A regional political journalist scooped a £5,000 jackpot on a TV quiz show – thanks to his daughter’s knowledge of London railway stations.

Paul Geater, political reporter at the East Anglian Daily Times, appeared on BBC One quiz Pointless with daughter Charlotte yesterday evening.

The show tests contestants’ obscure knowledge and, after making it through three rounds to the final, the pair were challenged on their knowledge of public transport in the capital.

They were tasked with naming a station on the London tube and rail network containing the word ‘Road’, ‘Street’ or ‘Town’, which had not been named during a survey of 100 people, in order to win the cash prize.

Paul Geater and his daughter Charlotte celebrate winning the jackpot

Luckily Charlotte, who lived in London for two years, correctly identified Stratford High Street as a ‘Pointless answer’ allowing them to take home the money.

In a piece about his experience for the EADT, Paul wrote: “Charlotte’s two years of living in London, though saved us in the end. When asked to name stations with the word Town, Road or Street in them I could only think of the fairly tame Holloway Road and Caledonian Road. Good, but never likely to be pointless.

“Charlotte said quite calmly: ‘I went through Stratford High Street on the DLR every day… I think.’ So we agreed that would be one of our questions. We put it first because once she’d said it, she started to have doubts. However they became gloriously unfounded. The slot slipped to the Pointless marker and we ended up with £2,500 each.

“I say I did the heavy lifting to get us the final. Charlotte got us over the line! When Alexander [Armstrong, presenter] asked what we would do with the money, I said I fancied a trip with my wife to Berlin. We’re heading there this autumn.

“And I also managed to get the garden sorted out with a new patio which I really enjoy. Charlotte’s money has enabled her to go on a few nice holidays. It was a great experience, and a little bit of me is tempted to apply for another show one day.”