Former Mastermind winner Chris Hughes – best known for his role on the quiz show Eggheads – passed away recently, it was announced in a statement earlier this afternoon

The late quizzer Chris Hughes’ final appearance on Eggheads has resurfaced following the news of his death.

It was announced this afternoon that Chris has passed away, aged 77. The news was shared by the Channel 5 show in a statement on social media earlier and the post has since prompted tributes to the former Mastermind winner.

Chris is best known for having appeared on long-running quiz show Eggheads for two decades. He was part of the eponymous group, who took on a rival team each episode, alongside the likes of Judith Keppel and Kevin Ashman.

It is understood that his final TV appearance on the show was in an episode that aired in April 2023, in which he competed beside his teammates Kevin, Steve Cooke and Lisa Thiel. The episode saw the Eggheads take on a celebrity team that was comprised of comedians Isy Suttie, Axel Blake, Geoff Norcott and Harriet Kemsley.

Footage from it has resurfaced this week and it shows him delivering the last correct answer for the Eggheads in the final round, which meant they won. As reported by the Sun, Chris hadn’t got a single question wrong during the episode.

The news of Chris’ death was announced by the show on X earlier. Alongside a photo of him, it released a statement on the platform that 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.”

It’s been announced that quizzer Chris Hughes, pictured during what’s thought to be his final Eggheads appearance, has died, aged 77 ( 
Image:
Channel 5)
Chris had joined the show – which was originally broadcast by the BBC – more than two decades ago. He had featured on Egghead since it began on BBC One in 2003. He remained on the panel when the show moved to BBC Two in 2005 and then later when it relocated to Channel 5 in 2021.

During his decades-long career in quizzing, Chris won both Mastermind and International Mastermind in 1983, as well as radio quiz Brain of Britain in 2005. He also competed on the Weakest Link back in 2001 and, after being voted out by his rivals, the show’s host Anne Robinson told him: “You are the best contestant we have had on the Weakest Link.” Chris later returned for a special edition of the BBC quiz show.

Following the news of his death, fans have paid tribute to Chris in posts on social media. One person wrote: “Devastated by the news, our thoughts and prayers go out to all Chris’s family and friends, he was literally one in a billion.” Another said: “Condolences to his friends and family and the Eggheads community – he was always entertaining and will be missed by many.” Whilst a third reacted to the announcement of his passing: “Rest in peace Chris. Will go down as a giant of the quiz world.”