Bill Wright
Director
Mastermind (1972)
1994
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness. Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the contestant's choice, the other a general knowledge round. Wright drew inspiration from his experiences of being interrogated by the Gestapo during World War II. The atmosphere is helped by Mastermind's famously ominous theme music, "Approaching Menace" by the British composer Neil Richardson. The quiz programme originated and was recorded in Manchester at studios such as New Broadcasting House and Granada Studios, before permanently moving to MediaCityUK in 2011.
Released Sept. 11, 1972
Episode 30 min
None+
Genres: Game Show, Talk, Talk Show
Keywords: tmdb.quiz, imdb.quiz-show, mdblist.has-trailer, imdb.general-knowledge, imdb.contestant, imdb.famous-opening-theme, imdb.long-running-tv + 12 more, imdb.one-word-title, imdb.spotlight, imdb.chair, imdb.question, imdb.non-fiction, tmdb.knowledge, imdb.game-show-host, imdb.1970s, imdb.1980s, imdb.1990s, imdb.british, imdb.quiz
Production Companies: Hat Trick Productions, Hindsight Productions
Network: BBC Two
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S22E1 - Episode 1
The forbidding black chair returns, contestants face the gruelling interrogation of questionmaster Magnus Magnusson, and the search is on to find the Mastermind of 1994. Tonight's first round heat comes from the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, where the specialised subjects of the first four competitors are the life and music of Bob Dylan, the life and career of Alexander the Great, the Monmouth Rebellion, and the life and films of Charlton Heston.
March 20, 1994, midnight
S22E2 - Episode 2
At the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Somerset, where tonight's special subjects are Richard Nixon, Sir Isaac Newton , K S Ranjitsinhji, and the Second Boer War.
March 27, 1994, midnight
S22E3 - Episode 3
Tonight at the town hall in Rochdale, four more contestants bid for a place in the semi-finals with special subjects on the life and major plays of Anton Chekhov , the history of British native pony breeds c. 1950, the history of rugby league in Britain, and the Inca civilisation.
April 3, 1994, midnight
S22E4 - Episode 4
From Rochdale Town Hall, where tonight's specialist subjects are the history and historic geography of Ayrshire; the life and career of Catherine de Valois (1401-37); the life and background of Shakespeare; the life and career of John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough. With Magnus Magnusson.
April 10, 1994, midnight
S22E5 - Episode 5
From the Dome Theatre, Brighton. Tonight's specialist subjects are the history of the Paris Metro to 1985, the life and works of Orson Welles , the life and music of Rossini, and the history of photography (1830-1980). With Magnus Magnusson.
April 17, 1994, midnight
S22E6 - Episode 6
The contest returns to Brighton's Dome Theatre with specialist subjects on the life and films of Clint Eastwood ; British higher education 1945-80; the life and works of Tchaikovsky; and the life and works of Laura Ingalls Wilder. With Magnus Magnusson.
April 24, 1994, midnight
S22E7 - Episode 7
Tonight's specialist subjects are the history of the Orient Express and Wagons-Lits Company; the life and reign of Edward IV; the life and career of Fred Karno (1866-1941), and Japan at war (1937-45). Magnus Magnusson puts the questions in the Countess of Huntingdon's Hall, Worcester.
May 1, 1994, midnight
S22E8 - Episode 8
From the Countess of Huntingdon's Hall, Worcester. The specialist subjects are the life and James Bond novels of Ian Fleming ; RAF and Luftwaffe aircraft of the Second World War; classical ballet since 1840; and the coinage of England 1066-1662. With Magnus Magnusson.
May 8, 1994, midnight
S22E9 - Episode 9
From Rochdale Town Hall. Tonight's specialist subjects are British birds; the life and works of Nevil Shute ; the life and works of Arnold Schoenberg; and the human geography of India from 1947. With Magnus Magnusson.
May 15, 1994, midnight
S22E10 - Episode 10
From Rochdale Town Hall. The specialist subjects are the history of Yorkshire County Cricket Club 1863-1969, the life and works of Igor Stravinsky , the life and reign of Mary Tudor , British military aircraft since 1914. With Magnus Magnusson.
May 29, 1994, midnight
S22E11 - Episode 11
From the Dome Theatre in Brighton. Specialist subjects are: British and American pop music 1955-85, the life and works of Kurt Vonnegut , British tunnels and bridges, and spiders.
June 19, 1994, midnight
S22E12 - Episode 12
From the Dome Theatre in Brighton. Specialist subjects are: the life and cases of Sir Bernard Spilsbury ; the life and works of Japanese prophet Nichiren; the life of Lord Peter Wimsey and novels of Dorothy L Sayers ; and Wellington's military campaign in the Peninsular War 1808-14.
June 26, 1994, midnight
S22E13 - Episode 13
From Haddo House, Aberdeenshire.
The subjects in the first semi-final are the history of the football World Cup, 1930-90; the life and music of Paul Simon; the history of the Labour Party; and the life and career of Napoleon Bonaparte. With Magnus Magnusson.
July 24, 1994, midnight
S22E14 - Episode 14
From Haddo House in Aberdeen. The subjects in the second semi-final are the life and Raj Quartet of Paul Scott ; the life and career of Heinz Guderian ; history of chemistry 1500-1870; and the life and works of James Joyce. With Magnus Magnusson.
July 31, 1994, midnight
S22E15 - Episode 15
From Oakham Castle in Leicestershire. The subjects in the third semi-final are Anglo-Saxon poetry; 19th century classical music; the history of computers; and American blues harmonica players (1935-65). With Magnus Magnusson.
Aug. 7, 1994, midnight
S22E16 - Episode 16
From Oakham Castle in Leicestershire. Tonight's five semi-finalists' subjects are: the English garden 1700-1914; the world chess championship since 1886; Wimbledon tennis championships; Samuel Beckett ; Sir Donald Bradman. With Magnus Magnusson.
Aug. 14, 1994, midnight
S22E17 - The Final
The 22nd Mastermind final comes from Coventry Cathedral, where civil servant John Wilson, George Davidson, a senior lecturer in chemistry, librarian Graham Roe, and English tutor Stephen Wood do battle for the 1994 title - and the coveted Caithness Glass trophy, to be presented by Bamber Gascoigne.
Their specialist subjects are: beers and breweries in Britain; the life and works of John Dalton; American classical music 1910-70, and the Irish rebellion.
Former winners have ranged from a retired ambassador to a train driver, and, most famously, the taxi drivers' champion Fred Housego.
"It attracts a really wide range of interests and professions, says producer Penelope Cowell Doe, who has worked on the series for five years. "Don't think having a formal education is at all important. Often those with the widest general knowledge are self-taught."
Aug. 21, 1994, midnight
Network: BBC Two
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 33810 min.
Released: Sept. 11, 1972
Last Air Date: Nov. 24, 2025, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR
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