Dirty shoes, a special kiss and soon a new jury member: VRT guns play strong in ‘The very smartest human being’ | THE SMARTEST HUMAN IN THE WORLD

The most striking moment in the quiz was undoubtedly Kobe’s confession that he caught his faithful girlfriend Danira kissing his sweetheart Sara after a bathroom break. Just before that, however, Danira had made it clear to presenter Erik Van Looy that she does not like to kiss ‘with everyone’. For a moment Danira doesn’t know where to sit, lie or crawl, and she ducks from the cameras, but then she pulls herself together. “Next question, Eric. It was stronger than myself.” That Danira though…

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Strong episode by the way, with high scores. Newcomer Kobe won, thanks to a successful round of films. Otto-Jan Ham had sworn never to play a final of ‘The smartest man’ again, but had to do it anyway. He was too stiff with nerves to win. Danira did. She will soon be able to equal Gert Verhulst, even outclass it and get back in high in the final weeks without losing. Then she has to be at least second and play Kobe or Tom home.

It was also noticeable that there were no fewer than three VRT faces in the quiz seats at Play4. And for the 32nd episode, an exclusive face of the public broadcaster will be added. Good news for the so ravaged Reyerslaan. In the final battle, it will have to fight hard or a VRT face will win the certificate. For those who may have forgotten: last year that was not the case. Then intensive care specialist Geert Meyfroidt was the winner. In 2020, the VRT did pull the longest straw, with Catherine Van Eylen.

VRT friends and faces Danira and Kobe therefore sent Otto-Jan Ham home. No final weeks for him. This happened in an entertaining, more or less high-quality quiz, with a discreet but tasteful humorous contribution from the duo Maaike Cafmeyer and Jan Jaap van der Wal. Danira started off very sluggish and limp, but puzzled away her opposition quickly and efficiently. Also because Kobe let the puzzle pass. “I can’t do that,” he said. Otto-Jan then took a firm sprint towards the lead in the photo round, also because Kobe and Danira struggled to come up with good answers.

Kobe looked up to a solid backlog, but knew better than anyone that the round of films is everything. Or can be. He opened that round with a maximum score and then took in another 100 seconds. Danira advised him to stop. Couldn’t lose anymore…

In the final against Danira, Otto-Jan saw stars. “I don’t even know where I am anymore,” he said. It’s strange that such an experienced radio and TV man can panic due to stress. Even an obvious Games in Deurne eluded him. “I want to apologize to all Antwerp residents and the royal family that I was talking about Nazis,” he said afterwards. The fact that there was still an exciting 1-1 score had everything to do with a question about marathons. A blind spot for Otto-Jan and Danira. The latter played all or nothing at that 1-1 score. And won. She immediately popped out Jane, the first name of anthropologist Goodall. Strong of that devilish Danira. Bart Cannaerts has been a forewarned man for a long time. Now again.

Finally, good news for all Koen De Bouw fans. Next week he will be a live guest in ‘De verslimste mens’. As a jury member. “Because he is an idol of mine”, Van Looy said.

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Otto-Jan Ham (sitting between Kobe and Danira): “It’s a bit of a bizarre sandwich. A little Ham in the middle never hurts.”

Maaike (about Jan Jaap): “My children came along especially. Not for me, but for him.”

Jan Jaap (about the expression ‘I love you’): “I have pets, recently also guinea pigs. I haven’t once said I love them.”

Jan Jaap lets the sound of his 5-year-old son laughing loudly to, among others, Kobe, who himself has only been a father for five months. Endearing, until Jan tells Jaap that his son laughed so hard when he lowered his pants. “But the smell of such a baby’s head remains indescribable”, it sounds nice again.

Vestimentair dares to discuss a few things. Even now. Maaike makes a comment about the white stockings and Jan Jaap’s well-thumbed shoes. Indeed, it stands out next to Kobe’s brushed-down look. To which Jan Jaap goes on about Danira’s unwearable shoes.

Typical quiz opener, with Danira having a lower score after ‘Open door’ than after ‘3-6-9’. But she puzzles quickly and well, just like Otto-Jan, and rectifies the situation.

Kobe and Danira lose time in the photo round, so that Otto Jan takes a big lead. Everything is decided again in the video round. Kobe opens and scores a maximum very quickly. It’s chasing the competition. In vain.

In the final, a too nervous Otto-Jan is no match for Danira. Still, they end in an exciting 1-1 score. To which Danira cleverly plays out by immediately calling out the first name of anthropologist Goodall.

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1. Kobe Ilsen: 419 seconds

2. Danira Bouhkriss: 333 seconds

3. Otto-Jan Ham: 321 seconds

1. Bart Cannaerts: 17 participations, 9 victories, 7 finals won, 1 final lost

2. Danira Boukhriss: 11 entries, 5 wins, 6 finals won

3. Jonas Geirnaert: 5 entries, 2 victories, won 2 finals, lost 1 final

4. Liesbeth Van Impe: 4 participations, 3 victories, 1 final lost

Delphine Lecompte: 4 entries, 2 wins, 1 final won, 1 final lost

Jelle Cleymans: 4 participations, 2 victories, 1 final won, 1 final lost

Merol: 4 entries, 1 win, won 2 finals, lost 1 final

8. Riadh Bahri: 3 entries, 1 win, 1 final won, 1 final lost

Lotte Vanwezemael: 3 participations, 1 victory, 1 final won, 1 final lost

10. Kobe Ilsen: 1 entry, 1 win

Tom Waes (53): winner of 2015, good for 11 entries and 6 victories, knows the most about geography

Danira Boukhriss Terkessidis once kissed Kobe Ilsen’s wife: “It was stronger than myself”

Thus arises a conspiracy theory in ‘The very smartest person’: is this the winner’s curse?