Shropshire Star

Eggheads: Shrewsbury pub team aiming to crack quiz show

There is nothing they love more than having a go at their local pub quiz – and now the hard work has paid off.

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This Shrewsbury team is set to take their skills up a notch as they get ready to appear on the hit TV show, Eggheads.

Named The Fishbrains, the six-strong group is made up of beauty therapist Deryn Oliver, 48, Kath Turner, 67, Rod Turner, 62, Ian Pearson, 62, and student Tom Oliver, 21.

The team meets every other Sunday at The Compasses in Bayston Hill, but decided one day to try their luck with an appearance on Eggheads.

Within half an hour of sending their application forms, they had a call from a researcher on the BBC Two show inviting them to answer some general knowledge questions and also submit a video of themselves.

Deryn said: "I was amazed to get such a quick response to my emailed application form. They came straight back to me.

"The researcher asked me some general knowledge questions, most of which I think I got wrong and then we made a video on our phone.

"After that we were told we would be on the show. We were flown to Glasgow for filming and we were very excited.

"We went to the television studios and then went through hair and make up which was very nice.

"Then we went on set. Filming was great fun but very nerve-racking. It took around four hours but the set isn't as glamorous as it appears on the television, it was really scruffy.

"The backdrops are grey and we were sat on picnic chairs behind our desk. Jeremy Vine, the host, had the same sort of chair but he had a cushion on his.

"The worst part of it all was when we had to look at the camera. But after that it went very well and we just had to look at Jeremy Vine.

"He was very friendly and I relaxed as soon as I had done my piece to camera."

But Deryn has been sworn to secrecy about who won the show – did the Fishbrains manage to beat the Eggheads?

  • To find out how they did and who was victorious, the show will go out on BBC Two at 6pm on Monday.

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