Blue Peter's Abby Cook branded a 'hero' after Celebrity Mastermind win
What Did You Overlook?
Blue Peter host Abby Cook gained many new admirers after her appearance on a Christmas special of Celebrity Mastermind on Monday evening. The wheelchair racer and television figure showcased her skills while supporting the LGBT+ youth charity The Proud Trust.
The 21-year-old celebrity faced some backlash on social media from users who were perplexed by her decision to rest her feet on the iconic black chair. However, many fans quickly came to her defense, pushing back against the criticism.
"Understanding The What, How, And Why"
Abby Cook responded to inquiries regarding the TV series Sherlock, which she chose as her area of expertise. (BBC)
Cook was born with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a condition that weakens the body's connective tissues. This can result in severe fatigue and pain, and her joints can dislocate more easily. In addition to her television appearances, she has also taken part in adaptive sports, such as wheelchair racing and basketball.
The speaker uses a wheelchair and, while she was on Mastermind, she put her feet up on a black chair that doesn’t offer the same support or design as her wheelchair. Some people on social media reacted negatively, viewing her choice of seating as disrespectful.
Fortunately, some people defended her. One commenter on X stated, "Nine points. No passes. Abby can position herself however she likes." Another supporter expressed, "As someone who uses a wheelchair, Abby has become my new inspiration."
In the meantime, one audience member pointedly addressed the trolls, commenting: "It's amusing to see how much these sensitive folks care about how a woman sits in a chair, especially considering she uses a wheelchair. They seem to overlook whether it's a matter of pain relief or comfort."
Abby Cook became part of the Blue Peter presenting team in 2023. (PA/Getty)
During the segment focused on her area of expertise, Cook answered all nine questions correctly on the TV show Sherlock. She also earned an additional seven points from general knowledge questions, bringing her total to 16, which secured her victory for that episode.
A star from BBC's Blue Peter shared that she was discovered on TikTok, which led her to land her dream job through Instagram. (Daily Record, 3 min read)
BBC Mastermind fans express frustration over a question they found to be 'excessively lengthy' (Yahoo Entertainment, 3 min read)
The new Blue Peter host describes the experience of joining the television show as both "surreal and thrilling" (PA Media, 2 min read).
Cook shared with host Clive Myrie that winning Mastermind felt just as significant as earning a Blue Peter badge. After the show, she mentioned, "Being in the black chair was likely more challenging than any Blue Peter task I’ve tackled. I was so nervous. The pressure is on you; it’s intimidating and intense, but I managed to stay calm and ended up with the trophy."
What Happened On Celebrity Mastermind?
Clive Myrie hosts the popular quiz program Mastermind, including its celebrity version. (BBC)
Stand-up comic Nabil Abdulrashid narrowly missed winning, ending up with the same score as Cook. However, he lost because he skipped a question about his area of expertise: Bruce Lee's career.
In the competition, there were other contestants including royal reporter Jennie Bond, who tackled questions related to Peppa Pig, and radio host Des Clarke. Clarke picked professional snooker player Stephen Hendry as his area of expertise.
Celebrity Mastermind will be on tonight at 7:45 PM on BBC Two, and it will continue to air every day at 7:30 PM until New Year's Day.
