QUIZ show Pointless is now providing a more effective adult education service than any UK college or university.

Researchers found that those wishing to discover the salient facts about world politics, the geography of central Africa or 19th century American literature are better off watching the programme than applying for some three year college course, most of which is likely to wash over them.

Norman Steele of Loughborough said: “From watching Pointless, I know all about Kyrgyzstan. For example, that its first eight letters are consonants and that it is bordered by Tajikistan.

“I could have spent thousands of pounds on some expensive course to learn all of this, plus I would have had to move into a shared house with untidy strangers.”

Student Tom Logan said: “I’ve spent the last five years studying the periodical table just so that I’d be ready for any chemistry question Pointless threw at me.

“My studies have enabled me to patent a pair of trousers that can change colour on voice command.

“Sadly, though, I’ve still never reached the jackpot round. It’s always the musicals questions that get me. If Pointless teaches us one thing, it’s that mankind still has much to learn.”