The host of the general knowledge quiz reveals five secrets from the set

1

I ask the questions in contests between the Eggheads – a group of very knowledgeable regulars, including former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? jackpot winner Judith Keppel – and teams of challengers. The show has undergone very few changes since its move this year from the BBC. I’m pretty low maintenance – before a show I have tea and biscuits in my dressing room while reading about the contestants.

2

The set in west

London wasn’t quite right when we started. I’m 6ft 3in tall and I didn’t have enough legroom beneath my desk. I endured it for a month before I said, ‘I can’t really move my legs,’ and the requisite changes were made.

3

At the end of a round in the new series one of the Eggheads malfunctions, like Google crashing or a limousine reduced to the status of a Fiat

Mon-fri, 6.30pm, Channel 5

Uno. I confess I rather enjoyed the spectacle of this highly intelligent ‘machine’ suddenly being rendered useless – and I suspect the viewers will enjoy it too.

4

We’ve filmed as many as six episodes in a day, but – and this is one of the most important parts of my job – never tell the challengers you’re racking up so many. To them, their experience is special, unique and the last thing they want to hear from me is, ‘Welcome, you’re taking part in the fourth episode of the day.’

5

I sit on a cushion that was knitted and sent in by a very kind viewer eight years ago, which makes life more comfortable during a long day’s filming. The Eggheads are dead jealous – they don’t understand why they haven’t been given cushions of their own to sit on!

Jeremy with Judith Keppel (far left) and other Eggheads