A TRIO of Potters Bar teachers missed out on a chance of a �15,000 jackpot after being knocked out of a TV quiz show. Kevin Whelan, Gavin Simpson and Peter Clift, who work at Dame Alice Owen's School, had made it to the semi-finals of BBC2's Knowitalls.

A TRIO of Potters Bar teachers missed out on a chance of a �15,000 jackpot after being knocked out of a TV quiz show.

Kevin Whelan, Gavin Simpson and Peter Clift, who work at Dame Alice Owen's School, had made it to the semi-finals of BBC2's Knowitalls.

But in the show screened yesterday (Thursday) they failed to win a place in the grand final.

Gavin, the head of economics at Dame Alice Owen's, described their run to the semis as "very enjoyable".

"We have loved it," he said. But the modest 35-year-old added: "We assumed we would be knocked out in the first round."

Knowitalls, which first hit our screens in July, is presented by author, actor and former MP Gyles Brandreth.

In a format unique to TV quiz shows, it has no questions.

Rather contestants are awarded points for impressing a panel of experts with their knowledge across a range of subjects.