with Magnus Magnusson from the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh The last of the first-round programmes sees four contenders from the Midlands and the east of England compete for the last place in the semi-finals. Ian Meadows (hospital driver) The English Civil War, 1641-7 Rex Walford (university lecturer) The life and travels of Amy Johnson

Lynne Steele-Smith (unemployed) The life and works of William Lilly , 1602-81 Roger Stein (schoolteacher) The spy novels of John le Carre