CHRIS Tarrant is the messenger of the gods, according to a pair of senior psychology lecturers who have spent two years researching TV's 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'.

Thames Valley University's Martin Roiser and Dave Stevens are giving a lecture at the college in St Mary's Road, Ealing explaining how the popular quiz resembles ancient mythology.

Mr Roiser said: "I was watching the show and wondering what the secret of its success is. I tried to focus away from the money as I don't think that is the key to the programme's appeal. My discussions with Dave convinced us both that there was more to this than a normal quiz show. The key is in the roles that are played out, which we compare with characters from mythology."

He continued: "The contestant is the would be hero, Odysseus if you like. Other quiz shows require 'nerds' to compete, boring know-it-alls, but on 'Millionaire' the contestant draws information and knowledge from his own personal experiences.

"Chris Tarrant is the messenger of the gods, or the go-between. He does not know the answers himself and does not limit the contestant's answer time so he is not god. That role probably goes to the computer.

"The audience play the Sirens from Jason and the Argonauts, tempting the hero to what can often be the wrong island."

The lecturers, who can earn more than £30,000 per year, are speaking as part of a series of free public lectures by professors and honorary professors. The lectures are sponsored by Lord Paul of Marylebone, chairman of senior fellows at TVU.

Mr Roiser added: "Knowledge nowadays is stuffed into a computer and left but it used to be a distinctly verbal tradition, we would talk about what we know and how we know it. This is heavily represented by 'Millionaire' which tests social skills as well as intellectual skills. It tests one's instincts on who to trust.

"We believe we are pioneering an important contribution by trying to understand and make sense of an important feature of modern society."

A spokesman for Mr Tarrant refused to comment on whether the star views himself as a messenger of the gods.

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