A QUIZ champion who finished "stone-dead last" in his first ever pub competition has completed a historic general knowledge double.

Clive Dunning, who lives in Norton, near Stockton, won Radio 4’s Brain of Britain competition yesterday afternoon, adding to his Mastermind success in 2014.

The 59-year-old believes he is the first person in the North-East to complete the historic double.

He becomes only the seventh person ever to win both Mastermind and Brain of Britain titles, after he narrowly missed out on the latter five years ago.

Speaking to The Northern Echo about his success, Mr Dunning said he felt "euphoric".

"When I went on Mastermind I was in a state of shock, but this was different and I was able to enjoy it more – it really was a fantastic experience.

"To do the double is what every quizzer wants to do.

"I am currently the only person in the North-East to ever win Mastermind, so I am definitely the only person to do the double."

Mr Dunning also said he was proud to put the region in a good light with his success.

"I felt a great sense of pride and to win it for the area was great.

"We get a lot of stereotypes and bad reputations in this area, and a lot of the winners come from down south, so to break that up is really good.

"It was a surreal experience and it went past really fast.

"In Mastermind I had a lot of family with me and I needed to get the train back, so I didn’t have time to take it all in

"This time I stayed in London and went backstage with competitors after the show and had a drink."

Mr Dunning admitted he had come a long way from his first pub quiz experience.

"Pub quizzes started becoming a thing in the late 70s and that is when I started.

"The first one I did was in a pub in Norton. I was playing darts and we heard about this quiz that was taking place that night and we decided to enter.

"We came stone-dead last, but it got my interest. I did it for about 10 years but then because of my family and going back into education, I stopped.

"When I was made redundant, I needed something to fill my time, so I got back into it."

Mr Dunning also said there is no danger of him getting carried away with his latest success.

"I won’t get big headed – my wife and three daughters are not really bothered.

"They didn’t listen to the semi-final – they didn't think it was a big deal, but when my friends in the working men's club heard they were a lot more excited than me.

"If I died tomorrow, I’d be happy now I have done the double, but there is quite a big quiz circuit with Grand Prix events with people from The Chase and Eggheads."

Do you think you can challenge Clive Dunning? Have a go at some of the questions he faced in the competition.

1. A Million Dreams is a song from which musical?

2. A Dobson Unit is used to measure which constituent of the atmosphere?

3. Chateau Neuf Du Pape and Hermitage are wines from which French region?

4. An eclogue is a poem featuring which pastoral trade?

5. Which Scottish writer had the middle name Topaz?

6. The adjective brachial refers to which part of the body?

7. In the system of weights and measures what does S.I. stand for?

8. Which is the busiest container port in Britain?

9. Who was Director-General of hostels in WW11?

10. Who was the last Prime Minister to be buried in Westminster Abbey?

Answers below this picture

The Northern Echo: DOUBLE: Clive Dunning with his Mastermind trophy at his Stockton home

Answers

1. The Greatest Showman

2. The Ozone Layer

3. Rhone

4. Shepherds

5. William McGonagall

6. The Arms

7. Systeme International

8. Felixstowe

9. Billy Butlin

10. Clement Atlee