Eggheads has made headlines in recent years with its future said to be in doubt after the programme was reportedly ‘shelved’, according to show host Jeremy Vine.
From murder allegations to pub bans and even a death hoax, the legendary quiz show has had its fair share of drama and controversy surrounding some of its stars.
And on Thursday, the sad news broke that one of the stars of the show, Chris Hughes has died at the age of 77 – with the show paying tribute to a ‘great’ quizzer.
The show first aired in 2003 on BBC One before it soon moved to BBC Two and, in 2021, was picked up by Channel 5.
But the programme, which saw a new panel of challengers pit their skill against resident champions in a bid to win prize money, has not filmed a new episode in over a year, according to The Sun.
So, with its future reportedly in doubt, MailOnline takes a look inside the lives of some of the best-known Eggheads…
Pat Gibson
Pat Gibson also started out on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and proved to be one the show’s best-equipped contestants
Pat Gibson also started out on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and proved to be one the show’s best-equipped contestants as by the time he reached the £1 million question, he still had two lifelines to use.
With the help of a 50:50 and Phone-A-Friend, he was crowned winner in 2004, and is now a regular in the world of professional quizzing and on BBC’s Eggheads.
The brainbox is a multiple world champion in quizzing and one of the world’s most successful quiz players.
He was born, raised and educated in Ireland but lives in the United Kingdom and also competes as part of the England quiz team.
Judith Keppel
For two decades Judith Keppel, a distant cousin of the Queen Consort, has been the nation’s Queen of Quizzes (pictured in 2008)
Egghead Judith is to date the only female winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in the UK and made history when she was the first contestant to scoop the top prize (pictured in 2022)
For two decades Judith Keppel, a distant cousin of the Queen Consort, has been the nation’s Queen of Quizzes, first as the inaugural winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and then as one of the original Eggheads.
Egghead Judith is to date the only female winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in the UK and made history when she was the first contestant to scoop the top prize.
She went onto return to the show in 2003 for a winners special and with the help of David Seaman won £32,000 for charity.
But after nearly 20 years of Eggheads, in 2022 it was announced Judith will be egging them on from the comfort of her living room as, aged 80, she announced her retirement.
She said: ‘It’s been a real privilege to be an Egghead. I’ve loved every moment. Although I’ve decided to retire – a great relief since I’ll no longer have to read the sports pages of the newspapers! – I’ll still be watching my fellow Eggheads as they take on new teams of challengers each day.’
CJ de Mooi
CJ De Mooi, real name Joseph Connagh, became a panellist on the BBC Two show Eggheads in 2003 after winning a series of game shows (pictured in 2018)
CJ De Mooi, real name Joseph Connagh, became a panellist on the BBC Two show Eggheads in 2003 after winning a series of game shows.
De Mooi has previously revealed he ran away from home at the age of 17 following an abusive childhood and became homeless in Rotherham and Sheffield.
From Amsterdam de Mooi moved to Cologne in Germany, where a chance meeting outside a gay bar led to the beginnings of his modelling career.
De Mooi adopted his surname when modelling, and he translates it as Dutch for ‘handsome’.
After five years he returned to Amsterdam and by 2000 he was applying to appear on television game and quiz shows.
He was a contestant on Pass the Buck and Fifteen to One, but it was The Weakest Link that led to him receiving national attention.
Despite consistently being the strongest player he was the third voted off and launched into a now infamous rant in his post-game interview.
In 2003 de Mooi received a phone call about a new concept quiz show called Eggheads, which features five quiz champions competing as a team against different challengers.
De Mooi sparked a flurry of headlines when his autobiography was published in 2015. In it, he described being confronted by a knifeman whom he attacked and threw into one of Amsterdam’s famous canals when he was a penniless teenager in 1988.
In May 2016, Dutch authorities said Mr Connagh was wanted for alleged ‘murder, manslaughter and assault’ and he was arrested at London Heathrow Airport. But the warrant was torn up at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in October 2016.
Dutch authorities later dropped the extradition attempt – but de Mooi was left in serious financial trouble.
One of the original quiz champions, in 2011 the star took a break to focus on his acting career before returning two years later.
Two years ago, he told fans he was ‘dying from AIDS.’ He said he contracted HIV aged just 18 after being forced into prostitution while living on the streets ‘in a bid to stay alive’.
He has alleged that he was sacked from Eggheads in 2016 on the same day claims he sexually assaulted a man on a night out in Glasgow were dropped.
Chris Hughes
The sad news of Chris Hughes’ death was confirmed via an official statement on the Eggheads social media page (pictured in 2003)
The sad news of Chris Hughes’ death was confirmed via an official statement on the Eggheads social media page.
He died at his home in Crewe but his cause of death has not been announced.
The Eggheads statement said: ‘It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Eggheads great Chris Hughes.
‘Chris joined the show in 2003 and over the next 20 years gave us not only brilliant answers but very many laughs and happy memories. He will be hugely missed by all his Eggheads family.’
Born in Enfield, Chris was educated at the local grammar school before going on to become a train driver and a railway worker.
He first came to major public attention in 1983 by winning Mastermind and went on to also win Brain of Britain – becoming one of only seven people to do so.
Weakest Link host Anne Robinson once described him as ‘the best contestant we have had on the Weakest Link’ before he was voted out in the last elimination round without getting one question wrong.
He joined Eggheads in 2003 and went on to appear on the show for two decades.
Dave Rainford
In March 2020, popular Eggheads star Dave Rainford died of heart disease at the age of 51
In March 2020, popular Eggheads star Dave Rainford died of heart disease at the age of 51.
The brainbox had been a regular on the BBC tea time quiz show since 2012 after taking over from CJ de Mooi.
Dubbed Dave ‘Tremendous Knowledge’ Rainford, he was famous for being banned from pub quiz machines in Manchester.
The professional quizzer had landed a spot on the show after he won £250,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2005.
Dave was one of nine Eggheads alongside Kevin Ashman, Chris Hughes, Judith Keppel, Barry Simmons, Pat Gibson, David Rainford, Lisa Thiel, Steve Cooke and Beth Webster.
Kevin Ashman
Quizmaster Kevin Ashman was the lucky winner of Mastermind in 1995. He has been a professional quizzer on Eggheds for two decades, since 2003 until 2023 (pictured in 2021)
Quizmaster Kevin Ashman was the lucky winner of Mastermind in 1995.
He has been a professional quizzer on Eggheds for two decades, since 2003 until 2023.
In February 2024, Kevin shocked fans as he made a surprise appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Lucky to call the quizzer his friend, the contestant revealed he was going to use his phone a friend to get his knowledge on a tough question.
Barry Simmons
Scottish quiz show contestant Barry Simmons, 76, won the first BBC Two TV show Are You An Egghead? and Brain Of Britain in 2013 (pictured in 2022)
Scottish quiz show contestant Barry Simmons, 76, won the first BBC Two TV show Are You An Egghead? and Brain Of Britain in 2013.
He also won £64,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
He joined Eggheads in 2008 after winning the first series of Are You an Egghead?
Barry has appeared in dozens of TV and radio quiz shows, including the BBC series Eggheads for which he makes regular, paid appearances.
He has been described as a ‘professional’ having earned tens of thousands of pounds in prize money.
His critics argue that, as such, he should have been barred from the show which they say should be for amateurs only.
Daphne Fowler
Daphne Fowler is a British game show champion who has taken part in many televised game shows (pictured in 2008)
Daphne Fowler is a British game show champion who has taken part in many televised game shows.
The quiz master, who is now retired, last made an appearance on Eggheads in May 2014.
In 2020, Daphne became aware of the sick spoof when a neighbour asked her husband if she had died.
She told the Daily Express to share that she is still very much alive, following the rumours she had passed away.
Daphne told the publication: ‘One of my neighbours, Bob, rang the doorbell. Pete, my husband, answered to be told one of my other neighbours was upset to read on the internet I had died, and was it true?’
‘Bob was most relieved when I appeared to prove it was untrue – but it has been very upsetting, as you wonder what sort of weird person does this?
‘I’m not on social media, preferring to protect my family’s privacy, but even then, whilst on Eggheads, fake ‘Daphnes’ appeared on Facebook and Twitter claiming to be me and writing all kind of nonsense about my daily life.’
Lisa Thiel
Lisa Thiel joined the Eggheads over ten years ago in 2014 – but before that, she was a contestant on The Weakest Link in 2001 and The Chase in 2012 (pictured in 2021)
Lisa Thiel joined the Eggheads over ten years ago in 2014 – but before that, she was a contestant on The Weakest Link in 2001 and The Chase in 2012.
In 2001, when Lisa was a young 21-year-old seeking employment, she appeared on an episode of The Weakest Link but lost in the final after failing to answer a single question correctly.
But, she did a lot better in 2012 when she took on The Sinnerman on ITV’s The Chase.
Speaking to That Leegs Mag about how she acquired so much general knowledge, Lisa explained: ‘It’s just an accident, really. It’s a combination of liking to read, just any kind of book, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a philosophical tome or the world’s trashiest novel.
Tthere’s usually facts and cultural things that you can pick up in the background of it and those kind of go in and stay in. Reading lots is one factor.
‘Just being genuinely curious about the world, I think you’re either the kind of person that likes to read the news, or you’re not.’
Olav Bjortomt
Four-time world quiz champion Olav Bjortomt became part of Eggheads back in 2021
Four-time world quiz champion Olav Bjortomt became part of Eggheads back in 2021.
In 2008 he appeared on Mastermind, scoring eight points on questions about West Indies Test cricket, and fourteen in the General Knowledge section, to finish in second place.
He then went on to compete in Are You an Egghead? in 2009, which attempts to find another player to join the existing team, but he was unsuccessful. He then went on to join in 2021.
Now, Olav works for ITV’s The Chase, writing questions for the show.
He’s also the brains behind The Times newspaper’s daily quiz, and before that spent ten years setting questions for BBC2’s esteemed University Challenge.
Steve Cooke
Steve Cooke is a quizzer from Bolsover, Derbyshire, and made his debut on the BBC show in September 2016
Steve Cooke is a quizzer from Bolsover, Derbyshire, and made his debut on the BBC show in September 2016.
Dad-of-two Stephen, who scooped almost £13,000 in prize money after winning ITV’s The People Versus competition in 2001, said at the time of joining: ‘It all doesn’t seem real – I’m still pinching myself.
‘I’m a big fan of Eggheads so this really is a dream come true. I’ve packed in my job at Betterware for this brilliant gig.
‘I’m now a professional quizzer for the next two years and I couldn’t be happier – it’s a life-changer.’
Beth Webster
Beth Webster joined the show in 2016 and still appears on the series after winning the women’s contest in Make Me an Egghead
She is active on the Quizzing Grand Prix Circuit in the United Kingdom, and in The Quiz League of London (pictured in 2024)
Beth Webster joined the show in 2016 and still appears on the series after winning the women’s contest in Make Me an Egghead.
She is active on the Quizzing Grand Prix Circuit in the United Kingdom, and in The Quiz League of London.
She was ranked as a ‘Sage’ in the 2012 Order of Merit listings of the British Quiz Association
