Brenna Cooper
Chris Hughes, famous Eggheads quizzer and TV personality, has died at the age of 77.
The news was confirmed in a statement by the Eggheads social media page, which read: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Eggheads great Chris Hughes.
"Chris joined the show in 2003 and over the next 20 years gave us not only brilliant answers but very many laughs and happy memories.
"He will be hugely missed by all his Eggheads family."
Hughes had been a part of Eggheads since its inception in 2003 and had remained on the show ever since, taking a break in 2021.
Prior to embarking on a career as a professional quizzer and appearing on the line-up of Eggheads, Hughes had worked as a train driver and a railway worker. His big break in the world of quizzing would come in the 1980s after he won BBC general knowledge shows Mastermind and International Mastermind in 1983.
He also won BBC Four's Brain of Britain general knowledge quiz in 2005, becoming one of only seven people to win both Mastermind and Brain of Britain.
He was also one of the most successful contestants on game show The Weakest Link after making it to the final without answering a single question incorrectly. His abilities would impress host Anne Robinson so much that she decided against using her iconic 'you are the weakest link, goodbye' catchphrase when he was voted off by other contestants. She would later go on to refer to Hughes as 'best contestant' she'd ever had on the show.
Fans of the show have since begun to share their tributes on social media.
"Spent many hours watching Eggheads when I was younger so this is very sad to hear," one person wrote on X. "Thank you Chris, may you rest in peace."
"Spent many hours watching him as a kid - Rest in Peace," a second added.