John Humphrys hosts his first Mastermind final

Sports fan Andy Page, 41, from Waterloo, Merseyside, won the title on Monday evening by two points in a close final.

A father-of-one, Mr Page's specialist subject was international golf 1970-2003.

He is a quiz show veteran but said he had been terrified by his experience of sitting in the famous black leather chair.

"Nothing really prepares you for Mastermind. You don't feel pressure like that anywhere else," he said.

Mr Page's previous specialist subjects were the Academy Awards, and the life and works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

The final was the first to be hosted by John Humphrys, who took over from Magnus Magnusson earlier this year.

The North West can now lay claim to being perhaps the brainiest part of Britain - all four Mastermind finalists are from the area.

The other three were: Geoffrey Thomas from Davenham in Cheshire; Darren Martin from Chorley and Ian Pickering from Northwich.

They chose to answer questions about artist Marc Chagall, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and singer Jim Morrison.