Strong drinks and weakest links

Fans of quiz show The Weakest Link can now subject themselves to the sting of Anne Robinson's withering putdowns - pint in hand at the pub.

The Farmers in Sevenoaks, Kent, has been pulling in the punters by holding "Weakest Link nights" in which drinkers can have their fill of beer and abuse by taking part in a live version of the TV quiz.

And the pub game is made even more scarily authentic because the quizmistress is pub manager Barbara New - whose resemblance to Anne Robinson is unmistakeable.

As with the BBC show's contestants, customers at The Farmers fear red-headed, black-clad Ms New and her tyrannical questioning, but they love her too.

In the pub, 12 sombre, frightened faces are arranged in a semi-circle, and Ms New stands in the centre. The insults fly as quickly as the questions.

"What might be a 12 in London, a 10 in New York and a 40 in Rome?" she snaps. "Pass!" replies a red-faced Andy, 37. "Dress sizes! - did you not go to school?" Ms New admonishes acidly.

"What is the main ingredient of Borsch?" she asks. "Carrots" replies Kate, 21. "Beetroot! Can you not tell the difference between beetroot and carrots?" says the stern inquisitor, glaring over the rim of her glasses.

"Who is wasting my time? Vote off the Weakest Link!" commands Ms New. The unlucky individual is Tom. Asked why they voted, the remaining contestants stammer: "He just wasn't up to the job," and "He got more wrong than me!"

Tom, who is celebrating his 21st birthday, shakes his head in puzzlement. "I think it was tactical voting," he says.

Jane, 29, is next to be voted off, having been reduced to tears by Ms New. Afterwards she said: "It's all just a bit of fun, but even so it's surprising how stressed I felt, and how awesome Anne - I mean Barbara - is. Even though this is just my local, it's still really embarrassing when you get a question wrong."