Japan's generation game

IF YOU don’t mind me asking, have you ever been caught short? You have? Good. Glad to hear it. Not because your discomfort gives me cause for celebration (honestly, what kind of monster do you think I am?) but purely because, by saying yes (or even no, for that matter), it means you've understood the question. You don’t need me to tell you what “caught short” actually means.

- Mike Ward

Thank heavens. What a relief. So to speak.

A chap called Lawrence, one of the contestants we meet on Channel 4’s new challenge WORLDS APART (9.15pm), hasn’t the faintest idea what it means. Which is unfortunate, because a key part of this competition — in which 12 Brits have been flown to Japan to compete for a £50,000 prize — involves deciphering cryptic clues.

“Look for a place to go if you're caught short,” is the first clue that Lawrence, who’s 24 and an HR apprentice, has been sent, via a notification on his mobile.

OK, so that’s clearly telling him to find a public convenience, “caught short” implying an urgent need to use said facility.