De slimste mens is in many ways the most match-fixed quiz-show on TV: the contestants are chosen from among the ranks of the “bekende Vlamingen” (well-known Flemish), with this year the addition of two Dutch guests and one Walloon politician. The presenter is a movie director famous for his laugh. The jury who comment on questions and competitors is made up of comedians. It’s a long way from the highbrow British quiz University Challenge.

Linda De Win, who presents Villa politica on the VRT, had the temerity to be a woman of 53. She refused to flutter her eyelashes, even in the presence of love-object Erik Van Looy, the quizmaster. She seemed too keen on winning, it was said, though anyone looking at the clips will see only a hesitant and nervous player. The fact that she walked all over male competitors to rack up a record-equalling 11 appearances ensured that she would make enemies: there were even Facebook groups devoted to hating her. One of them called for her death.

In the last episode, she competed against the beloved Van Looy and against the extremely tactical Vandermeersch. Linda beat Peter in the final using his own strategy against him (letting on-air seconds tick silently by). She won the final question by remembering that Paul Newman puts out his own salad dressing.

Hers is another victory for women and for journalists (the 2007 winner was Annelies Rutten of Het Nieuwsblad), and especially for VRT journalists (the 2009 winner was her colleague Freek Braeckman). It’s also a victory for underdogs everywhere, and we at Flanders Today salute her.