Matthew SparkesA retired businessman from Cringleford is aiming to do what no person from Norfolk has done before - become a winner on the iconic television show Mastermind.Matthew Sparkes

A retired businessman from Cringleford is aiming to do what no person from Norfolk has done before - become a winner on the iconic television show Mastermind.

Les Morrell, from Cringleford, was due to appear on BBC2 tonight in the first televised round of the current series.

But due to a political question in the 30-minute show the programme has been delayed until May 7 - after the general election.

In the show Mr Morrell, 60, will be grilled by John Humphrys on his specialist subject, the BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles starring Richard Briers.

The retired Jewson managing director said that he had spent months revising for the show before it was filmed.

'I spent my time doing nothing other than watching DVDs for six to eight months,' he said.

'I enjoyed the series, it's very funny. Most of all it's short, with not many characters.'

He said that this made it easier to second-guess the show's researchers and imagine which questions they would come up with.

'You've got to know how their researchers work and what sort of questions they're likely to ask,' he said.

'Very rarely have they asked a question and I've though: 'Blimey, I didn't see that coming.'

'The answers you can't predict are the general knowledge ones,' he said.

If successful tonight he could go on to become the county's first ever Mastermind champion, but despite the pressure he said that he was not nervous at all before filming.

'If you're nervous you're going to blow it,' he said.

Mr Morrell has starred on the show once before, two years ago, when his specialist subject was the 1549 uprising in Norwich known as Kett's Rebellion.

His knowledge in the area was boosted by completing a history degree at the UEA before he retired.

A BBC spokesman said: 'In line with BBC editorial guidelines an episode of Mastermind which contains political references will now be shown after the election.'

Mastermind will be broadcast on BBC2 on May 7 at 8pm.

Are you due to appear on television? Contact Matt Sparkes on 01603 772439 or email matt.sparkes@archant.co.uk