Jack Whitehall to Host ‘Nation’s Dumbest’ with Celeb Contestants like Hilaria Baldwin, Carmen Electra, and Ice-T
Fox Launches Celebrity Competition Series ‘Nation’s Dumbest’
Fox has officially announced the premiere of its latest series, Nation’s Dumbest, featuring British comedian Jack Whitehall as host. A diverse lineup of celebrities will compete for the title of the nation’s least knowledgeable.
In Nation’s Dumbest, contestants—ranging from influencers to politicians—strive to be eliminated rather than win, making it the first television show where the loser is the winner. Participants will engage in various physical and mental challenges designed to test their general knowledge.
Among the celebrities joining the competition are JoJo Siwa from Dance Moms, TikTok star Chase Hudson, former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, politician Andrew Yang, musician Elle King, and actor Anthony Michael Hall. Also appearing are Hilaria Baldwin, Steve-O from Jackass, rapper Ice-T, Carmen Electra from Baywatch, Dr. Drew Pinsky from Celeb Rehab, and Jon Heder from Napoleon Dynamite.
Many of these stars have previous experience with Fox programming. Siwa has appeared on The Masked Singer, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, and Hell’s Kitchen. Ice-T has participated in The Masked Dancer, while Electra has guest hosted Domino Masters, and Pinsky has featured on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
Whitehall, best known in the U.S. for his role alongside Keke Palmer in Peacock’s The ‘Burbs, will take on his first hosting role with a U.S. network. He is recognized in the U.K. for hosting the Brit Awards and starring in the panel show A League of Their Own, as well as the scripted series Fresh Meat. He also gained attention for his Netflix travel show, Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father.
Described as a groundbreaking celebrity competition series, Fox notes that Nation’s Dumbest "flips the genre on its head" by making elimination the goal instead of traditional winning. The show is set to debut on Wednesday, July 15, at 9 PM.
The U.S. adaptation of the series is produced by BBC Studios, known for producing successful formats such as Fox’s Celebrity Weakest Link, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and Netflix’s Outlast. Executive producers include Ryan O’Dowd, Krystal Whitney, and Jenny Groom, with James Breen, who has worked on The Masked Singer and So You Think You Can Dance, serving as showrunner.
Nation’s Dumbest has already proven to be a success in Norway, where it launched in August 2024 and is currently in its second season as the nation’s most-watched show. The innovative format originates from Montreaux Films.
Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network, expressed excitement about the show, stating, “Nation’s Dumbest takes an instantly relatable format and flips it in a way that’s ‘smart,’ unpredictable, and genuinely funny.” He emphasized that this unique twist, along with Whitehall’s comedic flair and a star-studded cast, promises an engaging viewing experience.
Ryan O’Dowd, President of Unscripted for BBC Studios, added, “I can confidently say we have the absolute dumbest television format in the world—and for once, that’s by design. Nation’s Dumbest celebrates humor, humility, and the universal experience of not always getting it right.” He highlighted that with Whitehall at the helm, the series is set to deliver big laughs and unexpected moments.
