A QUIZMASTER is preparing to smash through the £50,000 charity fundraising barrier after eight years of testing people’s grey matter.

Chris Hunt, 33, started the monthly film, television and music contests when he worked in Purple Dog in Eld Lane, Colchester, eight years ago.

And the event was so popular the pub has held quizzes on the first Monday of every month ever since.

Despite no longer working there, Chris returns to take charge of the question and answer sessions as well as hosting other events at Three Wise Monkeys in Ipswich, the White Hart in Coggeshall and the Queen’s Head in West Bergholt.

He works his way around the venues on subsequent days changing the questions slightly for the different crowds.

He also runs special themed events monthly at the Three Wise Monkeys in Colchester and Ipswich where superfans of top series and shows like Star Wars, Game of Thrones and Gavin and Stacey have had their knowledge examined.

Each quiz raises cash for good causes and Chris will exceed £50,000 in total at the Purple Dog quiz next month which also happens to be the 100th at the venue.

He said he was delighted for the two milestones to come at once, and revels in making sure the events have something for everyone.

“I am absolutely chuffed,” he said.

“It is weird the two things coincide so neatly so we are making the next quiz a really big event.

“The trickiest part which I think I have got a lot better at is making sure everyone has a chance and feels like they are involved.

“I will have questions about pop music and metal.

“I like to think everybody feels like they have a chance to win.

“I’ve also never had anyone leave begrudgingly muttering about how it was too hard and the majority of people come because they enjoy it.”

His new found quizzing expertise has meant Chris spend a lot of his free time thinking up questions - with each of them having at least 110 different teasers.

“A lot of my spare time is spent writing questions.

“Admittedly, I’m quite geeky and all these things interest me so I quite like writing them.

“Sometimes an idea will pop into my head and I will note it down on my phone and go from there.

“Like everything the more you do it the more you get better.

“It started off completely by accident and now we are hitting the milestones I am so chuffed.”

The milestone quiz is at the Purple Dog on Monday, February 3. Teams of up to ten are welcome with entry £2 per head. Entrants are asked to arrive by 7.30pm.

For more information on upcoming quizzes go to facebook.com/filmtvandmusicquiz.