Mastermind (1972)
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.
Watch now
Episodes
Next episode: S53E13 · 2026-10-19
SpecialsSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9Season 10Season 11Season 12Season 13Season 14Season 15Season 16Season 17Season 18Season 19Season 20Season 21Season 22Season 23Season 24Season 25Season 30Season 31Season 32Season 33Season 34Season 35Season 36Season 37Season 38Season 39Season 40Season 41Season 42Season 43Season 44Season 45Season 46Season 47Season 48Season 49Season 50Season 51Season 52Season 53
- 1 1. Episode 11985-01-06This 13th season opens tonight at Bristol Polytechnic when the first four of 48 hopeful contenders from Wales and south west England meet to compete for a place in the semi-finals
- 2 2. Episode 21985-01-13with Magnus Magnusson at Bristol Polytechnic Diana Moore (retired civil servant) The prose works of Rudyard Kipling Ian Christie (psychiatrist) The Old Pretender and his sons Sh
- 3 3. Episode 31985-01-20Ronald Fraser (freelance journalist) The life of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman Michael McWilliam (shop manager) Wines and wine-growing regions of France Elizabeth McCaffrey (solic
- 4 4. Episode 41985-01-27Four more contenders from Scotland compete for a place in the semi-finals when Mastermind comes tonight once again from the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. John Simpson (lexicograp
- 5 5. Episode 51985-02-03The National Railway Museum, York, is host to four contenders from the north of England. Here amid the splendour of steam and railway history one more place in the semi-final will
- 6 6. Episode 61985-02-10with Magnus Magnusson from The National Railway Museum, York. Four more contenders from the north of England compete for a place in the semi-finals. Brian Newton Elliot (opera sin
- 7 7. Episode 71985-02-17with Magnus Magnusson from The Great Hall of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Four contenders from London and the south east seek the title of Mastermind 1985 Derek West (parish
- 8 8. Episode 81985-02-24with Magnus Magnusson from The Great Hall of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London Richard Durden (actor) Life of Robert Falcon Scott Clive Bettington (solicitor) The British Raj 189
- 9 9. Episode 91985-03-03with Magnus Magnusson from The Great Hall of the University of Reading. Four contenders from London and the south-east compete for a semi-final place. Alan Samson (book editor) T
- 10 10. Episode 101985-03-10with Magnus Magnusson from the Great Hall of the University of Reading Jo Gable (freelance writer) The Staffordshire Potteries 1928-39 Joseph Kerrigan (clerical assistant) Irish
- 11 11. Episode 111985-03-17with Magnus Magnusson from the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh Four contenders from the Midlands and East Anglia compete for a place in the semi-finals. Richard Bullock (un
- 12 12. Episode 121985-03-24with Magnus Magnusson from the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh The last of the first-round programmes sees four contenders from the Midlands and the east of England compete
- 13 13. Episode 131985-03-31The semi-final stage of this year's competition is reached tonight in the Great Hall of the University of Lancaster. Four winners of the first-round programmes compete for a place
- 14 14. Episode 141985-04-07The Great Hall of the University of Lancaster is the setting as four more winners of the first-round programmes challenge for a place in the Final of Mastermind 1985. Elizabeth Mc
- 15 15. Episode 151985-04-14Tonight's setting is the Taliesin Centre for the Arts at the University College of Swansea, where four winners of first-round programmes compete for a place in the final of Masterm
- 16 16. Episode 161985-04-21The last place in the final of this year's competition is at stake at the Taliesin Centre for the Arts, University College of Swansea. The contenders are the four best-scoring los
- 17 17. The Final1985-05-05The climax of Mastermind 1985 takes place at Robinson College, Cambridge. In January 48 contenders set out to see who could win the coveted Caithness glass trophy. Tonight just the
Cast
Clive MyrieSelf - HostImages
You might also like
★ 6.3
★ 6.2
★ 6.7
★ 8.8
★ 7.8
★ 8.9
★ 7.9
★ 8.0
★ 8.5
★ 6.3
★ 6.5
★ 7.9
Celebrity Mastermind
★ 6.0
Celebrity Mastermind
★ 6.4Årets Retro
Årets Retro
★ 4.0