King's Lynn artiste appears on University Challenge
When Sarah Gillespie, from Lynn, got the call to appear on BBC2's University Challenge she at first thought it might be a hoax.
Contacted by her press officer, this wasn't a scam as she initially assumed, but an invitation to join the alumni from Goldsmiths University London where she completed her masters degree.
As a singer and songwriter touring Europe and America over the last 12 years the invite took her a little by surprise.
She said: "I moved back to King's Lynn a few years ago as my Dad lives here and I have appeared on Women's Hour and lots of radio.
"My press officer emailed me about the Christmas special edition of University Challenge.
"I would be appearing with alumni of distinction in writing and art and I thought it was random that it could be a scam."
But it wasn't a scam and Sarah went up to the BBC studios in Manchester in November for filming.
She said: "The studios are modern and there was stuff lying about in the hallways from Dr Who. It was surreal.
"I thought Jeremy Paxman would ask questions about the Arts but it was all partial physics and German grammar. The only one I got right was about the Teletubbies."
The icing on the cake for Sarah was that she was made team captain.
She said: "My team-mates asked me if I was good at puzzles and assumed I must be good at quizzes but when I said I wasn't their faces went white."
Sarah, 31, grew up in West Norfolk and attended Springwood High School and now makes a living singing, songwriting, mentoring and touring.
She said: "I really got in to mentoring when touring stopped in lockdown.
"There are so many talented women who want to sing and write songs ad I run online songwriting workshops which have really taken off."
Although Sarah didn't get to meet Jeremy Paxman in person before the filming started she did let out a trade secret. She said: "He comes in to the studio right before filming.
"His top half he is wearing a suit, but his bottom half he is in jogging pants and slippers."
The episode will be aired on Tuesday, December 28.
