Bill Wright
Director
Mastermind (1972)
2008/09
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
S35E1 - Episode 1
New series John Humphrys quizzes on Simon Raven, Newcastle United, Edward IV and Laurence Olivier.
Sept. 5, 2008, midnight
S35E2 - Episode 2
Specialisms tonight are Billy the Kid, the Short Stories of Saki, the Great Western Railway and the films of John Carpenter. With John Humphrys.
Sept. 12, 2008, midnight
S35E3 - Episode 3
John Humphrys asks about Noor Inayat-Khan, Ferdinand Magellan, Edith Wharton and Mods
Sept. 19, 2008, midnight
S35E4 - Episode 4
Questions on the late Stuart age, Steely Dan, boxer Joe Frazier and Robert Parker's Spenser novels.
Sept. 26, 2008, midnight
S35E5 - Episode 5
John Humphrys asks questions on subjects including Arthur Conan Doyle's Challenger novels.
Oct. 3, 2008, midnight
S35E6 - Episode 6
Specialist subjects this week include Rasputin, the Gospels of the New Testament, and West Indies Test cricket. John Humphrys asks the questions.
Oct. 10, 2008, midnight
S35E7 - Episode 7
John Humphrys poses the questions as four contestants test their specialist knowledge of Stax Records, the Romney Marsh novels of Monica Edwards, German battleship the Bismarck and the Welsh castles of Edward I.
Oct. 17, 2008, midnight
S35E8 - Episode 8
Specialist subjects include Scottish mathematician James Clerk Maxwell and the Mitford sisters.
Oct. 24, 2008, midnight
S35E9 - Episode 9
Tonight's specialist topics include the Harry Palmer novels and folk singer Tom Paxton.
Oct. 31, 2008, midnight
S35E10 - Episode 10
Tonight's specialist topics comprise the Victoria Cross, chess player Bobby Fischer, the Le Mans 24-hour race, and the life of Thomas Cochrane.
Nov. 7, 2008, midnight
S35E11 - Episode 11
Tonight's specialist subjects include the Coventry blitz and the Merthyr Rising of 1831.
Nov. 14, 2008, midnight
S35E12 - Episode 12
Specialist topics comprise the cricketer Ian Botham, the Munros of Scotland, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming.
Nov. 21, 2008, midnight
S35E13 - Episode 13
Topics tonight include rare breeds of British farm animals, Ghenghis Khan and Gothic architecture.
Nov. 28, 2008, midnight
S35E14 - Episode 14
Topics comprise WC Fields, Jonathan Creek, Tacitus and the life and career of Keith Moon.
Dec. 5, 2008, midnight
S35E15 - Episode 15
Tonight's four specialist subjects are the Ashes series of 1902, AE Housman, British punk rock and the Trans-Siberian Railway. With John Humphrys.
Jan. 30, 2009, midnight
S35E16 - Episode 16
Tonight's specialist subjects are the Peninsular War, pop singer Morrissey, the history of Chichester Cathedral in West Sussex, and the Great Fire of London. John Humphrys asks the questions.
Feb. 6, 2009, midnight
S35E17 - Episode 17
Tonight's specialist subjects are actor Sidney Poitier, British Trotskyism, number one hit singles, and the life and career of model and actress Edie Sedgwick. John Humphrys asks the questions.
Feb. 13, 2009, midnight
S35E18 - Episode 18
John Humphrys presents the general knowledge quiz, in which the specialist subjects tonight are the history of Chester Zoo, the Father Brown stories, Edward Carson and Tony Hancock.
Feb. 20, 2009, midnight
S35E19 - Episode 19
Tonight's four specialist subjects are John Wesley, Seinfeld, Kazimir Malevich and the Wars of the Roses. John Humphrys poses the questions.
Feb. 27, 2009, midnight
S35E20 - Episode 20
Specialist subjects are the Battle of Coronel and the Falklands War, British birds, sculptor Barbara Hepworth, and Anglo-Saxon kings 871-1016.
March 6, 2009, midnight
S35E21 - Episode 21
In the first semi-final John Humphrys asks questions on Scott's last expedition, Blake's 7, the School stories of PG Wodehouse and the Popish Plot.
March 13, 2009, midnight
S35E22 - Episode 22
Tonight's specialist subjects are Jackie Stewart, the novels of Wendy Holden, Honore de Balzac and Kraftwerk. John Humphrys poses the questions.
March 20, 2009, midnight
S35E23 - Episode 23
Tonight's specialist subjects are the novels of George Orwell, musician Gram Parsons, Italian politics and composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
April 3, 2009, midnight
S35E24 - Episode 24
Tonight's subjects are the Battle of Coronel and the Falklands War, British birds, sculptor Barbara Hepworth , and Anglo-Saxon kings from 871 to 1016.
April 10, 2009, midnight
S35E25 - Episode 25
In tonight's semi-final the specialised subjects are Scott's last expedition, cult TV series Blake's 7, the School stories of PG Wodehouse and the Popish Plot
April 17, 2009, midnight
S35E26 - Episode 26
Four contenders compete for a place in the final.
Tonight's specialist subjects comprise film director Fritz Lang, tennis legend Billie Jean King, Private Eye magazine and the life and work of Robert Maxwell.
May 8, 2009, midnight
S35E27 - Episode 27
Tonight's specialist subjects for the four semi-finalists comprise the Bonaparte dynasty, former prime minister Herbert Asquith, glam rock band Slade and the life and writings of Gilbert White. With John Humphrys
May 22, 2009, midnight
S35E28 - Episode 28
Tonight's specialist subjects for the four semi-finalists comprise the life and works of Mozart, the ghost stories of MR James, planets of the solar system and Norwich City FC. Presented by John Humphrys.
May 29, 2009, midnight
S35E29 - Episode 29
Specialist subjects in the fifth semi-final are Doctor Who in the 1970s, former US president John F Kennedy, singer/songwriter Billy Bragg and the Montalbano novels of Andrea Camilleri. John Humphrys hosts.
June 5, 2009, midnight
S35E30 - Episode 30
Tonight's specialist subjects are poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, the life of Paddy Mayne, Northampton Town FC and the life and work of Alfred Russel Wallace.
June 12, 2009, midnight
S35E31 - Grand Final
Six contenders battle it out to be crowned champion. Their specialist subjects comprise the Lewis and Clark expedition across America, Britain between the wars, Russian novels from 1831 to 1894, songwriting partnership Rodgers and Hart, the Ryder Cup and American presidents of the 19th century. Presented by John Humphrys.
June 19, 2009, 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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