By Craig Smith

A FIFE woman who beat breast cancer has again defied the odds by emerging triumphant on a popular TV quiz show.

Grace Black, from Glenrothes, braved the wrath of host Anne Robinson and managed to outwit eight other contestants to win £2660 on the Weakest Link, in a show which aired on BBC 2 last night.

Grace initially applied to appear on the quiz back in 2006 but was diagnosed with breast cancer in October that year and could not attend auditions.

However, after a six-month battle against the disease she was given the all-clear and went on to hold her nerve to take home the prize money.

As well as her day job at Forbo Nairn in Kirkcaldy, Grace is pursuing a career as a jazz singer and recorded her first album just a year after she was told she was in remission.

Most of the profits will go to breast cancer charities and, having had to keep quiet about her win until yesterday, the budding star revealed the money had allowed her to put the CD into production.

“I was shocked and stunned to win because I did not expect it at all but I was so grateful and delighted because this gave me the money I needed to start recording the CD that I wanted to do for Cancer Research UK,” she said last night.

“Somehow, by hook or by crook, I got through to the final round—despite a naughty contestant called Spencer trying to get rid of me when I was the strongest link—and then I thought, ‘Oh, here goes, I have got to the final round and this is when I am going to fail.’

“However, fate or some other force stepped in and I won £2660. I was nervous and thrilled to watch myself on TV but have taped it for posterity so I have my little bit of fame to pass on as a memory to my grandchildren—if I am ever lucky enough to get any.”

Grace revealed she has been a fan of the show since it began and took a chance in applying.

“I was asked to go for an audition but unfortunately by this time I had been diagnosed with breast cancer and could not attend,” she said.

“The researchers did not give up on me, though, and they phoned me a couple of times while I was ill and, finally, after my treatment was finished, I was able to go along to an audition in Dundee in July.

“The omens were not good for that day because the buses and trains were not running on time so I arrived at the hotel where the audition was taking place over half an hour late.

“I thought my chance of getting on the show had gone, but somehow I managed to convince the researcher and the show’s producers that I would be a good contestant and I got the call a couple of weeks later to go down to record at Pinewood Studios.”

Grace added, “Anne Robinson was very complimentary when I won, especially about my singing, although she did have a go about a few things.”