CAN anyone explain the purpose of last night's Don't Call Me Stupid, on ITV?

A cross between Weakest Link and Wife Swap, the first in this new series saw Happy Monday's maraca shaker Bez and royal commentator James Whitaker thrown together in a most unlikely pairing.

It is perhaps fitting that Bez is a former winner of Celebrity Big Brother as part of Don't Call Me Stupid was like a cut- down version of the interminable series - thankfully minus Davina.

TV producers aren't daft - they know that if they put together two complete opposites the result is usually interesting viewing. But it's a trick that they have played all too often and, I have to say, the novelty is wearing a little thin.

True Mr Bez and Mr Whitaker were polar opposites in many respects - and it was worth seeing a man used to frequenting palaces being taken to an Inspiral Carpets gig surrounded by Madchester devotees.

But, I suspect much to the programme makers regret, they actually got on really well.

Which brings me back to my original question - the point of the show.

If it was to embarrass one, or both, of those featured it's a bit of a cheap idea - and it failed.

If it was to be a genuine sociological study, it was never likely to happen.

Perhaps it's best just to accept it as yet more harmless TV nonsense.