Hugh Grant, Jonathan Ross and former Doctor Who David Tennant put their grey-matter to the test at Centrepoint's annual Ultimate Pub Quiz on Tuesday.
The light-hearted contest, now in its third year, was held at the Paramount Club in Soho’s Centre Point Tower for the first time. The 23 teams, comprised of staff from London businesses and celebrities such as Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis, Rav Wilding and Sara Cox, pitted their wits against one another under the watchful eye of Quiz Master Fern Britton and her sidekick Peter Dixon, voice of the X Factor.
As well as the three rounds of questions, Fern presided over a celebrity auction – offering teams the chance to buy the assistance of Grant, Ross, Tennant or Hollyoaks actress and Dancing on Ice star, Jorgie Porter, for the Showbiz Round. Grant and Ross proved particularly popular, attracting a flurry of bids with the respective self deprecating humour and bravado that have become their trademarks. Ross alone went for £4,500!
With 80,000 young people experiencing homelessness every year in the UK, the money raised from the event will allow Centrepoint to continue its vital work. It provides vulnerable 16-25 year-olds with safe place to stay as well as the support to find work and move on to independent living.
John Raynham, Head of Fundraising at Centrepoint, said: "It was our best Ultimate Pub Quiz yet and the first in the Centre Point Tower – it couldn’t have gone much better. We can’t thank the teams, celebrities and everyone who makes this event possible, enough for all they do. Like our new champions Herbert Smith, so many people come back year-on-year and that kind of support really matters.
“With youth unemployment at over one million, things have probably never been tougher for the young people we support. But thanks to our supporters’ generosity, we can carry on working with them to achieve the two most important things they need to leave homelessness behind: a job, and a home of their own.”
For photos from the event, click here.
Source: Centrepoint.org.uk
