Tuesday, 27 December 2022

LAMMY Awards 2022: 2) Award for the finest performance in a broadcast quiz

Award for the Finest Performance in a Broadcast Quiz

The nominees are:-

Sarah Trevarthen – Brain of Britain

Alice Walker – Mastermind

Imperial College (Max Zeng, Fatima Sheriff, Michael Mays, Gilbert Jackson)

As is usually the case, any of the nominees would be worthy winners of the award. Stating with Imperial, they looked likely winners of the series from the early rounds of the competition. Many commentators paid particular attention to the almost superhuman Geography knowledge of Max Zeng. Yet it was the buzzing of Reading captain Michael Hutchinson that looked as if it might prevail in the final, until Imperial managed a 10 point win.

Sarah Trevarthen edged out Mastermind champion Marianne Fairthorne in a really exciting and high-quality final of Brain of Britain. This in a year which had also seen her finish runner up in Mastermind, and have a great run in Counterpoint. In fact if the award was for performance across a range of quiz shows in the year, then Sarah would have won it hands down.

I did mention that Sarah was second placed in the Mastermind Grand Final. Defeating her on that occasion was Alice Walker. Alice had looked to be a serious contender in her heat and semi, but only one of a number of very serious contenders. In the final though she carried all before her. She scored a point more than any other contender in the specialist round, then produced the round of her life in the General Knowledge.

Three very worthy nominees. Without further ado the winner is:-

Alice Walker – Mastermind 2022.

I know that me awarding a Mastermind winner for the second year in a row leaves me open to accusations of favouritism. But the award is for the performance of the year, and that’s what Alice’s Mastermind GK round was for me.

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