RETIRED teacher John Sneddon has 'started but not finished' after coming within one correct answer of being in the Mastermind final.

The unlucky 65-year-old is considering having another go at the popular quiz show in two years' time.

Former Lakers teacher John was one of five contestants in the nail-biting semi-final screened last Friday night.

Three of the contestants finished on 25 points but John, who chose Edward Jenner as his specialist subject, missed out on being put through to the tie-break because of three passes.

"It was very frustrating watching it on Friday because I came within a question of the final and there were two or three I would have known with five seconds thought," he said.

"I told myself I that if the answer wasn't on the tip of my tongue by the time John Humphrys had finished asking the question, I'd pass.

"Afterwards the producer came up and said if it had been a different draw I could be in the final and why didn't I give it another go.

"I'll have to wait and see – I really enjoyed swotting again but when you get to 65 your brain cells are dying off every five minutes."

A decade ago the Milkwall man was on Countdown for a week. "Carol Vorderman gave me a kiss on the cheek and I didn't wash it for a week," he said.