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Christopher Hughes (quiz contestant)

Chris Hughes
Born
Christopher John Hughes

(1947-08-14)14 August 1947
Diedc. February 2025(2025-02-00) (aged 77)
Crewe, Cheshire, England
Occupation(s)Train driver/railway worker, quiz player
Known forEggheads

Christopher John Hughes (14 August 1947 – c. February 2025) was an English television personality and one of Britain's leading quizzers.

Early life

Hughes was born in Enfield, Middlesex, on 14 August 1947. He was educated at Enfield Grammar School. Hughes worked as a train driver and a railway worker.[1]

Career

Hughes was a winner of Mastermind (1983), International Mastermind (1983) and Brain of Britain, 2005.[2] He is one of only seven people ever to have won both Mastermind and Brain of Britain, the others being Roger Pritchard, Kevin Ashman, Pat Gibson, Geoff Thomas, Ian Bayley, and Clive Dunning.[3]

Hughes also appeared on The Weakest Link on 24 September 2001, and was voted out in the final elimination round without answering a single question incorrectly during the whole show, having been named the strongest link in six of the seven elimination rounds. Host Anne Robinson declared Hughes to be "the best contestant we have had on the Weakest Link" and opted not to use her signature "you are the Weakest Link, goodbye!" catchphrase, instead simply saying "goodbye, Chris".[4][5] Hughes was a member of the regular panel of quiz experts on the UK television show Eggheads as part of the original lineup.[6][7] He appeared on the programme for 20 years before making his last appearance in 2023.[8]

Personal life and death

Hughes lived in Crewe, Cheshire. On 27 February 2025, it was announced that Hughes had died at his home in Crewe, at the age of 77.[1][9]

Bibliography

  • Hughes, Christopher (1984). The Great Railway Quiz. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8596-8.

References

  1. ^ a b Glynn, Paul; McIntosh, Steven (27 February 2025). "Eggheads star Chris Hughes dies aged 77". BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Christopher Hughes - UKGameshows". www.ukgameshows.com.
  3. ^ "UK Game Show Records". www.ukgameshows.com.
  4. ^ Harp, Justin (21 September 2017). "Weakest Link screwed Eggheads' Chris back in the day". Digital Spy.
  5. ^ "VIDEO: Egghead's stinging comments after being booted from The Weakest Link still echoes today". Nine. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  6. ^ Christopher Hughes at IMDb
  7. ^ "Eggheads announces the death of Christopher Hughes". RTE. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Eggheads' Chris Hughes' last appearance on BBC quiz show before death aged 77". The Independent. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Christopher Hughes: Eggheads star and former Mastermind and Brain of Britain winner dies". Sky News. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.