I got the 1% question right. Well, almost in time.

 

I quite like TV Quiz Shows, though without being addicted to them - preferring General Knowledge questions to I.Q. ones, my being slightly better at the former. 

Monday evening is my favourite quiz time which I never miss, when, all on our BBC2 channel, three of my favourite shows (and the most difficult) are shown in succession - Mastermind, Only Connect. and University Challenge. Other quiz shows on different channels on other nights I might happen to dip into now and again, usually when there are ad-breaks in the programme I happen to have been watching.

So it was that yesterday, I turned on 'The 1% Club' (of which quite a number of countries have their own versions) just as the programme was in its final minutes, to catch the final question where only one member of the 100-strong audience of applicants had survived to the end, meaning he had a chance of winning the then £94,000 jackpot by answering the final question correctly, or of leaving with the £10,000 he had earned up to that point. He took the latter option but was given the chance of looking at what the final question would have been. This was that question which, the programme said, only 1% of the public got right within the 30 secs allowed:-

If FT=GD, and SD=SR, what does TD=?

To be honest it was only in the final couple of seconds when I saw it. If I'd been there, it would hardly have given me enough time to write the answer down within the time permitted, so I doubt if I'd have deemed a winner. Can you see the answer? The man who had opted to look at it, was by then rather half-hearted and came up with the guessed answer 'BR'. Incorrect. Quite frankly I'm surprised that only one out of a hundred people asked would have got it, me rather expecting it would have been nearer 20% or even more. But nonetheless I did go to bed feeling rather chuffed with myself.

Now if you still can't see it I could give a clue which would, I'm sure, serve you up the answer on a plate. So here it comes - and try to look away if you can - but if you'd prefer not to know I'll hide the clue a little by moving each of its letters down the alphabet by one - So think 'Pmznqjdt'. 

The chap who tried it was on the right track, but wth a slightly untidy finish - and I went to bed rather pleased with myself. I think it's been the only time when I saw a final question on that programme and got it right - well, nearly.