The Queen's Hall Arts Centre at Hexham in Northumberland is the location where four contenders from the north and east of England compete for a place in the semi-finals. John Taylor (headmaster) The life and career of Beniamino Gigli Sandra Pitman (teacher) The life and times of Peter the Great of Russia Richard McLaughlin (writer) The history of professional world-heavyweight boxing Paul Henderson (Oxfam district organiser) Russian music 1860-1960