Should you ever be faced by a tricky crossword, then try and call in a celebrity fireman to help - not a university-educated lawyer.

That, at least, was the outcome of the BBC quiz show 'Test the Nation' held just before Christmas, which also allowed viewers to participate.

Groups of 50 representatives from seven walks of life were spotlighted in the studio, and while the team of lawyers came out ahead of armed forces families, magicians, beauticians and wheel clampers (thank goodness), they lagged behind firefighters and celebrities.

The fact that two of the lawyers - Myles McIntosh, a partner at Kent firm Cripps Harries Hall, and James McNeil, an assistant at City firm Dechert - finished the joint highest scorers both in the studio and among the watching millions was some consolation.

When Mr McIntosh told presenter Phillip Schofield that he had found the questions 'ridiculously hard', Mr Schofield replied: 'Now there's an honest lawyer.' So well done to Mr McIntosh for both being a smarty-pants and also enhancing the reputation of the profession a little.