunday date on television with Derek O’Brien and six smart boys.
The year was 1996 and according to the then age limit set by the organisers, that was my last shot at BQC stardom. The year before, South Point had incredibly bypassed the invitation and not sent a team. But this time, it was meant to be. Pronit from Class VIII and me from Class IX first cleared the Calcutta written rounds and then travelled to Mumbai for the shoot of the TV show.
The schedule was such that if we were to win the quarters, we would shoot for the semis immediately and if we were to win the semis, the final would be shot the same day. And then a one-week wait for the All-Asia Grand Finale. Strange as it may sound, we didn’t want to come back to Calcutta the next day. Yes, we won three quizzes on one day beating teams from all over the country with Michael Ferreira, Hariharan and Leslie Lewis of Colonial Cousins, and Shyam Benegal being the celebrity guests!
We lost the Grand Finale to a Mumbai school but when Aamir Khan is the chief guest, you win some. I still remember the line from Derek to Aamir: “It’s a fight between your city and mine!” Aamir’s city won but we came back with memories of a lifetime. And that prefix.
