Back in 2017 on the final of BBC’s ‘Mastermind’ Isabelle Heward impressed us – as she always does – with her knowledge of the Life and Films of Billy Wilder.

After making it to the semi-finals, the Lincolnshire resident fought off stiff competition and made it to the final.

Her specialist subject in the final was The Life and Films of director Billy Wilder.

At the BBC’s expense and in order to film an intro to her appearance on the show Isabelle travelled to Los Angeles and got the chance to sit at a table in Billy Wilder’s favourite restaurant – Mr Chow – and chat to the maître d’.

Here BELOW is Billy Wilder with Marilyn Monroe

Isabelle spent a week in Hollywood and knowing as I do, that she is a great film fan with a vast knowledge and terrific memory, I know that she would have been thrilled to go there. In truth, when she came to visit California, she had not flown overseas for quite a few years and had never been to the Movie Capital but she took it on, enjoyed the experience and duly returned with a short film record of her visit there.

This film was shown on the Mastermind Programme – The Final – which Isabelle won.

Isabelle has made a number of Television and Radio appearances on various Quiz Shows prior to her winning the Mastermind Trophy and she does continue to be asked onto various shows.

In the semi final of the 2017 Mastermind there was a three way play off of those who had tied and Isabelle won that. After that show was broadcast, she told me that although she was never confident of winning normally, when she knew she was in that play-off she just ‘knew’ that she would win – as she did.