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.
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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 12018-10-05 · 28mJohn 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, Ne
- 2 2. Episode 22018-10-12 · 28mFour 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 Ves
- 3 3. Episode 32018-10-19 · 28mJohn 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.
- 4 4. Episode 42018-10-26 · 28mThe 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
- 5 5. Episode 52018-11-02 · 28mFour 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
- 6 6. Episode 62018-11-09 · 28mJohn 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 Wren
- 7 7. Episode 72018-11-16 · 28mThe 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, Clem
- 8 8. Episode 82018-11-23 · 28mThe 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 S
- 9 9. Episode 92018-12-14 · 28mJohn 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.
- 10 10. Episode 102018-12-21 · 28mThe 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
- 11 11. Episode 112018-12-28 · 28mFour 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.
- 12 12. Episode 122019-01-11 · 28mJohn 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 a
- 13 13. Episode 132019-01-18 · 28mThe 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
- 14 14. Episode 142019-01-25 · 28mFour 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
- 15 15. Episode 152019-02-01 · 28mJohn Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz with four contenders answering questions on Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Hockney, Tony Benn and John Buchan.
- 16 16. Episode 162019-02-08 · 29mThe 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 We
- 17 17. Episode 172019-02-15 · 28mFour 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
- 18 18. Episode 182019-02-22 · 28mJohn 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
- 19 19. Episode 192019-03-08 · 28mFour 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 Ear
- 20 20. Episode 202019-03-15 · 28mFour 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
- 21 21. Episode 212019-03-22 · 28mJohn 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.
- 22 22. Episode 222019-03-29 · 28mThe 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, Nevi
- 23 23. Episode 232019-04-05 · 28mFour 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, Countes
- 24 24. Episode 242019-04-19 · 28mJohn 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
- 25 25. Episode 252019-04-26 · 28mJohn 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 Samu
- 26 26. Episode 262019-05-10 · 28mJohn 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 St
- 27 27. Episode 272019-05-17 · 29mJohn 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 Natio
- 28 28. Episode 282019-05-24 · 29mJohn 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.
- 29 29. Episode 292019-05-31 · 28mJohn 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.
- 30 30. Episode 302019-06-07 · 28mJohn 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.
- 31 31. The Final2019-06-14 · 59mJohn 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 f
Cast
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