MEET Britain's biggest game show fanatic.

Twenty-one year old civil servant Travis Penery has spent hundreds of hours watching series after series of quizzes, and collects game show videos from around the world.

While most viewers tune in to Countdown or Catchphrase for a mild diversion after work, Mr Penery has a monk-like devotion to the humble game show.

He used to clock up four hours of viewing a day - that would be four episodes of Mastermind interspersed with four shows of Countdown for light relief. But since getting a job he can only manage around two hours daily.

He insists his love of small screen light entertainment is under control.

"I'm not addicted, but I'm a big fan of Millionaire, and I'm just interested in a lot of others," he said, yesterday.

His fanaticism was triggered in the late 80s and 90s when, he thinks, the British game show scene peaked.

Gems like Bullseye and The Krypton Factor are particular favourites.

Travis has his own internet column. But programmes on British terrestrial telly are too narrow a platform for Mr Penery's appetite.

Set up at his family home on Compton Road, Wyld's Lane, with Cable TV, and a world-wide network of like-minded quiz nuts, he watches shows from America, Japan, Australia and elsewhere.

He is disdainful of the gushing emotion displayed by some American contestants.

"They tend to be over the top with their shouting and screaming on shows like the Price is Right, but there are also some good shows like Jeopardy," he said.

So far, Travis has shied away from stepping in front of the camera, and prefers to watch others - which is fortunate because when we asked him for his favourite quiz questions he answered two out of five wrong!

"It's not just a lot of prize money that makes a successful show - look at 15 to 1 - but you also need a simple and popular format and a bit of human drama as well."

Read his column at www.ukgameshows.com.

TRAVIS'S TOP 5 QUIZ QUESTIONS

1 - What kind of animal lives in a formicary?

2 - Which disease did US President Franklin D Roosevelt have?

3 - What was the score in the 2001 UEFA Cup final between Liverpool and Alaves?

4 - Who created the Simpsons?

5 - What is Britain's most-watched TV broadcast ever, in terms of viewers?