The Brainteaser Experience By James Aukett
		Brainteaser was a daytime quiz show filmed live on Channel 5, from 2003 to 2007. It has been presented by Alex Lovell, Rachel Pierman, Jonathan Gould and Craig Stevens (who was the host when I appeared on the show), but in general was mainly prsented by just Alex Lovell. The show featured four contestants, who demonstrated their word power and general knowledge against each other in various knockout stages, in the hope of making it to the final pyramid and winning up to £3000. The show also offered viewers at home to take part in a puzzle, where they could phone in and have the opportunity of winning up to £1000 (though it can be higher than that on jackpot weeks!). This is an account of my experience on the programme:
			It was Tuesday 8th April 2003 when I appeared on the programme. Having got ready and needing to be at Endemol TV studios in Oxford (where Brainteaser is filmed) for 11am, I departed home for London Paddington train station where I could take a direct train to Oxford. After the train was a short journey by taxi to the studio. I arrived at the studio for the specified time, where I was let in and taken to the green room, where two of the other contestants, Stuart and Mark, were waiting. We there then joined by the other contestant, Caroline, and then finally by Thom, the programme's researcher who I had spoken to before my journey. Although the show doesn't go live on air until 1.30pm, the reason why contestants have to be there for 11am is so that Thom could go through the rules and any make-up can be applied to the contestants. We were also able to go through a practice run of Brainteaser, both in the studio itself as well as watching a previous recording of the programme, whilst enjoying some light refreshments by the TV company. About half an hour before the actual show itself, Craig (who was presenting the show that day) came into the green room to introduce himself and have a brief chat with the contestants, just so that he could personally gather some information for use in the show. And then it was a few more minutes of whatever relaxation we could get before the contestants (myself included) went into the studio to play Brainteaser for real.... (Note: The date of my appearance on Brainteaser was exactly the day after Major Charles Ingram was found guilty of cheating on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, so needless to say there were a few references to this throughout the show, I'll point them out as I go along!)
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