Vernon Kay teams up with Paul Gorton for Do You Know Your Place?, a BBC Two quiz that mixes studio games with on-location oddities and celebrity contestants
Vernon Kay is back on primetime with a new BBC Two quiz that digs into the odd, the overlooked and the unexpectedly fascinating corners of towns and cities across the UK.
Do You Know Your Place? combines filmed location reports with lively studio rounds.
Each episode follows one place—its quirks, curiosities and local legends—then drops those discoveries into a fast-paced studio game. Vernon Kay leads three celebrity contestants through quickfire rounds that force them to decide whether what they’ve heard is fact or fiction.
A mischievous twist comes in the form of Paul Gorton (familiar to viewers from The Traitors), who plays an intentionally unreliable tour guide. Gorton visits the episode’s featured spot and sends back a mix of facts, artefacts and provocations. Some of what he brings will be spot on; some will be designed to mislead.
The celebrities must listen carefully, reason quickly and separate plausible-sounding myths from genuine local history.
How it plays out
– Field reports: On-location correspondents deliver colourful, narrative-driven packages that spotlight unusual events, local legends and surprising historical details. The filming leans into character and atmosphere so each place feels distinct.
– Studio rounds: Vernon tests three celebrity contestants using material drawn from those reports. The games reward observation, deduction and skepticism under time pressure. Winners collect a keepsake gathered on location, and points build across five weekday episodes to crown a weekly champion.
The “unreliable guide” angle is central to the show’s tension and humour. Gorton’s playful, occasionally dubious persona forces contestants to question rather than accept—turning what could be simple trivia into a test of judgment. That tug-of-war between trust and doubt fuels much of the banter between Vernon and his guests.
Guests, locations and prizes
Do You Know Your Place? features a rotating roster of well-known faces from TV, radio and entertainment. Confirmed participants include the Reverend Kate Bottley, Anneka Rice, Susan Calman, Owain Wyn Evans and Max Fosh. The first week looks north: the premiere focuses on Northern Ireland and includes Shane Todd alongside Anneka Rice and Radio 1Xtra’s Remi Burgz.
Each week the show covers five different locations. Prizes aren’t flashy—winners earn an ‘I Know My Place’ sweatshirt and a small memento Paul sends back from the field—yet the cumulative scoring creates a tournament feel while keeping every episode self-contained.
Production and broadcast
The series is produced by Belfast company Stellify Media and launches on Monday 23 February at 6.30pm on BBC Two, airing weekdays in a short daily strand. Production is location-led: crews capture landmarks, interviews and ambient sound to build rich packages that editors then weave into concise, tightly paced episodes. On-screen graphics clarify scoring and help place viewers geographically.
Why it works
The format balances discovery and competition. Location filming highlights regional stories that might surprise even locals, while the studio element keeps the pace brisk and the laughs coming. Pre-recorded packages give the team the freedom to craft sharper narratives and avoid the hazards of live television, while Vernon’s experience across live and recorded formats helps the show marry polished presentation with spontaneous banter.
Vernon Kay has spoken about the contrast between live and pre-recorded work—likening live TV to an adrenaline rush while praising recorded formats for the chance to refine delivery and shape moments. That mix of energy and craft is on display here: expect warm, witty hosting, cheeky challenges and a steady stream of surprising local trivia.
Do You Know Your Place? combines filmed location reports with lively studio rounds. Each episode follows one place—its quirks, curiosities and local legends—then drops those discoveries into a fast-paced studio game. Vernon Kay leads three celebrity contestants through quickfire rounds that force them to decide whether what they’ve heard is fact or fiction.0
