Eggheads star Chris Hughes has passed away at the age of 77.
The show's official Instagram confirmed the news on Thursday alongside a photo of the quiz expert.
The post read: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Eggheads great Chris Hughes.
"Chris joined the show in 2003 and over the next 20 years gave us not only brilliant answers but very many laughs and happy memories.
“He will be hugely missed by all his Eggheads family."
Hughes earned a reputation as one of the UK's greatest quizzers, having won Mastermind, International Mastermind, and Brain of Britain.
He also appeared on The Weakest Link, where host Anne Robinson described him as "the best contestant we have had" before he was eliminated in the final round despite not answering a single question incorrectly.
Among those paying tribute was Eggheads producer Robert Dean, who wrote: "Very sad to say that our brilliant Egghead Chris has sadly passed away.
"He was an amazing Egghead who considered everyone on the production team part of his family.
“I have such fond memories of him and count myself lucky to have known him. I’ll miss him tremendously."
In a post shared to Facebook, it was revealed that ‘a celebration of life’ service would be held on March 14 at Crewe Crematorium for Hughes, followed by a wake at a local pub.
While mourners and fans of the quizzer have been asked to donate to Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation.
The future of Eggheads remains uncertain after host Jeremy Vine revealed last May that he hadn’t filmed an episode in over a year.
The long-running quiz show first aired on BBC One in 2003 before moving to BBC Two, and later being picked up by Channel 5 in 2021. The most recent series was filmed in 2022 and aired in spring 2023.
Speaking to The Sun, Vine admitted he was unsure if the show would return.
“I think I have done about 1,200 shows—but whether we are doing any more, I don't know,” he said.
“We last filmed an episode over a year ago. It may well be we are doing it in 30 years' time, who knows, but no immediate plans for any more.”
Originally hosted by Dermot Murnaghan, Vine joined in 2008, with the pair alternating presenting duties before the BBC Radio 2 broadcaster took over full-time in 2021.
Over the years, the lineup has included Judith Keppel, the first UK winner of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire; Daphne Fowler, a Brain of Britain champion; CJ de Mooi, a Mensa chess champion; and Kevin Ashman, a five-time European Quizzing Championships winner.
