Question of Sport quiz compiler role is dream job for 'nerd'

Mr Knowles works in a small team coming up with questions for the hit show

Compiling questions for one of television's longest running quizzes is a dream come true for a self-confessed "nerd" from Staffordshire.

James Knowles, from Fenton, has spent the past seven months working on the BBC's quiz show Question of Sport.

He has joined the rebooted series with host Paddy McGuinness and said he pinched himself every day.

"Question of Sport allows me to be the biggest nerd possible and nobody frowns upon it," he said.

The programme recently celebrated its 50th birthday and said goodbye to previous host Sue Barker and team captains Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson.

Mr Knowles said he worked in a small team collating the trivia for new captains Sam Quek and Ugo Monye and their weekly sport star contestants.

New host Paddy McGuinness took over last year

He said he felt the new presenters were "doing a tremendous job" and it was "just time for the new guard to become icons just like their predecessors".

"It's so far-fetched from my dream, I didn't think anything like this was possible," he said.

'Ever-evolving role'

"I feel so fortunate to work on such an iconic quiz - I pinch myself every day, it's fantastic.

"I love being a bit of a nerd and finding out various statistics, whether it be football or any other sport."

He said he had become aware of the job vacancy after previously working with the series producer and said he was "very fortunate" he had been hired.

"It's been a wonderful rollercoaster of the last seven or eight months. I only started last summer but I've enjoyed every moment of it," he added.

Compiling the questions was "quite daunting" but as he is a sports fan and with help from the internet, "everything's at our fingertips, it's just knowing where to look".

"We're always learning," he added.

"It's an ever-evolving role."