Shropshire Star

Billy Gibbons wins BBC2 quiz show Debatable

He has not had the best track record on quiz shows, but with the help of comedian Hal Cruttenden a musician well known for living his life as if he is still in the 1950s has finally hit the jackpot.

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Billy Gibbons, from Audlem near Market Drayton, won £2,700 on BBC2 quiz show Debatable

Billy Gibbons, from Audlem near Market Drayton, won £2,700 on BBC2 quiz show Debatable – where a panel of famous faces use their knowledge to try and help a contestant win money.

Mr Gibbons, who has previously hit the headlines for trying to design his own rocket car, was on the show on Monday night.

He said he will be spending his winnings on a trip to Graceland in Memphis, a new kitchen window and a 1950s octopus test bench.

He said: "I couldn't believe it when I won. However I do believe that if it wasn't for the help of Hal Cruttenden I would not have won.

"When the question came up asking to identify three UK number one singles for Michael Jackson I did not have a clue.

"Hal is now on my Christmas card list. I was thrilled to win.

"I actually had something in common with the other panellists as well. Alex James is a musician and songwriter, as well as a journalist and cheesemaker. I used to be in the cheese making industry and I am a musician so we had that in common.

"And the other panellist Esther Rantzen I have worked for before in the TV show That's Life. They were all friendly and very nice."

Mr Gibbons, who works as an entertainer at two care homes, said it was a 'dream come true' to go to Pinewood Studios where it was filmed.

He added: "Some of what I did and said ended up on the cutting room floor - including my Sylvester Stallone impression - which should stay on the cutting room floor.

"There was nothing about the show I did not like and winning was the icing on the cake.

"My previous track record on quiz shows was not great so it was brilliant to win."

He has already appeared on TV shows such as Tipping Point, Catchphrase, The Big Breakfast and GMTV.

Mr Gibbons has also previously appeared on Channel 4 show Benchmark with Take Me Out and Phoenix Nights star Paddy McGuiness.