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.
Showing Season 35 of 48
2008/09
2008
No overview available.
01. Episode 1
2008-09-05
New series John Humphrys quizzes on Simon Raven, Newcastle United, Edward IV and Laurence Olivier.
02. Episode 2
2008-09-12
Specialisms tonight are Billy the Kid, the Short Stories of Saki, the Great Western Railway and the films of John Carpenter. With John Humphrys.
03. Episode 3
2008-09-19
John Humphrys asks about Noor Inayat-Khan, Ferdinand Magellan, Edith Wharton and Mods
04. Episode 4
2008-09-26
Questions on the late Stuart age, Steely Dan, boxer Joe Frazier and Robert Parker's Spenser novels.
05. Episode 5
2008-10-03
John Humphrys asks questions on subjects including Arthur Conan Doyle's Challenger novels.
06. Episode 6
2008-10-10
Specialist subjects this week include Rasputin, the Gospels of the New Testament, and West Indies Test cricket. John Humphrys asks the questions.
07. Episode 7
2008-10-17
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.
08. Episode 8
2008-10-24
Specialist subjects include Scottish mathematician James Clerk Maxwell and the Mitford sisters.
09. Episode 9
2008-10-31
Tonight's specialist topics include the Harry Palmer novels and folk singer Tom Paxton.
10. Episode 10
2008-11-07
Tonight's specialist topics comprise the Victoria Cross, chess player Bobby Fischer, the Le Mans 24-hour race, and the life of Thomas Cochrane.
11. Episode 11
2008-11-14
Tonight's specialist subjects include the Coventry blitz and the Merthyr Rising of 1831.
12. Episode 12
2008-11-21
Specialist topics comprise the cricketer Ian Botham, the Munros of Scotland, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming.
13. Episode 13
2008-11-28
Topics tonight include rare breeds of British farm animals, Ghenghis Khan and Gothic architecture.
14. Episode 14
2008-12-05
Topics comprise WC Fields, Jonathan Creek, Tacitus and the life and career of Keith Moon.
15. Episode 15
2009-01-30
Tonight's four specialist subjects are the Ashes series of 1902, AE Housman, British punk rock and the Trans-Siberian Railway. With John Humphrys.
16. Episode 16
2009-02-06
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.
17. Episode 17
2009-02-13
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.
18. Episode 18
2009-02-20
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.
19. Episode 19
2009-02-27
Tonight's four specialist subjects are John Wesley, Seinfeld, Kazimir Malevich and the Wars of the Roses. John Humphrys poses the questions.
20. Episode 20
2009-03-06
Specialist subjects are the Battle of Coronel and the Falklands War, British birds, sculptor Barbara Hepworth, and Anglo-Saxon kings 871-1016.
21. Episode 21
2009-03-13
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.
22. Episode 22
2009-03-20
Tonight's specialist subjects are Jackie Stewart, the novels of Wendy Holden, Honore de Balzac and Kraftwerk. John Humphrys poses the questions.
23. Episode 23
2009-04-03
Tonight's specialist subjects are the novels of George Orwell, musician Gram Parsons, Italian politics and composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
24. Episode 24
2009-04-10
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.
25. Episode 25
2009-04-17
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
26. Episode 26
2009-05-08
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.
27. Episode 27
2009-05-22
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
28. Episode 28
2009-05-29
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.
29. Episode 29
2009-06-05
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.
30. Episode 30
2009-06-12
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.
31. Grand Final
2009-06-19
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.
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