Stewart is back at the Strathie tonight and everything is as per normal ~Thursday. It’s been a jackpotty kind of week so far this week – not too many rollovers.
For me, the best ones are always where most people are out, but going into the last question there are still two or three entries in the game.
It’s good drama without being overwhelming. Sometimes it’s hard to get the balance right when picking the questions – a few Mondays ago for instance, I think there was a NINE-way tie at Brass Leith. Blimey!
And then last night at Brass Monkey Shore it was one of those rare moments where everyone is out by question four.
Crazy old jackpot round.
Anyway, speaking of formats, I’ve been listening to episodes of ‘Brain of Britain’ on Radio 4 and I can’t believe I’ve never gotten into it before. It’s the best quiz ever.
The questions cover a huge range – highbrow to lowbrow. Russell Davies is a great host: mellifluous and sounds like he genuinely likes being there. There’s no fannying about with finding out about the contestants’ hobbies – they just get on with the questions.
And yet, despite this businesslike attitude they have a maximum ten-second thinking time for each question. Now, mainly the contestant answer straight away but sometimes they do take this time to think and that leads to ten seconds of silence or “dead air”. This is one reason alone why ‘Brain of Britain’ would not get commissioned today. The programme chiefs would say “you can’t have dead air like that”. They would look at a written pitch for Brain of Britain and find it dull. They would ask where the celebrities are.
But thankfully Brain of Britain was commissioned before all that muck. It’s been on the air for sixty-nine years. Like I say, I can’t believe I haven’t gotten into it before. I might apply to go on this year.
Watch out for those Andys!
Anyway – quizzes tonight:
Brass Monkey Grange 7pm (with me)
Jackpot: £50
Monkey Grange will take bookings if you want to make sure of a table. I’m also sure walk-ins will be fine. Phone number is 0131 667 2335
Free answer: One of the answers tonight in the PICTURE round at the Brass Monkey Grange is “GUSTAV KLIMT”
The Strathie 7pm (with Stewart)
Jackpot: £50
Monkey Grange will take bookings if you want to make sure of a table. I’m also sure walk-ins will be fine. Phone number is 0131 667 2335
Free answer: One of the answers tonight in the PICTURE round at the Brass Monkey Grange is “PICCADILLY CIRCUS”
Newsroom 9pm (with me)
Jackpot: £50
If you’re not booked you can walk-in. To book, call the Newsroom on 0131 557 5830 or use their online booking https://www.newsroomedinburgh.co.uk/book-now.html
Free answer: One of the answers tonight in the MUSIC round at the Newsroom is “SANDIE SHAW” (see video below)
Hopefully see you tonight.
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
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