Masterful – Alice finds the answer for TV quiz glory
AQUIZZER became the oldest female Mastermind champion at the age of 66 after she was struck with inspiration while walking her dog.
Alice Walker, 67, now has another knowledge-related challenge to complete - winning the Macclesfield Quiz League final in two weeks time.
The retired IT-worker was seen winning the iconic BBC show on Monday, April 11, with a score of 33, the highest of the series.
This included scoring a perfect 14 out of 14 in her specialist subject on the Peak District National Park.
Alice chose this topic because she walks her dog in the area.
She said: “I live on the edge of the Peak District, it is an area I visit quite a lot because I like walking.
“I just thought it would make an interesting subject because there is quite a variety to know about it, as well as the geographical aspect, there is a lot of history and geology. I had various books on the Peak District that I studied for quite a long time.
“I used to think I don’t know enough about anything, but then I realised people just picked a subject that they’re interested in and learn up about it.”
Alice has previous quiz show experience having appeared on Eggheads, The Chase and Fifteen to One but still ‘never expected to win’ Mastermind.
She triumphed by six points and was watched by fellow members of the Macclesfield Quiz League, which she has competed in since the 1980s.
Her current team the Queens Hotel, which also includes her partner Haydn Thompson, will compete in the cup final.
To get to the final Alice, a mum-of-one who lives in Whaley Bridge, had to negotiate a online quiz, two Zoom auditions, heats and a semi-final.
During the final episode, the Poynton Jemmers Northwest Morris dancers, of whom she has been a member for around 40 years, performed to cheer her on. Alice said: “I thought about doing Mastermind for a long time,.
“I do quite a lot of quizzes all the time anyway so I am in the zone of answering quiz questions.
“It’s amazing. I wanted to apply before I got any older because as you get older your mind doesn’t work so quickly, but I feel that I am still quite sharp with my mind.”
Haydn added: “Alice is very focused with her quizzing, she spends hours reading all the books on her specialist subject, making notes and testing herself.
“I have tried testing her from her notes but she just knows it all so it’s a bit pointless really.”
As for her next opposition in the quiz league final, how do they feel about taking on such a champion
Fellow quizzer Bob Gratton said: “It’s not just the breadth and depth of knowledge that is impressive - it’s the ability to recall that knowledge instantly and under such pressure.
“My team play her team in the League Cup Final in two weeks’ time. Think it could be a challenge!”