SPECIAL needs maths teacher Val Edmondson is staying tight lipped today after getting a maths question wrong on the tough TV quiz The Weakest Link.

Mrs Edmondson, who is a supply teacher at Rosehill Junior School, Burnley, won the BBC2 programme when she netted more than £3,000 while the other seven contestants walked away with nothing.

She was invited back to the BBC! Champions League version -- for winners of the BBC2 programme -- but this time she was not so lucky.

When asked what is 20 times 80 she answered 400 and the look on her face said it all even before tough talking hostess Anne Robinson told her the correct answer was 1,600.

At the end of the round, the remaining contestants voted to oust Val and Anne pointedly asked the teacher to tell the nation what subject she taught at primary school.

"Special needs maths," she admitted. "How do you feel about 20 times 80?" asked Anne.

"I will never live it down, will I?" replied Val.

After the 'walk of shame', where Val had to walk past the contestants who are left in the game she was interviewed about her performance.

She said: "It's harder being on the Champions Weakest Link show than on the ordinary one, probably because the money is so much higher and it could quite change your life if you won £20,000.

"I am really, really sick that I got the maths question wrong because, of course, I teach maths to special needs and I should have got that right."

Val had a lucky escape staying in the game until round four because on the second round she was statistically the weakest link and votes were tied but the casting vote ousted another contestant.

Mrs Edmondson refused to comment today.