A Question of Genius - It's Over

Oh well, I failed to win the final of "A Question of Genius", but I'm not too downhearted. On the day I wasn't good enough and Pam was a worthy winner. I was disappointed for her that she failed to get her Question of Genius right. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and meeting some lovely people (in fact they were all very supportive and friendly). Hopefully there will be another series as I still think it is a great show.

Saturday's questions are: -

1. Which city was devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake today in 1906?

   
   
2. Actor David Hewlett (right) was born today in 1968 and played which character in "Stargate SG1" and "Stargate Atlantis"?
   
   
3. Who became the first President of Zimbabwe today in 1980?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Daffy Duck; 2. Victoria Beckham; 3. Shea Stadium

A Question of Genius - FINAL

This afternoon sees the final of "A Question of Genius" on BBC 2 at 4:30 pm presented by Kirsty Wark! As the second placed person on the leaderboard I was involved in the episode - but as always, I cannot reveal what happens. I can say, though, that it was another enjoyable experience and you'll just have to wait and see how it goes. And if you miss it, there's always BBC i-Player where you can catch up with this and many other BBC programmes.

Your Friday questions are: -

1. Which cartoon duck made his first appearance in "Porky's Duck Hunt" today in 1937?

   
   
2. Which of the Spice Girls (right) was born today in 1974?
   
   
3. Which sports stadium opened in New York today in 1964?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Great Train Robbery; 2. "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" 1; 3. Virginia Tech

A Question of Genius - Winner!

I came back and managed to win the top prize and a place in the final! I must say that I rode my luck and, on another day Matt could have beaten me in the final 'A Question of Strategy'. Anyway, it was a fantastic experience and I get another go in the final, to be shown on April 17th!

A man who's just won £5000!!

It was a thoroughly enjoyable time and my fellow contestants were great - I'd like to have spent more time with them, but I was flown home straight after the show - no time to have a night on the town with them in Glasgow (shame)!

Wednesday's questions for you: -

1. Clint Eastwood was elected Mayor of which California town today in 1986?

   
   
2. Which Oscar winning actor married actress Patricia Arquette (right) today in 1995 on her 27th birthday?
   
   
3. Which two countries signed the 'Entente Cordiale' today in 1904?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. World Health Organisation (WHO); 2. New Zealand; 3. William Wordsworth

A Question of Genius - Week 4; Day 2

Well, I narrowly failed to get past 'A Question of Pressure' - didn't steal any points and got too many wrong, but I was close! View the programme here (only available for 7 days). As someone famous said, 'Tomorrow's another day'! BBC 2 @ 4:30 pm, I'll be back in another beautiful tie!!Tuesday's questions for you: -

1. Which United Nations Agency was established today in 1948?

   
   
2. In which country was Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe (right) born today in 1964?
   
   
3. Which English romantic poet was born today in 1770 in Cockermouth, Cumberland?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Modern Olympic Games; 2. Hamm the Piggy Bank; 3. INTELSAT 1 or 'Early Bird'

A Question of Genius - Week 4

A Question of Genius, the excellent new BBC 2 quiz show is entering its fourth week today at 4:30 pm BST. The reason I'm alerting you to this fact is because I'm making my first appearance on it tonight. I'm sworn to secrecy, so I can't tell you what happened, but I hope you enjoy the show. More tomorrow!!

New questions for a new week: -

1. What began today in 1896 in Athens?

   
   
2. Actor John Ratzenberger (right) was born today in 1947 and has provided the voice for which character in the "Toy Story" movies?
   
   
3. What was the name of the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in a geosynchronous orbit today in 1965?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. John McEnroe; 2. Cubby; 3. Japan

A Question of Genius - Series Start

This afternoon at 4:30 pm on BBC 2 sees the premiere of the superb new quiz show "A Question of Genius" presented by Kirsty Wark! OK, so I may be a bit biased as I have appeared in this programme, but even so I do truly believe that it is a great quiz show and deserves to be watched by millions! I don't appear in it until Week 4 (w/c 6th April), but I do urge you to watch before then.

Monday's questions for you : -

1. What is the SI Unit of Electrical Resistance that is named after a German physicist who was born today in 1789?

   
   
2. Actor Erik Estrada (right) was born today in 1949 and played which character in the US TV series "CHiPs"?
   
   
   
3. Who was born today in 1911 and became known as the 'Angel of Death' to concentration camp inmates because of his human experimentation?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Walk on the Moon; 2. "Desperate Housewives"; 3. Melbourne

A Question of Genius

According to the TV schedules, "A Question of Genius" is due to appear on our screens on BBC 2 at 4:30 pm on Monday 16th March. I believe that it has the potential to be one of the great quiz shows on TV (as long as it gets enough publicity!) You won't get to see me until the fourth week (w/c 6th April) so you'll just have to wait until then to see how I got on!! I can exclusively reveal, though, that you should look out for some spectacular ties on show!!

Tuesday teasers, just for you: -

1. In which country was singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry born today in 1964?
   
   
2. Actor Chuck Norris (right), born today in 1940, is best known for playing the title role in which US TV series?
   
   
3. Which two-time British World Champion Motorcycle racer died today in 2003?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Napoleon Bonaparte; 2. "The English Patient"; 3. Martin Fry

Scotland is Wonderful

Back home now. Had a great time in Scotland, although mostly, all I saw was the inside of a BBC Studio and Green Room. I can't tell you anything of what happened during the making of "A Question of Genius", except to say that I think it could become one of the great quiz shows - it is all about knowledge, speed, strategy and judgement with a wee bit of luck thrown in. I met some lovely people, both contestants and production staff. You''ll just have to wait a few more weeks to see what it looks like when broadcast and how I got on!!

Your Wednesday posers are: -

1. Nicknamed The Red Priest, which composer was born today in 1678?
   
2. How are actor and producer Emilio Estefan Jr., who was born today in 1953, and singer Gloria Estefan (right) related?
   
3. Which famous railway bridge was opened today in 1890?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. St Trinians; 2. Inzamam ul-Haq; 3. Florida

A Question of Genius (Part 2)

Today, I'm flying up to Glasgow to film "A Question of Genius", a new BBC daytime quiz show to be presented by Kirsty Wark. This is my first time on this type of programme, so wish me luck. I'm bound by confidentiality agreements, so I won't be able to reveal what happens until it's broadcast. Anyway, it should be fun, whatever the result. I'll be away for a couple of days, so this blog will be a bit curtailed.

Your teasers for the weekend are: -

1. In which Southern Hemisphere country did colour television transmissions begin today in 1975?
   

2. Singer Roger Daltrey was born today in 1944 and is a founder member of which rock band?

   
3. Born today in 1918, Roger Delgado was the first to play which “Doctor Who” villain?
   
   Yesterday's Answers: 1. Sweden; 2. "Ready, Set, Cook"; 3. Serbia (then Yugoslavia)

A Question of Genius

This morning I was up and out early for a 9 o'clock appointment at the BBC Studios at the Mailbox here in Birmingham. I'd had a call the previous evening and, after answering some difficult questions, I was invited to an audition for a new daytime BBC quiz show - A Question of Genius.

There were 7 of us at the audition where we did the obligatory 60 - 90 seconds to camera saying who we are and why we think we'd make good contestants - I hate that, I'm just not lively enough!

Anyway, after playing some of the proposed rounds we were all let go back to the real world after a couple of hours. All I can say is that I think it will be a very good quiz show. The questions are NOT easy, but strategy and luck at the right stage are just as important. I enjoyed the experience, it was good fun, but whether I get on the show is a matter of luck now! (I've previously failed to get on "Eggheads", "1 vs. 100", "The Great Pretender" and "Wogan's Perfect Recall" so I'm not holding my breath!!)

Here we go, today's brain teasers: -

1. True or False – Jim Carrey and Andy Kaufman, whom he played in the 1999 film “Man on the Moon”, were both born today?
   
2. What was the title of the 2008 UK No 1 single by Kid Rock (pictured right with Pamela Anderson in 2003) who was born today in 1971?


3. Who led the second team to reach the South Pole today in 1912?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Vatican City (Holy See); 2. M; 3. Sade