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Late Eggheads star Chris Hughes left a quarter of his £200,000 fortune to four charities – and the rest to his cousin.
The late TV quiz show expert died aged 77 on January 29 last year at his home in Crewe, Cheshire.
His estate was worth £199,997 when he passed away. The net value was £195,385, his grant of probate document has revealed.
In his will, kind-hearted Chris left £20,000 to Cancer Research UK, £10,000 to the British Red Cross and £10,000 each to Samaritans and Medecins Sans Frontieres.
The remaining sum of £145,385 was left to his cousin Thelma Symons.
He also stated he wished to be cremated in the will which was made in June 2015.
The newly released Grant of Probate document reads: ‘Christopher John Hughes of Crossway, Crewe died on 29 January 2025.
‘The last will and testament of Christopher John Hughes was proved and registered before the High Court of Justice.
Late Eggheads star Chris Hughes left a quarter of his £200,000 fortune to four charities – and the rest to his cousin
‘The application has stated that the gross value of the estate amounts to £199,997 and the net value amounts to £195,385.’
His will reads: ‘I give and bequeath the sum of £20,000 free of tax to Cancer Research UK.
‘I give and bequeath the sum of £10,000 free of tax to the British Red Cross.
‘I give and bequeath the sum of £10,000 free of tax to Samaritans.
‘I give and bequeath the sum of £10,000 free of tax to Medecins Sans Frontieres.
‘I devise and bequeath the residue of my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever to my cousin Thelma Symons.’
In February last year, the Eggheads social media page posted: ‘It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Eggheads great Chris Hughes.
‘Chris joined the show in 2003 and over the next 20 years gave us not only brilliant answers but very many laughs and happy memories.
‘He will be hugely missed by all his Eggheads family.’
Born in Enfield, Mr Hughes was educated at the local grammar school before going on to become a train driver and a railway worker.
He first came to major public attention in 1983 by winning Mastermind and went on to also win Brain of Britain – becoming one of only seven people to do so.
Weakest Link host Anne Robinson once described him as ‘the best contestant we have had on the Weakest Link’ before he was voted out in the last elimination round without getting one question wrong.
Mr Hughes joined Eggheads in 2003 and went on to appear on the show for two decades.











