BBC Inside Science – Why do we love to play games?

Available for over a year

Inside Science explores the science and maths of games: why we play them, how to win them and the rise of gamification in our lives – with a particular focus on The Traitors – in a special programme with a live audience at Green Man Festival in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.

Presenter Victoria Gill looks into whether humans are innately programmed to play games with Gilly Forrester, professor of evolutionary and developmental psychology at the University of Sussex, and investigates how maths can help us strategise and win games with mathematician and maths communicator Dr Katie Steckles.

We encounter the Prisoner’s Dilemma with broadcaster Jaz Singh of The Traitors series 2 fame – will he share or steal? Jaz also dives into the immersive world of The Traitors discussing his gameplay, the stakes and what makes an effective Faithful!

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.

Presenter: Victoria Gill
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell and Clare Salisbury
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Programme WebsiteShow less