Public 'play God' in game show

Without Prejudice? sees Tarbuck return to Channel 4

Channel 4 bosses have signed up Liza Tarbuck to host a new quiz show in which the public are given the chance to "play God".

The eight-part show - Without Prejudice? - will see contestants lay open their lives for examination by a panel of ordinary members of the public.

Contestants will be asked to reveal everything from their sexual preference to how much they earn, their life-long ambitions and their opinions on the issues of the day.

The panel must then decide to which of the five contestants they want to award the show's prize of £50,000.

I think it will cause much chattering

Liza Tarbuck

Tarbuck will chair the hour-long debate between the panel and the contestants.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "The show is part game show, part discussion programme.

"The contestants don't have to do anything except talk about their lives so that the panel can learn all about them.

"The panel can set their own criteria for what makes a deserving candidate and there is certain to be heated debate over who should get it."

The former Big Breakfast presenter says she is "delighted to be presenting again".

"It was always a question of finding the right show to do and Without Prejudice? certainly fits the sock," she said.

"I think it will cause much chattering."

The new series comes as Channel 4 tries to boost ratings after a bad financial year.

Recently the station posted its first-ever loss, of £21m, and was forced to slim down its FilmFour operation.

Chief executive Mark Thompson says he is "in the middle of the biggest creative re-invention of Channel 4 in its history".