BOLTON funnyman Paddy McGuinness will front a new quiz show which sees contestants compete against each other with help from the public.

Channel 4 weekday programme Benchmark will launch in the spring with the 41-year-old comic and Take Me Out presenter as host.

The "simple but entertaining" format is set to feature funny questions, larger than life characters and some ridiculous answers.

The programme's creator, Stuart Shawcross, head of entertainment at Victory Television, said: "Benchmark is an incredibly simple, but hugely entertaining game show that will have you shouting at your TV.

"Paddy is the perfect match for the show and guarantees wit and humour at its core."

A panel of 10 members of the public, the benchmarkers, must answer a series of tricky numerical general knowledge questions.

Their answers set the benchmark for the contestant to decide whether the correct answer is higher or lower for the chance to win thousands of pounds.

As well as helping, and hopefully not hindering the contestant, the benchmarkers are also in their own battle to be top of the leaderboard to play for cash on the next show.

Syeda Irtizaali, Channel 4 commissioning editor, said: “We are completely thrilled that Paddy will be hosting this distinctive new game show which not only has great play along at its heart but revels in being warm and funny and bringing the best out of the contestants.”

Paddy is appearing in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights Live shows at the Manchester Arena until Monday, in aid of Comic Relief, and is also due to go on tour later this year with 50 UK dates for his stand-up show, Daddy McGuinness.

The latest series of dating show Take Me Out continues on Saturday evenings on ITV.

Contestants can apply to go on Benchmark by emailing contestants@victorytelevision.com before March 23, over 18s only.