Watching him celebrate exuberantly while holding a trophy aloft, you would be forgiven for thinking Minesh Doshi has won something.
In fact, it is the pushy parent’s son, Rahul, who has been crowned winner of an intelligence contest.
Viewers criticised the 12-year-old’s father for his behaviour during the final of Channel 4 show Child Genius on Saturday night.
Minesh Doshi proudly holds up his son Rahul’s trophy after winning 10 points to four to beat nine year-old Ronan
The IT manager was labelled ‘disgusting’ for smirking when his son’s nine-year-old competitor, Ronan, got a maths question wrong by one digit.
And Mr Doshi was quick to congratulate himself after Rahul beat Ronan to the Child Genius title, saying: ‘I am actually willing him with the answers, it’s like I’m on his shoulder, telepathically trying to get the words to him.’
Rahul has an IQ of 162 – thought to be higher than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
He won the competition which involved a series of gruelling maths, spelling and general knowledge questions.
Rahul Doshi was crowned the cleverest child in Britain after he won Channel 4’s Child Genius competition
Minesh was filmed despairing after his son got a question wrong in the Child Genius final
He was pitted against nine-year-old Ronan in the final round. Mr Doshi spent a lunch period coaching his son on how to hit the buzzer with speed to help his chances.
And despite being 8-2 up, his ambitious father could still be seen grimacing with his head in his hands as his son incorrectly answered a question. He further angered viewers by appearing to laugh when his son’s rival got the same maths equation wrong by one digit.
One person tweeted: ‘Rahul’s dad laughing at the fact Ronan was one off the correct total is awful, the boy is nine, grow up.’
Another added: ‘Why does Rahul’s dad think it’s acceptable to laugh when Ronan has an incorrect answer? That’s a nine-year-old child. Disgusting.’ Someone else complained: ‘Minesh is really stressing me out… he thinks HE’S the contestant! What are those faces he’s pulling?’ Rahul eventually won by ten points to four. Mr Doshi then ran down to his son, took the trophy and lifted it in the air with elation.
The IT manager was labelled ‘disgusting’ for smirking when his son’s nine-year-old competitor, Ronan, got a maths question wrong by one digit
He said: ‘He’s got the team behind him helping him every step of the way.’
Mr Doshi added afterwards: ‘We raised this little boy from a baby and he’s doing so many good things and I’m boasting about him but, hey why not. It’s amazing, and to call him my son is just the best feeling.’
The parent also lamented that he did not have the opportunity to enter Child Genius as a young boy, but he may be returning to television soon. He told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘The kids want me to go on The Chase as I know all the answers.’
During the contest, Mr Doshi had told Rahul: ‘There are no prizes for being friendly with your opponents.’ Rahul, who attends Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, north London, had got the top score in three out of five days before the show’s final.
His feats included memorising a pack of cards and recalling Latin and Greek scientific names for fruit and vegetables.
Minesh and wife Komal Doshi celebrate victory after the final round is completed