The second season of the French television quiz show "Qui sera le plus nul ?" premieres Friday night at 9:10pm on TF1 and on the streaming platform TF1+, with host Camille Combal returning to the classroom-style set.
Twelve celebrities, among them singers, comedians, influencers and television presenters, will compete in written and oral tests of general knowledge and logic. The show's title translates roughly as "Who Will Be the Worst?"
How the game works
Under the supervision of Combal, cast as the show's schoolmaster, and a panel of guest "teachers" including doctor and broadcaster Michel Cymes, actor Francis Huster and Marlene Schaaf, the twelve contestants try to answer questions correctly and leave the game as quickly as possible. The aim is to avoid finishing last and being crowned France's worst student, a title held after season one by reality television personality Nabilla Benattia.
Content creator Melanie Da Cruz told TF1info she said yes to taking part straight away, because she likes to laugh and knew the show would give her a chance to laugh at herself. She recalled getting good grades at school and always wanting to make up for any slip, though she admitted she was talkative and struggled to sit still.
Businesswoman Kelly Massol remembered herself as an average student who performed best under pressure. She said she got on with everyone and was even elected class representative, often sent to the front of the room to defend her ideas. She described herself as outspoken, chatty and easily distracted, but said she loved school because it gave her a social life away from a difficult family situation.
Contestants recall their school days
Comedian Yann Guillarme said he enjoyed school and carries no bad memories from it, except for a period when he started acting up because he thought it made him seem mature. He liked telling jokes and thought it made him more interesting to others, until his head teacher called him out in front of the whole class and made clear that playing the class clown was not as cool as he thought.
Comedian Blandine Lehout said she was good in every subject at school, even excellent. She explained that her problem was being overweight, and that in trying to be accepted she sometimes made poor choices. She said that even at the age of eight, when other children mocked her in the playground, she would tell herself to keep laughing, because one day they would applaud her instead.
The rest of the cast for this season includes broadcasters Samuel Etienne and Christine Bravo, actor Bruno Sanches, influencer Chocoh, dancer Christophe Licata, and singer Philippe Katerine, known in France for his eccentric musical persona. Two well known figures from French rap also join the lineup.
Rappers Rim'K and Gradur join the lineup
Rim'K, a member of the influential French rap trio 113, said he and fellow rapper Gradur were there to break stereotypes and go off the beaten track. He said people too often link urban music with poor suburbs and school failure, and that the show was a chance to prove otherwise.
Gradur, a rapper from northern France, said he was strong in spelling, grammar and conjugation, skills he considers important for a rapper to master, though he struggled in many other subjects, particularly geography, which he called catastrophic. He said he was fairly nervous before filming but that the experience helped him take stock of his own knowledge and understand that there is no age limit for learning.
What's next
"Qui sera le plus nul ?" season two airs every Friday at 9:10pm on TF1 and on TF1+.
