Rutland man answers Zoe Ball’s 5 Star Biz Quiz questions correctly to go on BBC Radio 2 breakfast show with Stereophonics, Anthony Joshua, Jason Derulo, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe
Knowing who won I’m a Celebrity, the contestants on this year’s Strictly, and who was named the UK’s ‘artist of the decade’ might not sound like knowledge that gets you far in life - but for Keith Ambrose it opened up a fabulous opportunity.
He took part in Zoe Ball’s ‘5 Star Biz Quiz’ on Radio 2 on Thursday morning last week and answered all five showbusiness questions correctly in under a minute.
As a result, the dad-of-two won the chance to visit the BBC Radio studios in London the following day, and took along his 23-year-old music-loving daughter Ally, who works for DG Music in Oakham.
Keith, who lives in South Luffenham, admits he was shaking at the prospect of going live on air.
However, as a member of the Blue Ball at Braunston pub team in the weekly Rutland quiz league, he said as soon as the questions began he was able to focus and shake off his nerves, adding, “Zoe Ball was also very chatty and
engaging”.
Having rounded off his five-question success by knowing that Jenny Agutter stars in Call the Midwife and that Nick Knowles’ show was called DIY SOS, Keith was invited to bring a guest to the following day’s show.
“I took Ally with me because Michael Ball and Alfie Boe were on the Friday show,” said Keith. “Ally sings in pubs and clubs around Rutland in the evenings, and so she’s a fan, and Jason Derulo was also on.”
Other guests that Keith and Ally met were world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua - who Keith confirmed was ‘very gentle and humble’ - and Welsh rock band Stereophonics, half of which they shared a lift with up to the studio.
When Stereophonics sang their cover of Slade’s Merry Christmas Everyone live on air, Keith and Ally were invited to join in backing vocals, giving the Rutlanders a superb new claim to fame.
Keith, who is finance director for the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), also got to ask the studio guests questions, discovering that Michael Ball’s favourite singer is Frank Sinatra, while Alfie Boe prefers Luciano Pavarotti.
Meanwhile, Ally asked Michael Ball for tips on a career in music.