Tube upholstery is Mastermind specialist subject

A woman who competed on Mastermind with Transport for London's (TfL) patterned upholstery as her specialist subject has said she is glad to see more people appreciating "beautiful design in public life".

Emily Medhurst said she chose to specialise in London's moquette, a durable, woollen seating material that is used in upholstery on public transport across the world, as she grew up in the capital and had "always been interested in textiles and design".

She appeared on the BBC quiz show wearing a vest that she had knitted that featured the London Overground moquette designed by Wallace Sewell.

Medhurst scored eight points on her chosen subject and came third during the episode of Mastermind.

She said it took approximately 100 hours to make the moquette-inspired garment, adding: "I just love the colours. It was a bit of a labour of love."

Medhurst said that as a child, she would regularly watch Mastermind, Only Connect and University Challenge.

"I'm not at university, and I didn't have two other people, so I thought 'I guess I'll have to do Mastermind'," she said of her decision to apply for the show.

The Londoner added that growing up, she was given 10p from her mother for every correct answer she gave while watching University Challenge.

"We would tally that up over the whole season."

On her choice of specialist subject, she said: "I've always been interested in textiles and design. I grew up in London and loved the Tube and the design that is part of TfL.

"I love public transport, I think everyone should have access to it.

"I went to an open day at Acton depot a couple of years ago and they had a stand there about moquette.

"It was the perfect marriage of my interests."

Medhurst accepted that she "probably knew more than the average person" when it came to the woven fabric, but added: "Going on Mastermind was a really good excuse to delve into the topic.

"There was a lot of revision leading up [to it]. I wasn't too nervous until the week before and then it really hit that I was actually going to be on the show."

She explained how she used books to revise the designs and their history, alongside the "really great" archive from the London Transport Museum.

Asked what made a good moquette, Medhurst said the fabric should have "a unique design, good use of colour and a good identity to the line or what it was representing".

"If you've lived in London or travelled in London, you've obviously seen it," she added.

"I think it's cool that in a time where we want to make everything cheap, easy and plain, people are noticing this thing that is beautiful design in public life."

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