Quiz champion killed himself day after winning episode on Eggheads Friend and team-mate Brian Pendreigh, 54, who spent Monday night with Mr Thomson, his mother and his sister as they watched their victory on television, said: "We were shocked and devastated. Max came to my house with his mum and sister to watch Eggheads on Monday night and he was his usual cheery self. It was the first time I had seen it and I have never seen him so happy as he was at the end when he hugged David, one of the other guys in the team. Quizzes were Max's passion. He was well known on the quiz circuit in Edinburgh, because he was good and because he got on with everyone. He could turn his hand to any subject. You knew you could go to him whether it was a question on politics or soap operas. Our world is a very, very sad place today and our thoughts are obviously with his family. Tensions mounted on the show as they approached the final question, asking which English writer had produced a pamphlet called the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce. They correctly answered John Milton, sparking scenes of celebration on the programme. Mr Thomson had also appeared on quiz shows Postcode Challenge and Quiz Trippers with his team.