A QUARTET of barmaids are out to prove they know just as much about pop as they do about pints - pop music, that is.

The four barmaids from the Cross Oak pub in Penmaen in Oakdale will be sharing centre-stage with Welsh-baiting battle axe Anne Robinson and Phillip Schofield to take part in the BBC1 programme 'Test The Nation' on pop music this Saturday night.

Lisa Phillips, 30, Louise Simpson, 19, Kate Tucker, 24, and Cat Harris, 22, were accepted onto the music-themed edition of the popular live programme after answering an advert in July and passing the subsequent telephone interviews.

They will join 37 other barmaids to pit their wits against groups of dentists, Elvis impersonators as well as the obligatory celebrity panel.

Paul Taylor, landlord of the Cross Oak pub, thought the programme would be an opportunity to dispel the notion that barmaids are lacking in grey matter.

"It is a nice achievement for the girls and from the pub's point of view it is great," he said.

"These are a bright bunch of ladies - Kate is currently studying for her masters at Bristol University, Louise is also off to Cardiff University to start a degree, Kath is studying to become a dentist and Lisa works as a tape duplicating supervisor in an audio library by day."

Mrs Phillips, who lives on Lewis Lewis Avenue, Blackwood, said: "I think a barmaid is often seen as a typical blonde who is nice but dim, but we are a young group and we have a lot going for us."

* The programme airs at 8.30pm on BBC1 on Saturday.