Evening Press receptionist Karen Clayton beat thousands of online contestants across the UK when she topped a TV entertainment quiz.

The mother-of-three was the overall winner in the BBC's Test The Nation internet competition which was broadcast live to five million people on Saturday.

Karen, 40, of Swinton, who works in our Malton office, completed the on-line test during the programme, and was congratulated live on air by Anne Robinson when she came out top with a score of 68 out of 70.

"She was actually really nice," said Karen.

"I think she was pleased it was a woman who won it, because overall men had done better."

Karen answered questions on film and television, remembering that the "baby" in Howard Hawks's Bringing Up Baby was a leopard, and that Humphrey Bogart won an Oscar for African Queen.

Karen didn't get a prize for winning, but her three children William, 12, Thomas ten, and nine-year-old Ellen were all very excited. "My mum is over the moon," she said.

Karen was told she fitted the profile of a "top scorer" because her favourite type of film is a thriller and she likes to read.

"The only thing that didn't fit was the television character I most identified with," she said.

"It should have been Victor Meldrew, but I put Marge Simpson!"

Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, March 15, 2005