No chance to phone a friend........

Day as contestant and finalist in a national television programme in October 2001, adapted from an article prepared for my office magazine.

The celebrity question master William G Stewart commented to several contestants: you must
be wondering now why you put yourself through this!  Five years after first application, a
second successful audition at West Town Lane, Bristol and a train journey took me to Wandsworth Town and the plush Capital Studios of Channel 4 nearby, the positive side of the exciting media world.

A hostess led the expectant fifteen of Fifteen-to-One from the lobby to a reserved room,
conversations identified two previous winners and two previous contestants.  Most were older
but a few younger ones had qualified the previous week nearby.  The actual crew and
announcer Philip are very hard working, they cover all regional auditions and the four
recordings per day of the actual programmes, finishing at 8 pm.  We watched the previous
competition live on CCTV whilst we were called for essential makeup and drew lots for
position, knowing that two hours later the lights would be on us.

All too soon they were, fortunately a slow lead occurred as the names, jobs and towns were
rechecked and smiling opening title shots taken, as we stood at the well-known desks.  Many
wires were evident to feed my screen with name and number 6, also three 'lives' indicated by
green bar lights.  William G entered looking immaculate as usual, unlike some others known
he was friendly and put each one individually at ease, we talked about my time in Bristol
(23 years) and the Imperial Ground their Bristol audition home.

In the Round 1 all fifteen have a question in turn then William does the same again, you
must get one of the two correct or be eliminated, possibly the worst fate.  With some relief
I answered on political history, but not on Arthurian legend   Earlier verbal practice on past questions from their book was an immense help to confidence and speed.

Round 2 where remaining 'lives' are kept or lost was very positive, several questions at
different points went well.  My second role seemed like Anne Robinson in 'Weakest Link', choosing all the other members in turn, with many having bad luck or nerves.

Suddenly everything changed, we were down to three - the cue for 4 pm adverts on the actual
programme!  There was a super group photo of the lucky trio with William, just as there had
been with everyone initially.  My surprise to reach this stage was such that I didn't even
have my full hobbies and interests ready, a bonus read out on some programmes.  Makeup
ladies also pampered us further.

In round 3, when three new 'lives' appear, there is an almost relaxing start with a buzzer
contest until one person gets three questions correct.  Inevitably there were some silences,
I was beaten in time on one, knew another on Northern Irish politics too slowly and guessed
another but kept off the buzzer as there was another alternative.  An upturn improved the
situation and nominations soon restarted, it felt like being a cabinet minister on 'Question
Time'.  Weakened by two picture questions including the dreaded cricket, caution was necessary, nevertheless I was delighted to be awarded second place, being beaten by one question at the
last minute.

The broadcast was UK Channel 4 or S4C 15:45-16:15 on Monday 19 November 2001. Shortly after I was awarded an (hard to get) audition for the 'Weakest Link' on BBC with Anne Robinson, but I felt this rather superficial and didn't get into the spirit of that programme.

Alan