By George Jones, Political Editor
Telegraph
(Filed: 11/02/2005)
Tony Blair was stumped when he took part in a television quiz yesterday. In a further demonstration that a general election is in the offing, Mr Blair went on the Richard and Judy show on Channel 4.
At the end of an interview which ranged over the impending royal marriage, his failure to buy flowers for his wife Cherie and the Iraq war, Mr Blair took part in the show's quiz, You Say We Pay.
It involved Mr Blair and Judy Finnigan trying to guess the names of six objects or personalities from clues provided by a viewer.
Mr Blair looked as if he was not sure what was happening when he was placed in the hot seat. He was completely baffled by the first question, relating to the racing commentator John McCririck, but correctly guessed the next celebrity as Sharon Stone, the actress.
Mr Blair was stumped by a family pet (guinea pig), a green vegetable like a banana (courgette) and vehicle used by farmers in their fields (tractor). The last personality was a jazz pianist - and someone helpfully shouted to him: Jools Holland.
The viewer's prize was £6,000, but Mr Blair looked as if he had been through an excruciating experience. Labour campaign managers are expected to demand that he makes more such appearances as the election approaches.
Earlier, Mr Blair disclosed he did not intend to send flowers to his wife Cherie on Valentine's Day on Monday, but might make some other romantic gesture. Recently, Mr Blair admitted never sending her flowers during their 25-year marriage.
Mrs Blair rang the show last week to confirm it but added she would be suspicious if he started now.
Pressed yesterday on whether his wife could expect a bouquet on Monday, Mr Blair stood by his no flower policy. "I don't and I won't. I will do something sufficiently romantic," he said.
He said his wife was "very independent", sometimes "stroppy", "very strong" and he was proud of her. "We are a strong family and that is what matters," he added.
