IT started as a temporary replacement for the weekly local pub quizzes closed by the Covid pandemic. And certainly no-one expected West Somerset’s online Quizzical general knowledge contest to become a world-wide hit which has raised over a million euros for charity in one country alone.

But it has. Eighteen months after local quiz buffs Pamela Young and Fred Groves hit on the idea of providing 12 teams in the Minehead and District Quiz League with an online substitute for the traditional weekly contest, Quizzical has gone viral, with over 300 participating teams from Italy to Germany and France to America.

“It’s taken us all by surprise,” admits Fred, now living in Minehead after a 32-year Metropolitan police career and 14 years as a detective sergeant in the Murder Squad. “No-one expected it to take off like it has.

“Last week the local teams went back to their pubs and clubs but already we’ve had numerous requests to keep the online version running. It seems that in the present Covid situation, it’s filled a gap in many people’s lives.”

Fred, whose quiz successes include being in a team which won £19,000 on the hit TV general knowledge show The Chase (story right), spends two or three evenings a week compiling 50 questions tailored to his international audience.

“I put the questions on the website at 8pm on Thursdays and everyone has access to them across the world. Then at 10pm I put the answers out.

“After Pamela dreamed up the idea, we expected to run the quiz online for three or four months until things returned to normal and I cobbled together some questions in March 2020 never dreaming we would still be in business 189 months later.

“We started with the quiz league teams but it was when Pamela managed to involve the members of the local University of the Third Age, that things started to take off.

“The 12 teams increased to 30. By the end of the month it was 50, including an Italian league which had started. They charge an entry fee and so far have raised a million euros for Covid-hit families.

“Since live quizzes have restarted, local leagues have lost about a quarter of their teams and are running three divisions instead of the previous four. So it looks as though there’s still a place for Quizzical. We will have to see what happens.”

A quizmaster in local teams in pubs in Monksilver and Stogumber for 12 years, Pamela is the main organiser of the ever-growing quiz. “My son and I help Fred by keeping the league updated. We also write questions and my son does some of the music quizzes.

“We have spread globally simply by word of mouth. It was something to help those in the vulnerable groups to have something to look forward to” said Pamela, who lives in Monksilver.

“I have friends in Italy who were hit badly by Covid and asked if they could join. They spoke to their friends and set up their league which has grown and raises money to help local people who were hit by Covid.

“The idea passed to others in Germany, France and Spain who have taken the idea and set up their own leagues. So have people in Norway and America.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved. I know from the messages we have received from players how it has become part of their lives, a focal point of their week and something to look forward to.

“Our Beat the Family league has enabled three generations of one family to be in contact with each other every week. Through the quiz they have seen a new great grandchild who they never would have seen during lockdown.

“I always reply to everyone who sends messages with their score. I think it’s important to have that contact and some I see as friends now. I would like the quiz to continue as we have made a difference to so many people during lockdown and I think stopping would leave many of them back to being on their own.

“I think we forget that many people pre-pandemic were lonely and for some of them at least they now have contact with someone through the quiz. Hopefully we’ll carry on Quizzical as long as people want it.”