Eggheads star quizzer Chris Hughes dies aged 77
Quizzer Chris Hughes, star of the favored BBC and Channel 5 collection Eggheads, has died aged 77, an announcement on the programme’s social media accounts has stated.
Hughes was one among a number of common information specialists who frequently appeared on the present, which noticed members of the general public tackle the 5 so-called “Eggheads”.
An announcement posted on the present’s Fb and X accounts on Thursday, reported by the Press Affiliation information company, paid tribute to an “Eggheads nice”.
“It’s with immense unhappiness that we announce the passing of Eggheads nice Chris Hughes,” it learn.
“Chris joined the present in 2003 and over the subsequent 20 years gave us not solely sensible solutions however very many laughs and glad recollections.”
It concluded: “He shall be massively missed by all his Eggheads household.”
Hughes was born in Middlesex and attended Enfield Grammar College.
Earlier than turning into referred to as one of many nation’s main quizzers, he labored as a practice driver and railway employee.
He went on to develop into a daily contributor on Eggheads – which started on BBC Two in 2003 earlier than shifting to Channel 5 in 2020.
The Eggheads panel was made up of common information specialists, together with winners from others reveals resembling Mastermind, The Weakest Hyperlink and Who Desires To Be A Millionaire?.
In every episode, 5 Eggheads would compete with a group made up of 5 members of the general public, who would play individually in opposition to a single Egghead in every spherical, earlier than a last face-off between the remaining gamers of either side.
If the amateurs had been profitable, they’d take residence a money prize. The jackpot would enhance by £1,000 per episode, with every version’s prize cash rolling into the subsequent day if the Eggheads gained.
Because of the Eggheads excessive stage of experience, most of the jackpots would attain a sizeable sum earlier than lastly being gained. The best ever jackpot reached £75,000, which was gained by a group in 2007.
The collection was offered by information presenter Dermot Murnaghan, earlier than Radio 2 DJ and Channel 5 speak present host Jeremy Vine took over the position.
Hughes is one among solely seven folks to have gained each Mind of Britain and Mastermind, and in addition scored a victory on Worldwide Mastermind.
Eggheads producer Robert Dean stated on X: “[Hughes] was a tremendous Egghead who thought-about everybody on the manufacturing group a part of his household.
“I’ve such fond recollections of him and depend myself fortunate to have recognized him. I am going to miss him tremendously.”
After having reached the ultimate of one other hit quiz present, The Weakest Hyperlink, with out getting a single query mistaken, host Anne Robinson declared Hughes to be “the very best contestant we’ve had on the Weakest Hyperlink” and selected to not use her imply spirited signature catchphrase: “you’re the Weakest Hyperlink, goodbye!”.
