A cat-lover from Lancaster has proven herself to be one of the UK's biggest quiz brains after reaching the final of Mastermind.
Diane Howe will attempt to lift the 2026 Mastermind title when the grand final airs on BBC2 at 7.30pm this Monday, April 20.
Diane, who volunteers at Animal Care in Lancaster, will be cheered on by her family and friends, including the team at the animal rescue charity on Blea Tarn Road.
She posted on local Facebook page Lancaster Past and Present to say: "It's the Grand Final of Mastermind on Monday evening.
"I'll try my best for a Lancastrian win. Please tune in and cheer me on if you can. Thank you."
A post on the Animal Care page said: "OUR VERY OWN brilliant volunteer cat-cuddler extraordinaire Diane has got to the FINAL of MASTERMIND!!!"
"Many an hour Diane would spend with her books revising for her specialist subjects - sitting in the cat pens here!!
"See how Diane gets on this Monday….we are all behind you Diane!!! We might even see a little glimpse of Animal Care too.
"Every Animal Care finger and paw is crossed for you!!! What an AMAZING achievement - we are all so proud of you."
Diane reached the final after storming to victory in the heats, winning with 26 points after getting all her questions correct on specialist subject Katherine Parr - the sixth wife of King Henry VIII.
Then she won her semi-final with 20 points, her specialist subject being the musician Jeff Buckley.
Diane will take on five other quiz experts in the final, where the specialist subjects have been announced as Dame Julie Andrews, the films of Danny Boyle, Beatrix Potter, Robert Burns, Notre-Dame de Paris and the astronaut Jim Lovell.
Diane (right) with the other Mastermind 2026 finalists.
After winning her heat, Diane said: "I feel very relieved, shocked and surprised, very happy. I've been studying for a while!
"My husband will be cheering me on and my brother...growing up we always used to love doing quizzes, so he will be celebrating as well.
"To win Mastermind would mean everything, it's the pinnacle of quizzing. It's the first one I remember watching.
"You're mixing with the creme de la creme of quizzes. It would be top of the tree, I couldn't think of anything better."
After her semi-final victory, Diane said: "When (host) Clive (Myrie) said 'Diane you're through to the final' it's like a bit of a dream.
"I never thought that would happen. Watching Mastermind from an early age and seeing all the great grand finalists, it's a dream come true.
"Everybody has been really supportive when I've been on and I've had so many good wishes, that's been brilliant."
Diane also said she'd be cheered on from home by her five cats!
Mastermind has been running on the BBC since 1972.
Clive Myrie presents the grand final of the classic quiz where six contenders return to the iconic black chair in a bid to become the Mastermind champion and take home the coveted Glass Bowl.
Watch from 7.30pm on Monday on BBC2.
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