FORMER schoolteacher Elsie Sadek is no stranger to Mastermind's famous black chair.

Back in 1987, Elsie, of Annesley Avenue, Layton, came third in the first round of the show and has returned for a second time in the new series.

But the former Millfield High School teacher will not even see herself answering the questions as she will be in Cairo, where she spends half the year at her second home with her Egyptian husband, Mustafa.

Speaking to the Citizen from Cairo, Elsie said: "When we retired we always said we would spend some time over here and now we can and we love it.

"The weather is so much better but I suppose there are disadvantages and of course we both miss Blackpool."

The couple met in Manchester in the 1950s when they were both students and have lived in Layton for 37 years.

Her latest appearance on the 24th series of Mastermind was scheduled for July 3, but the BBC postponed it because of the football coverage.

In 1995 there was a rule change and previous Mastermind contestants were invited back for a second time. On her latest attempt Elsie's specialist subject is the Ottoman Empire to 1700.

To find out how she gets on tune in to BBC1 on July 10 at 7.30pm.

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