NEVER mind the Weakest Link – Tricia Mallon is officially the oldest link.

The 78-year-old from Bournemouth has been crowned the most elderly winner of the hit BBC 1 quiz show with the host who bites back.

Tricia battled it out against contestants many years her junior in yesterday evening’s show to take away the title of the Strongest Link and a cheque for £1,150.

“I didn’t win very much because I wasn’t very good at banking!” said Tricia, of Linmead Drive, Bear Cross.

Tricia entered after she saw an advert on how to become a contestant on the show and decided to apply. She went through an interview process before being picked.

Talking about the show’s notoriously tough host, Anne Robinson, Tricia said: “I really liked her. I take all the banter with a pinch of salt. I know some people don’t find her very funny but I do.

“Afterwards she came up to me and shook my hand, telling me I was the oldest ever winner.”

The Weakest Link is a quick-fire general knowledge quiz where contestants must decide at the end of each round which of their number should be eliminated.