Bill Wright
Director
Mastermind (1972)
2010/11
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
S37E1 - Episode 1
Britain's toughest quiz returns for a new series. Host John Humphrys invites four contestants to answer questions in the black chair, first on their chosen specialist subject and then on general knowledge in their quest to become the nations's Mastermind.
Aug. 20, 2010, midnight
S37E2 - Episode 2
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues. John Humphrys quizzes four more contenders on their specialist subject and their general knowledge. Subjects are the television series To the Manor Born, the life and career of Lance Armstrong, Napoleon's marshals, and the life and works of Charles Ives.
Aug. 27, 2010, midnight
S37E3 - Episode 3
Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are the Tudor monarchy, the travelogues of Michael Palin, postage stamps of the 19th century and Belle and Sebastian.
Sept. 3, 2010, midnight
S37E4 - Episode 4
Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are the Academy Awards, the life of Bertrand Russell, the life and career of Vivienne Westwood, and Julius Caesar.
Sept. 10, 2010, midnight
S37E5 - Episode 5
Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are sharks, Leeds United - the Don Revie years, Louis XIV of France and the Manic Street Preachers.
Sept. 17, 2010, midnight
S37E6 - Episode 6
John Humphrys hosts Britain's toughest quiz. Four more contenders are questioned on their specialist subject and general knowledge. Topics are: The Life and Works of Charles M Schulz; The 2nd Ranger Battalion in World War Two; The Plays of Tennessee Williams; and UK Prog Rock 1968-1978.
Sept. 24, 2010, midnight
S37E7 - Episode 7
John Humphrys hosts Britain's toughest quiz. Four more contenders are questioned on their specialist subject and general knowledge.
Topics are the football World Cup finals 1970-2006, the TV plays of Alan Bennett, Bletchley Park and U2.
Oct. 1, 2010, midnight
S37E8 - Episode 8
John Humphrys hosts Britain's toughest quiz. Four more contenders are questioned on their specialist subject and general knowledge.
Topics are: the Hannibal Lecter novels of Thomas Harris, the history of Alcatraz, the Carry On films and The Beatles.
Oct. 8, 2010, midnight
S37E9 - Episode 9
Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are the solar system, the life and career of Andy Kaufman, the Scottish Covenanters and the Byrds.
Oct. 15, 2010, midnight
S37E10 - Episode 10
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. The subjects are: the life and films of Marlon Brando, the history of the Tour De France, the life and works of Ralph Reader and 20th-century American presidents.
Oct. 22, 2010, midnight
S37E11 - Episode 11
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. The subjects are: the life and career of Richard Pryor, the Louie Knight novels of Malcolm Pryce, the Grand National since 1960 and the life and works of Robert Doisneau.
Oct. 29, 2010, midnight
S37E12 - Episode 12
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. The subjects are: the life and career of Richard Pryor, the Louie Knight novels of Malcolm Pryce, the Grand National since 1960 and the life and works of Robert Doisneau.
Nov. 5, 2010, midnight
S37E13 - Episode 13
John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt continues for the nation's Mastermind. Subjects tonight are: Mott the Hoople, the life of Robert Baden-Powell, the geography of South America, and Rameses II.
Nov. 12, 2010, midnight
S37E14 - Episode 14
John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt continues for the nation's Mastermind. The subjects are: History of the SAS; Novels of Evelyn Waugh; Formula 1, 1960-1980; and Life and Films of Charlie Chaplin.
Nov. 26, 2010, midnight
S37E15 - Episode 15
John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt continues for the nation's Mastermind. Subjects in this edition are: The War Memoirs of Spike Milligan, The Life and Times of Mark Antony, The Life of Lillie Langtry and The History of the Henley Royal Regatta.
Dec. 3, 2010, midnight
S37E16 - Episode 16
John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues. Subjects in this edition are the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan; Burgess and MacLean; the life and works of Lewis Carroll; the life and career of Nikola Tesla.
Dec. 17, 2010, midnight
S37E17 - Episode 17
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Subjects are the films of Alfred Hitchcock, the life and works of John Hunter, the Harry Potter books and the Welsh settlement of Patagonia.
Jan. 7, 2011, midnight
S37E18 - Episode 18
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Subjects are the life and works of John Steinbeck, Iron Maiden, the life of Mahatma Gandhi and English First Division football of the 1970s.
Jan. 14, 2011, midnight
S37E19 - Episode 19
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics include the life and works of Armistead Maupin, prehistoric Orkney, the films of Michael Mann, and the Finnish Winter War.
Jan. 21, 2011, midnight
S37E20 - Episode 20
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: the Witches of Pendle, the England Football Team in the World Cup, the life and music of Gary Numan, and Operation Barbarossa.
Jan. 28, 2011, midnight
S37E21 - Episode 21
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: The Avengers and New Avengers TV series, the Romanov Dynasty, the history of the London Underground, and Scottish malt whiskies.
Feb. 4, 2011, midnight
S37E22 - Episode 22
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: the life and music of Richard Thompson, the life and films of Ray Harryhausen, King Stephen and the plays of Shakespeare.
Feb. 11, 2011, midnight
S37E23 - Episode 23
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: Dante’s Commedia, Fresh Water Fish of the British Isles, RAF Bomber Command 1939-1945 and the rock band Queen.
Feb. 18, 2011, midnight
S37E24 - Episode 24
John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: Brandon Family Novels of Peter Tinniswood, Orde Wingate and the Chindits, The Life and Career of Douglas Jardine and British Domestic Politics.
Feb. 25, 2011, midnight
S37E25 - Episode 25
In this semi-final, John Humphrys quizzes five returning contenders, all aiming to book their place in the Grand Final.
The subjects are: Glamorgan County Cricket Club, the Dark Ages in Britain, Thomas Paine, the Jack Reacher novels and the television drama Our Friends in the North.
March 4, 2011, midnight
S37E26 - Episode 26
John Humphrys hosts another semi-final. Subjects include Sean Connery, world heavyweight boxing, Butch Cassidy, and the life and times of John Adams.
March 11, 2011, midnight
S37E27 - Episode 27
John Humphrys hosts as five contenders return for the third semi-final. Subjects include Black Books, Oskar Schindler, Richard Brindsley Sheridan, Deep Purple and Martin Luther.
March 18, 2011, midnight
S37E28 - Episode 28
John Humphrys hosts another semi-final. Subjects include Jane Austen, Scottish Post-Punk Bands, Pre-historic Marine Reptiles and Sibelius.
March 25, 2011, midnight
S37E29 - Episode 29
John Humphrys hosts as five contenders return for the third semi-final. Subjects include Calvin and Hobbes, Aphra Behn, Ronnie Barker, Burnley FC and John Shuttleworth.
April 1, 2011, midnight
S37E30 - Episode 30
John Humphrys hosts the last semi-final. Subject's include Clive James, the Discworld novels, the novels of Raymond Chandler and Victorian churches of London.
April 8, 2011, midnight
S37E31 - Grand Final
John Humphrys hosts the series Grand Final as six contenders battle it out for the title and the glass bowl. Subjects include William Wilberforce, David Byrne, Paintings in the National Gallery and the Life and Career of Frankie Howerd.
April 15, 2011, 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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