Crime writer Alison Bruce to compete on new ITV reality show ‘Genius Game’, hosted by David Tennant

Cambridge-based crime writer Alison Bruce is to appear on Genius Game, a new reality game show presented by David Tennant.

The show will be on every Wednesday and Thursday at 9pm on ITV1 for four weeks, starting from 30 April.

It is described as featuring “strategically-minded players, chosen not just for their high intellectual prowess but also their social IQ” who will “face the ultimate battle of survival”.

To win, contestants participate in a host of games designed to test their intellect and encourage them to use the art of manipulation to outfox their opponents and win a cash prize.

“We do tasks, and every episode somebody gets eliminated,” says Alison. “It starts with 11 of us and it’s quite brutal at times actually! Somebody will make it to the end… and the other 10 won’t.”

Alison, who will launch the paperback version of her latest book, Because She Looked Away, at an event in Newmarket on Monday (28 April), believes the show will appeal to fans of The Traitors.

“It’s that mindset of having to collaborate with each other – but at the same time stab each other in the back at various points, or at least be a bit ruthless when it comes to the crunch,” she told the Cambridge Independent.

It was filmed in Maidstone, Kent, last year.

“We weren’t allowed to have any contact with the other competitors, so we were isolated in our hotel rooms – it was quite fascinating,” says Alison.

“We didn’t know, until we were on set filming, that David Tennant was going to be the host. He’s called ‘The Creator’ and he gives the challenge each day.

“The programme originates from South Korea, it’s had a massive following there, and it has gone to some other countries – The Netherlands, for example.”

But it appears there were no hard feelings at the end of it all. Since the show, the participants have stayed in touch via a WhatsApp group, Alison revealed.

Meanwhile, Alison will be at The Pantry at The Guineas in Newmarket on Monday to discuss Because She Looked Away, the first in a series of crime novels set in Cambridge and featuring Detective Ronnie Blake, who moves to the city following her sister’s sudden death.

Alison, who reveals that she is “just finishing off” the second book in the series, has written 11 other books, Incredibly, she has another 12 planned, as well as two more books in the Ronnie Blake series.

She will answer questions on the book, on getting published, and perhaps on her TV stardom too.

“The focus next Monday is on the new book and on writing,” explains Alison, “but I know quite a lot of people want to ask questions about the show [Genius Game] and what it’s about, and I welcome that.”

Alison’s crime novels certainly have the inside track on modern policing as she is a key member of Anglia Ruskin University’s (ARU) police education team.

She completed her degree in crime and investigative studies at ARU and now helps shape the next generation of police officers through her work in ARU’s Police Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) programmes.

Tickets for the event cost £9 and include a signed copy of Because She Looked Away, as well as complimentary chocolate desserts.

To buy advance tickets, go to alisonbruce.com. People can also just turn up on the night.

View the trailer for Genius Game at youtube.com/watch?v=I-7c46BkzUg.