Embarrasing

A Mastermind contestant has scored the lowest total in the show's history - just one point on his specialist subject.

Simon Curtis, of Castleford, has run a quiz league in Yorkshire for 15 years and won £250,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
But he passed on eight questions on the films of Jim Carrey and got three wrong to end up with the worst specialist round score ever on Mastermind.

His one point came from his seventh question when he was asked for the name of the film for which Carrey signed a record $20m contract - answer The Cable Guy.

And, as the lowest scorer, he had to go straight into the general knowledge round where he regained a bit of respect by scoring eight. Simon, 42, told the Mirror he acted on a whim when he chose to answer questions on Carrey films in the semi-final.

He explained: "I just plucked the topic out of the air. I like Jim Carrey films but I think the mistake I made was not watching them again. I was embarrassed but I had to go straight back for the general knowledge round. I wished a hole would swallow me up."

Mastermind quizmaster John Humphrys said: "I think his mind just went blank. You get people who are immensely knowledgeable and then it won't come."

He does not hold the record for the show's worst overall score - in the 1995 series Colin Kidd chalked up seven.

But Simon refuses to give up and said he wants to appear on BBC's The Weakest Link - if they will have him.