Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid and England midfielder, has a famous family member who appeared on the BBC's long-running quiz show Mastermind. His late grandfather, William 'Bill' Bellingham, made his television debut on the programme in 1987.
William Bellingham's Mastermind Appearance
William, a former soldier and schoolmaster at Southend High School for Boys, competed on Mastermind with his specialist subject being the history of Nigeria from 1900 to 1966. He scored an impressive 15 points during his appearance.
The clip of William's Mastermind performance resurfaced online recently. University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan shared it on Instagram, writing: "My goodness, how have I only just seen this? William Bellingham, grandfather of Jude, appeared on Mastermind in 1987, and was quite phenomenal. So that's one partial explanation of where @judebelliingham_ gets his mega brains from. Much like his grandson, he maintains ridiculously high standards right until the last."
Jude's Tribute to His Grandfather
William passed away in November 2020 when Jude was just 17. The footballer continues to cherish memories of his grandfather and often thinks of him when England's national anthem plays in stadiums.
"I think about my grandad, who passed away just before my England debut," Jude reflected via The Telegraph. "He was so patriotic. He was an Englishman through and through. He could give you every fact about every war, every battle, every king and queen. I do think about him when that moment is coming."
William Bellingham's Career
William, father of Jude's dad Mark, had a varied career. Before working at Southend High School for Boys, he served in the army in Berlin, taught in Singapore, and worked for Guinness in Nigeria. Jude has described his grandfather as "patriotic" and an "Englishman through and through."
