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A woman from Lancashire has revealed her recipe for success after being crowned Mastermind 2026 champion.

Diane Howe, a housewife and carer from Lancaster, claimed the title in the finale of Clive Myrie's BBC quiz show, which broadcast on Monday night.

She secured 28 points and claimed the lead following a nail-biting final tie-break, which had occurred only once before throughout the programme's history.

Diane, who had previously featured on Mastermind in 2019 but was eliminated in the opening round, notched 12 points on her specialist subject, US astronaut Jim Lovell.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, April 21, the champion spoke to hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent and presenter Clive Myrie about her victory, reports the Mirror.

She said: "It means everything to win it, I never thought I'd win it. Watching Mastermind from an early age and seeing all the grand finalists and the winners, and to have this [trophy] in my hands, it's amazing."

Diane, who also volunteers and participates in a quiz league on a weekly basis, said Mastermind was "a big part" of the hobby she has enjoyed for several years.

Discussing her preparation and the secret behind her triumph, Diane revealed: "It's really about focusing, if you get something wrong, you've just got to say, that's wrong, just pass and carry on. You can't get bogged down in something you've got wrong, it's really tunnel vision."

She continued: "Just read a couple of really good sources, and look on the internet for extra material, just really read, re-read, make notes, condense notes, and then try and question spot."

Diane had chosen Lovell of Apollo 13 fame as her specialist subject, and told Jon and Sally about her inspiration: "I thought he was an amazing man, I've always loved science fiction, and I loved Apollo 13 the film, and I thought he was an amazing man to do what he did, to stay calm, when you're 250,000 miles away and there's an explosion on his craft, what can you do? And the way he dealt with it and commanded the situation was amazing."

Clive, who appeared on BBC Breakfast via video link, shared a congratulatory message to Diane, and said: "I ask something like 1300-1500 questions a series, and it boiled down to two Roman roads meeting in Lincoln, that's unbelievable! And to win by one point is incredible.

"The thing about Diane is, she's just so cool. Butter would not melt in her mouth. She just ambled onto the set, sat in the chair, didn't betray a single set of nerves, it was incredible, and that is the key about Mastermind."

Following her win, Diane told the BBC: "It's just an amazing feeling. I'm so happy...and relieved." Of the glass bowl trophy, she added: "It's very heavy...I don't want to drop it."

"You only live once, so do things while you can," Diane, who has previously skydived, added, while her husband said he was "extremely proud".

Clive also said: "Many congratulations to Diane just pipping Lorna at the very end.

"You could really feel the tension in the air as these two magnificent quizzers went toe-to-toe in what was a heartstopping tie-break.

"I was on the edge of my seat in the studio, never mind the viewers at home! It was a wonderful finale to a wonderful series."

Mastermind is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.