Mastermind 

A long-running series in which members of the public sit in a black chair to answer questions on a specialist subject and general knowledge.

Creator:

Bill Wright

Stars:

John Humphrys, Magnus Magnusson, Gareth Kingston

3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
John Humphrys	...	Self - Host / ... 288 episodes, 2003-2020

Storyline

A long-running series in which members of the public sit in a black chair to answer questions on a specialist subject and general knowledge.

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Plot Keywords:

long running tv | british | one word title | spotlight | chair | 

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Genres:

Game-Show

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Magnus Magnusson years, the questions and responses were carefully measured to give an optimum 20 questions per two-minute round. Each contestant's general knowledge round included one question about their home region, history, geography, literature, and science. According to question setter Janet Barker in a Radio Times article in 2010, modern general knowledge rounds take the individual contenders' backgrounds into account: "if someone's got a career in science they might have a slightly harder one [on science] in their general knowledge than someone who was a musician."

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Magnus Magnusson: I've started so I'll finish.

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Connections

Referenced in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾: Episode #1.2 (1985)

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Soundtracks

Approaching Menace
Written by Neil Richardson
[Theme]

User Reviews

That dreaded black chair

I often watched Mastermind when Magnus Magnusson presented it but he quit in 1997 and the series was revived in 2003 with John Humphrys as presenter. I still watch it sometimes.

This quiz features two rounds, the first one is where the four contestants are asked questions on the subject they have chosen and round two is a general knowledge round. The contestant with the highest score goes through to the next stage.

Mastermind is noted for several things, most notably that dreaded black leather chair and it also has a notable theme and that famous saying: "I've started, so I'll finish", which John Humphrys now uses. At least that is still used.

Mastermind is now shown on BBC2 on a weekday evening during prime time. Certainly a lot better that rubbish makeover shows and reality programmes.

Details

Official Sites:

BBC [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 September 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

Celebrity Mastermind

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Hat Trick Productions, Hindsight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo

Color:

Color