A Mastermind contestant has left viewers in awe after choosing a deeply niche specialist subject: the history of moquette, the fabric used on Transport for London vehicles.
Policy researcher Emily Medhurst faced a two-minute grilling on Monday night's episode of the BBC quiz show, answering questions such as which line had a Yellow Pages directory-branded moquette (the Circle) and which former official War Artist created two moquettes called Alperton and Arnot (Paul Nash).
Viewers react to her knitted jumper
Adding to the spectacle, Emily wore a moquette-patterned jumper she had knitted herself, matching the overground-themed line of questioning. Her calm demeanour and near-perfect answers drew widespread praise on social media.
One viewer, Charitydales, wrote: 'Obsessed! Diva!' while David Rowe commented: 'Niche knowledge is exactly what we need more of in the world, but when you realise that the pattern on her top is the subject of one of the questions… that's just phenomenal.'
Social media praise and her own reaction
SpecerKlavan declared: 'I don't know what the prize for this is, but I know it should be one hundred billion pounds.' AshleyReece added: 'Wait…. not her wearing the same pattern as the train seat fabric. taste.'
Frances Coppola called the performance 'astonishing', while OldStationSt said: 'If I ever have a daughter I hope she grows up to feel as passionate about something niche and obscure as Moquettes.'
Emily later wrote on social media: 'TfL has such a rich history of design, and it was so fun to dive in and learn more about the amazing designers, manufacturers and lore behind the fabric that 2-4 million people park themselves on every day.' She also confirmed the pattern was the 2016 update by Fernando Solis of the original 2008 design by Wallace Sewell.
Mastermind is available to catch up on BBC iPlayer.
