A Matter of Facts Low Price

This is a personal journey into the world of quizzes. At the start Shaun enters the World Quiz Grand Prix, pitching his knowledge against the nation’s finest minds, including Eggheads and Chasers – and he fails. Unperturbed, he sets out to improve his skills through memory training, practice and even hypnosis. His adventure sees him get his old quizzing ‘band’ back together as they work their way through the leagues. As he does so, he meets many characters and experiences the wonderful vagaries of the pub quiz and discovers its place, not just in communities, but in people’s lives. Over the course of year Shaun aims to end his journey at a triumphant return to the Grand Prix – can his experiences and new-found knowledge end in triumph?

Shaun Williamson is an addict. His main craving is for knowledge. The ‘gateway’ drug was the first edition (Genus 1) of Trivial Pursuit, a seemingly innocuous Christmas present from his unsuspecting parents. They might just as well have given him Ketamine. This innocent gift sent our author on a mind-bending trip of ethereal highs and ignominious lows which, although now under control, can result in a relapse at a moment’s notice.Shaun Williamson is an actor and writer best known for playing Barry Evans in BBC1’s ‘Eastenders’ from 1994 to 2004 and for extensive work with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on ‘Extras’, ‘Life’s Too Short’ and ‘The Invention Of Lying’. Other acting credits include ‘Plebs’, ‘Mister Winner’ and ‘Houdini’. He has also appeared in numerous stage shows, most notably ‘The Ladykillers’, ‘Guys And Dolls’ and ‘One Man Two Guvnors’ for the National Theatre. He was the subject of ‘This Is Your Life’ in 2001.Shaun’s main passion though is Quizzing. He has been lucky enough to win ‘Celebrity Mastermind’ in 2003 (Specialist subject: Richard Burton), ‘Celebrity Chase’, ‘Today’s The Day’, ‘Celebrity Eggheads’, ‘Britain’s Brightest Celebrity Family’, ‘Richard Osman’s House Of Games’ and ‘Celebrity Pointless’ a record four times (Three Jackpots). He has channelled this passion into the writing of ‘A Matter Of Facts’, his literary debut, which details a year of his life immersed in the world of quizzing.