Okay, so I know I said I wouldn't be posting for while, but I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to interview CJ de Mooi; a fantastic quizzer, and soon to be famous actor I'm sure. In any case, the questions and answers are below, enjoy.
Q.
I'll start with the basics; how did you realise your enthusiasm for knowledge and love for quizzing? Were you the typical academic type who loved to learn at school, and just carried that forward in later life?
I hated school and standardised methods of learning. An academic education doesn't provide an education, it merely provides basic tools to pass the exams and once a pupil has passed from that system, he or she is somebody else's problem (usually no-one's) I was lucky in that I had a very good memory so I was able to just remember anything I wanted but there was still the feeling with a couple of the teachers that they themselves were simply one lesson ahead of those they were supposed to be preparing for adult life.
Q.
What advice would you give to those looking to build up a base of facts quickly and effectively: is there certain techniques that you find helpful when reading around a subject?
Although it's tedious, the one thing you can't escape from is the learning of lists. There are so many basics such as UK Monarchs, US Presidents, Capital Cities and Olympic Games years but I can't emphasise the importance of dates too. A problem for me when starting out at the top level of quizzing was that I could only see history as a collection of disparate facts but once I learnt the dates, the story came together as a linear strand and it was much easier to relate events when I understood quite simply how they followed or preceded each other.
Q.
Being an avid viewer of Eggheads, I enjoy watching the quiz battles that you take part in. Is your time with your team-mates always spent quizzing, or do you get the opportunity to spend time with them outside of the studio? If so, do you all get on well? (I can imagine debates get quite serious in such an intellectual group)
I spend a little social time with Kevin outside of the studio as I've pretty much given up full time quizzing, this tends to be just social. When I went to the formal quiz events, I would see Pat and Barry there regularly, and occasionally Daphne and Chris.
Q.
Anyone that pays any attention to either your tweets or your comments on the television will note that you do enjoy your tennis and snooker. Have you always enjoyed them sports or did you have different preferences when you were younger? (PS: I'm very jealous of the pictures you put up from the World Championships this year)
I've never been into sport at all, having virtually never watched it and certainly never playing. However, snooker and tennis have always held my fascination with the former being a lifelong love and the latter being something in which my interest has waxed and waned over the years (when I was younger I found men's tennis tedious and would generally only watch women's but that situation has now reversed)
Q.
From your twitter account I have also gathered that you have an interest in performing and of course for the West End. Are you a big fan of going to theatre as well? If so what are some of your favourite things that you have seen over the years?
Being an actor is the only thing I've ever really wanted to do. Before Eggheads there was no such thing as a professional quizzer and although I've enjoyed my time on the show, when one has a burning desire to do something else, that has to be quenched. Musical theatre is where my passion and abilities lie so I'm trying everything at the moment to get into the West End and won't rest until I've succeeded. My favourite musical is Priscilla Queen of the Desert and that would indeed be my dream job but there are several others I would be utterly delighted to be considered for. Outside of the genre though, one of the nest nights out I ever had was going to see the stage version of Frost/Nixon (I actually went with Kevin) starring Michael Sheen and Frank Langella before the film was made. An utterly superb production and much funnier and satirical than its later incarnation. However, this wouldn't be for me and my humble talents and musicals are my direction and where my career is heading.
CJ in the middle on the set of popular quiz show, Eggheads.
Q.
Best of luck with the marathon(s) that I believe you have coming up soon. What times are you looking to rack up? Also, which charity will you be supporting? (I have a lot of admiration for people that put the hard-work and effort in before-hand with these races, like your good self)
The one 'sport' I actively take part in is running. Although I find the training extremely boring, I do have a talent for it and have several half and full marathons booked, and will be aiming for a sub 3 hour time when I run in London next April and well under 90 minutes for the halves. At the Great North Run I'm supporting Stonewall, The Cardiff Half is for Barnardos, The Brighton Half for The Sussex Beacon and the London Marathon is for my personally favourite charity The Albert Kennedy Trust.
Q.
Lastly, I'd like to ask where you see yourself in ten years time? Do you feel that your performing breakthrough is just around the corner? (Lord knows, if anyone deserves the breakthrough for hard-work and persistence, you do)
I'm working very hard on my singing and especially my fitness and body appearance (both for vanity and West End expectations!) as performing is the only place I want to be and the only place I can see myself. I imagine Eggheads will be long finished by then (although who could have dreamed we'd already have lasted 8 years with another 2 at least and pass 1000 episodes with successful spin offs and merchandising?) There's always the option of retiring to a quiet island somewhere but I'm an applause junkie and think the draw would be too much!
I'd like to thank CJ for taking out the time to answer these questions and for giving me this chance to ask him a few questions.
It's a strange word freedom, but one which has taken on a whole new meaning for me in the past few days; with my exams over with, school officially done forever, summer has more or less begun.