S2010 E1 • Child Genius: Five Years On

This edition meets an eight year old dubbed `the next Picasso', and reveals what happens when a genius child grows into a clever teenager. Child Genius introduces a new generation of gifted kids, including Kieron Williamson, an eight year old with an amazing ability to paint. The film follows Kieron and his family in the run up to his third commercial exhibition in his home village of Holt in Norfolk, where in just half an hour he sells £150,000 worth of paintings. What will his parents do with Kieron's extraordinary talent, and his unprecedented earnings? This film also catches up with chess genius Peter Williams, now 14, and piano prodigy Aimee Kwan, now 15. Are they still far ahead of their peers, and do they resent the 'genius' tag? There's nothing average about these children and their lives are a constant round of competitions and contests. But whose decision is it to put them through all this, and were these children born brilliant or are they the product of pushy parents? The children speak frankly about the mixed blessing of their talents and the opportunities as well as the heartache they can bring. Does having an extraordinary mind define them? Are they alienated from their peers or have they learnt to relate to children their own age in order to have a normal childhood? And as for the parents, is having a child labelled as gifted hugely rewarding, or do they feel pressure to support their prodigy's talents and their thirst for knowledge?

Première diffusion : 25 octobre 2010