Rotary News

Rotarian wins Brain of Britain crown

Rotarian wins Brain of Britain crown

The BBC’s ‘Brain of Britain’ competition is one of the most prestigious quiz titles. Now the latest winner is a Rotarian from Merseyside.

A past President of Rainhill Rotary has become the 66th person to be crowned as Brain of Britain.

Graham Barker, a member of Rainhill Rotary for over 25 years, triumphed in the final of the famous radio general knowledge quiz to take the prestigious title.

The quiz is broadcast on BBC Radio 4, hosted by broadcaster Russell Davies.

After progressing through the various stages all the way to the final in which he emerged as the winner, Graham, 69, a parish councillor and retired dentist, joins an illustrious list of winners which includes six-time World Quiz Champion and Eggheads star Kevin Ashman and fellow Egghead and four-time world champion Pat Gibson.

Graham, who previously reached the Brain of Britain final 20 years ago but just missed out on the title, is also part of the Cricketers Arms pub quiz team in St Helens.

Graham said: “I have been quizzing for about 25 years. I was in the Rainhill Victoria pub quiz team and then moved to the Cricketers in St Helens and we’ve won everything over the last few years.

“Obviously we have not been able to do quizzing because of the lockdown so it gave me the opportunity to read up and going through old quizzes, that stood me in good stead.

“Without that, probably I wouldn’t have been as successful, I used it to my advantage,” added Graham, who has also appeared on well-known quiz shows, reaching the semi-finals of Mastermind and winning £125,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

“Twenty years ago I was pipped at the post, coming second, so there was some unfinished business and I managed to get it this time!”

Obviously we have not been able to do quizzing because of the lockdown so it gave me the opportunity to read up and going through old quizzes, that stood me in good stead.”

‘Brain of Britain’ was broadcast for many years on the BBC World Service began as a slot on the radio show ‘What Do You Know?‘ in 1953.

The main part of the show was the ‘Brain of Britain’ quiz itself, originally called ‘Ask Me Another’. There were also several other quizzes on the show, most of which were eventually side-lined to allow ‘Brain of Britain’ a longer running time.

It became a programme in its own right in 1967.

Tags: