Bill Wright
Director
Mastermind (1972)
2018/19
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
S45E1 - Episode 1
John Humphrys presents the first heat of the series as the hunt for the nation's Mastermind gets back underway. This episode's specialist subjects are The West Wing, Bob Marley, Neil Gaiman's Sandman series and John Hawkwood.
Oct. 5, 2018, midnight
S45E2 - Episode 2
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on Alan Turing, the Golden Gate Bridge, the films of Frank Capra and Emperor Vespasian.
Oct. 12, 2018, midnight
S45E3 - Episode 3
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on the Alien films, Peter Gabriel, the history of Prague and King Henry VII.
Oct. 19, 2018, midnight
S45E4 - Episode 4
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as John Humphrys grills four more contenders on their specialist subjects and general knowledge. The chosen subjects in this episode are the history of Zimbabwe, Prince Henry the Navigator, Sunderland AFC and the novelist Elizabeth Taylor.
Oct. 26, 2018, midnight
S45E5 - Episode 5
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on the films of John Hughes, Billie Holiday, the poet Keith Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.
Nov. 2, 2018, midnight
S45E6 - Episode 6
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on Mark E Smith and The Fall, letters of the New Testament, the history of the Wrens and Sir Isaac Newton.
Nov. 9, 2018, midnight
S45E7 - Episode 7
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as John Humphrys tests four more contenders on their specialist subject and general knowledge. The subjects are Rudyard Kipling, Clement Attlee, Glamorgan CCC and Florence Nightingale.
Nov. 16, 2018, midnight
S45E8 - Episode 8
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as John Humphrys tests four more contenders on their specialist subject and general knowledge. The subjects are Cher, the Cambridge Spy Ring, Tove Jansson and the Derby.
Nov. 23, 2018, midnight
S45E9 - Episode 9
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on Sir Bobby Robson, James Kier Hardie, links golf courses and British submarines.
Dec. 14, 2018, midnight
S45E10 - Episode 10
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as John Humphrys tests four more contenders on their specialist subject and general knowledge. The subjects are Gerhard Richter, the 44 Scotland Street novels, Alexander Hamilton and Emma, Lady Hamilton.
Dec. 21, 2018, midnight
S45E11 - Episode 11
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on REM, Edward Lear, Gustav Klimt and the FA Cup.
Dec. 28, 2018, midnight
S45E12 - Episode 12
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on the Wright Brothers, Jeeves and Wooster, the Rumpole stories and Olympic track and field.
Jan. 11, 2019, midnight
S45E13 - Episode 13
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as John Humphrys tests four more contenders on their specialist subject and general knowledge. Tonight's subjects are Albert Einstein, MC Beaton's Hamish Macbeth novels, Sir Joseph Paxton and the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten.
Jan. 18, 2019, midnight
S45E14 - Episode 14
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on the World Cup, the Battle of Stalingrad, the novels of Sarah Waters and John Knox.
Jan. 25, 2019, midnight
S45E15 - Episode 15
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Hockney, Tony Benn and John Buchan.
Feb. 1, 2019, midnight
S45E16 - Episode 16
The hunt for the nation’s Mastermind continues as John Humphrys tests four more contenders on their Specialist Subject and General Knowledge. Tonight’s subjects are the films of Wes Anderson, Richard III, the England rugby team and the novels of Nancy Mitford.
Feb. 8, 2019, midnight
S45E17 - Episode 17
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on the Best Picture Oscar, Greek mythology, Joseph Bazalgette and the history of Manchester and Salford.
Feb. 15, 2019, midnight
S45E18 - Episode 18
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on the children of Queen Victoria, the novels of Penelope Fitzgerald, the Doors and Carl Gustaf Mannerheim.
Feb. 22, 2019, midnight
S45E19 - Episode 19
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on Vivien Leigh, The Cazalet Chronicles, 1990s hip-hop and the Flight of the Earls.
March 8, 2019, midnight
S45E20 - Episode 20
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on Prince, Thomas Telford, the Julio-Claudian dynasty and the novels of Charles Dickens.
March 15, 2019, midnight
S45E21 - Episode 21
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on the Goons, the Trojan War, Egon Schiele and the novels of Mary Wesley.
March 22, 2019, midnight
S45E22 - Episode 22
The hunt for the nation’s Mastermind continues as John Humphrys tests four more contenders on their specialist subject and general knowledge. Tonight’s subjects are 1970s pop, Neville Chamberlain, Sparta and CS Lewis.
March 29, 2019, midnight
S45E23 - Episode 23
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on the films of Heath Ledger, Tycho Brahe, Sarah Kane and Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury.
April 5, 2019, midnight
S45E24 - Episode 24
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on Henry VIII, Britpop, Christopher Isherwood and the Royal Navy in the First World War.
April 19, 2019, midnight
S45E25 - Episode 25
John Humphrys asks the questions as the classic quiz reaches the semi-final stage. Tonight’s subjects include the Festival of Britain, 2 Tone Records and the life and times of Samuel Johnson.
April 26, 2019, midnight
S45E26 - Episode 26
John Humphrys asks the questions in a semi-final of the classic quiz. Tonight’s subjects include the life of Aneurin Bevan, Top 40 pop music of the 1960s and the fiction of John Steinbeck.
May 10, 2019, midnight
S45E27 - Episode 27
John Humphrys asks the questions in a semi-final of the classic quiz. Tonight’s subjects include the Ottoman Empire, the Peter Wimsey novels of Dorothy L Sayers and the Grand National.
May 17, 2019, midnight
S45E28 - Episode 28
John Humphrys asks the questions in a semi-final of the classic quiz. Subjects include Queen Victoria, the plays of Ibsen and test cricket between England and India.
May 24, 2019, midnight
S45E29 - Episode 29
John Humphrys asks the questions in a semi-final of the classic quiz. Tonight’s subjects include the human body, Leicester City Football Club and the life and works of Frida Kahlo.
May 31, 2019, midnight
S45E30 - Episode 30
John Humphrys asks the questions in a semi-final of the classic quiz. Tonight’s subjects include the life of Charles II, the Plant Hunters and Delta blues music.
June 7, 2019, midnight
S45E31 - The Final
John Humphrys asks the questions in the grand final of the classic quiz to decide who will be crowned as the nation’s Mastermind.tThe specialist subjects of the finalists are the films of The Marx Brothers, the national parks of the USA, Owain Glyndwr and his revolt, The Fortunes of War series by Olivia Manning, Frank Matcham’s theatres and the life and times of Mary Cassatt.
June 14, 2019, 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
Rate this show
Add {Movie} to static lists