and fell a few points adrift. Rachel Charman (novels of Nancy Mitford) and Phil Robinson (England rugby since 1945) also produced a pair of excellent rounds, and anyone could have won some other heats.

Pat Williamson was victorious on 15 February, answering on the history of Manchester and Salford. This game was won on general knowledge – Pat scored 11 specialist and 15 general knowledge, to a 14 and 11 from Jodie Underhay. Jodie's specialist was Best Picture Oscar winners 1928-70. The other players were Sarah Skelton (Joseph Bazalgette), and Nifthy Jamaldeen (Greek mythology).

Ian Orris won on 22 February, with Karl Gustav Mannerheim the specialist. A little ahead on that round, a little ahead on the general knowledge round, and two small wins make for a 28 total andone to watch in the next phase. Keshava Guha (novels of Penelope Fitzgerald) knocked on the door with 26, and there were scores over 20 for Lynne Francis (children of Queen Victoria) and Gaetana Trippetti (The Doors).

No match on 1 March, various sports filled the night.

This Week and Next

Congratulations to Julie from Durham, winner of Best Actor On The Planet at this week's Oscer awards. Julie won the award for the part of "Olivia Colman" in Numberwang!, a musical based on the parlour game.

Incredible scenes on The Chase this week. On Tuesday, Paul Sinha caught a target of 22, and gave up a pushback, and still had five seconds to spare. That's quite amazing. That's surely the best performance we'll see this month.

"Hold my blended fish eyes," said