Bill Wright
Director
Mastermind (1972)
2005
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
S32E1 - Episode 1
The forbidding black chair beckons as the evergreen general-knowledge quiz returns. What weird and wonderful subjects will the four contestants choose? John Humphrys asks the questions.
March 8, 2005, midnight
S32E2 - Episode 2
The life and works of Benjamin Britten and Sylvia Plath , aircraft of the First World War and the travels of Michael Palin are tonight's four specialist subjects. John Humphrys asks the questions.
March 15, 2005, midnight
S32E3 - Episode 3
From philosophy to film, pilots to pop stars, tonight's diverse range of subjects are the Pre-Socratics, the life and films of Judy Garland , the Royal Air Force 1939-1945 and the Beatles. With John Humphrys.
March 22, 2005, midnight
S32E4 - Episode 4
Contestants field questions from John Humphrys on the French Revolution 1789-1794, the life and novels of George Eliot , the history of the World
Chess championship and the Trumptonshire Trilogy of Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley.
March 29, 2005, midnight
S32E5 - Episode 5
The specialist subjects are the Age of the Welsh Princes 800-1283, the life and career of prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, the Swallows and Amazons novels of Arthur Ransome and orchestral film scores 1933-1980. John Humphrys asks the questions.
April 5, 2005, midnight
S32E6 - Episode 6
Tonight's specialist subjects include the Horatio Hornblower novels of CS Forester, English international rugby union since 1990, the life and works of artist Stanley Spencer and English silver 1478-1837. Presented by John Humphrys.
April 12, 2005, midnight
S32E7 - Episode 7
British political history 1905-2004, the life and career of Muhammad Ali , the musicals of Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Conan Doyle 's
Sherlock Holmes are the specialist subjects. John Humphrys puts the questions to the black chair's occupants.
April 19, 2005, midnight
S32E8 - Episode 8
Plays, poetry, piety and pictures all feature, as the contenders demonstrate their knowledge of the life and works of Dylan Thomas , the Old Testament, the films of Clint Eastwood and the life and works of Guillaume Apollinaire. With John Humphrys.
April 26, 2005, midnight
S32E9 - Episode 9
Contestants answer questions on Henry VIII , Emily Bronte , opera singer Andrea Bocelli and locomotive pioneer Richard Trevithick. With John Humphrys.
May 3, 2005, midnight
S32E10 - Episode 10
The Clash, the libretti of WS Gilbert , the history of spirits and liqueurs and Ancient Egypt 1570-1070 BC are the specialist subjects. With John Humphrys.
May 10, 2005, midnight
S32E11 - Episode 11
The series returns after a six-week break with a varied mix of specialist subjects: the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871, the plays of Noël Coward, World
Snooker championships from 1977 and the life and novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. Host John Humphrys invites the contestants to occupy the forbidding black chair.
June 23, 2005, midnight
S32E12 - Episode 12
Tonight's varied mix of specialist subjects are: the life and career of political economist and reformer
Henry Fawcett , TV sitcom Dinnerladies, the life and work of TE Lawrence, and the literary associations of Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Lake District. John Humphrys fires the questions at the occupants of the forbidding black chair.
June 30, 2005, midnight
S32E13 - Episode 13
Tonight's varied mix of specialist subjects are: the Harrier and other vertical take-off and landing aircraft; Chequers, the incumbent prime minister's grand country residence in Buckinghamshire; the Discworld novels of Terry Pratchett ; and rock giants the Who. John Humphrys fires the questions.
July 5, 2005, midnight
S32E14 - Episode 14
Specialist subjects for the contestants are the life and career of American president
Lyndon B Johnson , the Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1658, 1, Claudius, and the Just William books by Richmal Crompton. John Humphrys poses the questions.
July 12, 2005, midnight
S32E15 - Episode 15
It's bonnets to ballroom dancing as contestants are quizzed on the novels of Jane Austen, naked eye astronomy in Britain, the American Civil War 1861-1865 and the musical films of Fred Astaire.
John Humphrys asks the questions.
July 19, 2005, midnight
S32E16 - Episode 16
Specialist subjects for the quartet of contestants are the Labour government 1974-79, the life and work of comic songwriters Flanders and Swann, the ecclesiastical calendar and the Manchester music scene from 1976 until 1991. With John Humphrys.
July 26, 2005, midnight
S32E17 - Episode 17
Specialist subjects are the life and novels of Raymond Chandler , pop group the Go-Betweens, the ex-leader of the Labour Party Hugh Gaitskell , and the films of Hollywood star Bruce Willis. With John Humphrys.
Aug. 2, 2005, midnight
S32E18 - Episode 18
Specialist subjects for the quartet of contestants are the life and work of Marie Curie , Ireland during the Second World War, the novels of Raymond Zazie dans le Metro Queneau and the history plays of Shakespeare.
John Humphrys fires the questions.
Aug. 16, 2005, midnight
S32E19 - Episode 19
Specialist subjects tonight are the life and times of Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788), the work of Edward Hopper , 20th-century Parliamentary scandals, and the life of Nancy Mitford. With John Humphrys.
Aug. 23, 2005, midnight
S32E20 - Episode 20
Specialist subjects are the life and reign of Louis XI of France, the stage plays of Tom Stoppard , cult 60s series The Prisoner, and the life and work of composer Frederick Delius. With John Humphrys.
Aug. 30, 2005, midnight
S32E21 - Episode 21
Another typically wide-ranging selection of specialist subjects includes the life and work of Sir Peter Scott , national flags, Test cricket since and TV sitcom The Good Life. With John Humphrys.
Sept. 6, 2005, midnight
S32E22 - Episode 22
Tonight's specialist subjects are the life and work of composer Giacomo Puccini , the novels of Sebastian Faulks , European nobility in the 16th century, and the classic sitcom Dad's Army. With John Humphrys.
Sept. 13, 2005, midnight
S32E23 - Episode 23
Igor Stravinsky , ice dance, Lord Randolph Churchill (the father of Winston) and Status Quo are tonight's specialist subjects. Presented by John Humphrys.
Sept. 20, 2005, midnight
S32E24 - Episode 24
The life and career of Bishop John William Colenso, the Anne novels of LM Montgomery, European birds and the work of Galton and Simpson are tonight's specialist subjects. Presented by John Humphrys.
Sept. 27, 2005, midnight
S32E25 - Episode 25
City churches of Sir Christopher Wren , the Sword of Honour trilogy, life and work of George Eastman and the life and films of James Stewart are the subjects as the second round heats begin. With John Humphrys
Oct. 4, 2005, midnight
S32E26 - Episode 26
The partnership of Rogers and Hammerstein, the history and culture of the Maya, rock group Queen, and the literary work of Lewis Carroll are the topics in this second-round heat. With John Humphrys.
Oct. 11, 2005, midnight
S32E27 - Episode 27
Britain's first abstract art movement, Vorticism; pleasure piers of the English seaside: the life and work of novelist Elizabeth Smart: and sitcom One Foot in the Grave, are the topics in this second-round heat.
Oct. 18, 2005, midnight
S32E28 - Episode 28
The life and work of Diego Velazquez , Pink Floyd , the life and work of George Crabbe and wines of the Loire Valley are the topics in this second-round heat.
Oct. 25, 2005, midnight
S32E29 - Episode 29
The role of Garibaldi in the Italian Unification, The Archers since 1970, the science-fiction novels of Arthur C Clarke, and rivers of Britain and Ireland are specialist subjects in the first of the semi-finals.
Nov. 1, 2005, midnight
S32E30 - Episode 30
The life and work of physicist Niels Bohr, the "Culture" novels of lain M Banks, the life and career of Warwick the Kingmaker and the life and films of Barbara Stanwyck are the specialist subjects in the second semi-final.
Nov. 1, 2005, midnight
S32E31 - The Final
It's the climax to this year's contest that, over the past few months, saw 96 contenders whittled down to just six. John Humphrys has the questions.
Nov. 8, 2005, 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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