Irene Thomas - Brain of Britain

For many years Irene Thomas was a stalwart of BBC radio’s long-running Round Britain Quiz (1947 to date) as well as popping up on numerous other radio and TV quizzes during the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. She was, Eggheads fans might like to know, the Daphne Fowler of her day.

Irene won the title Brain of Britain 1961 in the Franklin Engelmann hosted quiz What Do You Know? After badgering the BBC she eventually joined the RBQ team in 1967, sitting alongside Sir Denis Brogan in the days when the question masters were Lionel Hale and Roy Plomley. She remained with the programme until 1995. Irene Thomas died in 2001 aged 81.