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.
Mastermind (Season 11)
Episode 1 (Episode 1)
Air date: 1983-01-09
Overview: Tonight Mastermind enters its second decade and during the coming weeks 48 new contestants will be competing to win television's most prestigious quiz title. They come from every part of Britain, their ages range from 22 to 65 and their occupations include a naval officer, a tube train driver, a doctor, a brewery clerk, a bank manager and a vet. The first four contenders pit their wits against each other at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Geraldine Gregg-Smith, Education welfare officer - Novels of Evelyn Waugh Christopher Price, Civil servant - Novels of the Bronte Sisters Kathryn Tyson, Civil servant - Shakespeare's tragic heroes Diggory Seacome, Schoolmaster - Percussion playing from 1700
Episode 2 (Episode 2)
Air date: 1983-01-16
Overview: The Royal Agricultural College in the Cotswolds market town of Cirencester is the venue for the second heat of Mastermind 1983. Anne Adams (part-time teacher): Bayeux Tapestry Nicholas Rennison (bookshop assistant): 'The Music of Time' novels of Anthony Powell Edward Towne (schoolmaster): Reign of Edward III Simon Willbourn (pilot): The American manned space programme
Episode 3 (Episode 3)
Air date: 1983-01-23
Overview: Four contestants from Scotland and Northern Ireland face Magnus in a place he knows well-the school in which he was educated - .the Edinburgh Academy. Patrick Doherty (schoolmaster): Films of John Wayne Euan Fairbairn (naval officer): Career of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower Frederick Pegg (teacher): American Presidents from F. D. Roosevelt Kalph Roney (writer): Richard Hannay's novels of John Buchan
Episode 4 (Episode 4)
Air date: 1983-01-30
Overview: 'Education is the mother of wisdom and virtue' is the translation of the classical Greek motto of the Edinburgh Academy, where tonight four more contestants pit their wits against each other in the quest to become Mastermind 1983. George Beggs (retired customs official): American Civil War Brian Cooklin (schoolteacher): Women in Thomas Hardy 's novels Alan Shearer (veterinary surgeon): Zulu War 1879 John Wheeler (schoolteacher): British birds
Episode 5 (Episode 5)
Air date: 1983-02-06
Overview: Three women contestants challenge one man in the fifth heat of Mastermind 1983 at Loughborough University of Technology. Peter Major (schoolteacher): Life and works of Richard Wagner Linda Paxton (housewife): Children of Queen Victoria Mary Schofield (housewife): British Social and Economic History 1760-1860 Sian Thomas (solicitor): Life and works of Colette Director
Episode 6 (Episode 6)
Air date: 1983-02-13
Overview: Loughborough University of Technology is tonight's host. Robert Douglas (retired sub-post-master): British History, 1714-1815 Madeline Evans (library assistant): Life of Edward IV Susan Scholefield (civil servant): Homer's Iliad and Odyssey Robert Woodcock (driver's mate): European History, 1870-1945
Episode 7 (Episode 7)
Air date: 1983-02-20
Overview: with Magnus Magnusson from the Froebel Institute College, Roehampton, south west London. Barbara Barrett (sales assistant): The ' Rougon-Macquart' novels of Emile Zola Kenneth Hedley (brewery clerk): Life and works of Sir Edward Elgar Nell Marshall (schoolteacher): Life of Tipu Sultan Robert Moggridgc (schoolteacher): The cathedrals of England
Episode 8 (Episode 8)
Air date: 1983-02-27
Overview: Froebel Institute College bears the name of the German educator and philosopher Freiderich Froebel, the father of the kindergarten movement. Tonight another four contenders for the Mastermind 1983 title meet at the college in Roehampton. Paul Campion (department store executive): Life and recordings of Caruso Christopher Hughes: (London Underground train driver) British steam locomotives (1900-1968) Karen Stringer (university secretary): Life of T. E. Lawrence Alex Yeats (charity worker): Slavery and the slave trade
Episode 9 (Episode 9)
Air date: 1983-03-06
Overview: Tonight from one of Britain's newest universities, Loughborough University of Technology. Hilary Aslett (schoolteacher): History of New South Wales 1788-1850 Paul Brighton (research student): Life of W. E. Gladstone Tom Chitty (bank manager): Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington Isabelle Heward (schoolteacher): British and American cinema since 1927
Episode 10 (Episode 10)
Air date: 1983-03-13
Overview: Two men and two women confront each other at Loughborough University of Technology in this tenth heat of Mastermind 1983. Pauline Buffham (housewife): Life of George III Gwen Kingsley (crystal works tour guide): Life and times of Cosimo de Medici 1389-1464 Alan Mole (civil servant): German history 1870-1945 Ralph Richardson (headmaster): Monumental brasses 1300-1700
Episode 11 (Episode 11)
Air date: 1983-03-27
Overview: Christchurch College, Canterbury, is the setting as four more contenders do battle for a semi-final plam in Mastermind 1983. CVertne de Vito (schoolteacher): Works of Christopher Isherwood John Edmond (computer systems project manager): Life of Margaret of Anjou Patricia Erridge (civil servant): Opera Robert Peters (minister of religion): Life and Times of Archbishop William Temple
Episode 12 (Episode 12)
Air date: 1983-04-03
Overview: Last of the 12 heats. Magnus Magusson introduces competitors whose subjects are: the life of Baden-Powell, the life of Richard III, the history of Albania, and the life and music of Vivaldi
Episode 13 (Episode 13)
Air date: 1983-04-10
Overview: First semi-final, with the lone female contender going for the novels of Jane Austen, the others opting for the Cairngorm Mountains, Lord Liverpool, and the English Civil War
Episode 14 (Episode 14)
Air date: 1983-04-17
Overview: Another finalist in Mastermind 1983 is chosen tonight as four more winners from the first round pit their wits against each other at Winchester College. Christopher Hughes (London Underground train driver) - The 'Flashman' novels of George MacDonald Fraser Frederick Pegg (schoolteacher) - The life and career of Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, 1887-1976 Nicholas Rennison (bookshop assistant) - Scott's expeditions to the Antarctic Sian Thomas (solicitor) - The Thirty Years War, 1618-1648
Episode 15 (Episode 15)
Air date: 1983-04-24
Overview: Four winners from the first round programmes meet at Sheffield Polytechnic and compete for a place in the Final of Mastermind 1983. John Edmond (computer systems project manager): The history of Italy, 1815-1929 Gwen Kingsley (crystal works tour guide): The life, times and death of Tutankhamun Margaret Peat (school science technician): The life of Alexander the Great Robert Woodcock (driver's mate): British political history from 1945
Episode 16 (Episode 16)
Air date: 1983-05-01
Overview: Sheffield Polytechnic is host as the four ' highest scoring losers' in the first round compete for the last place in next week's final of Mastermind 1983. Paul Campion (department store executive): Life of Kathleen Ferrier Peter Major (schoolteacher): The Roman Empire, AD 284-337 Ralph Roney (writer): Classic cars, 1930-1950 Alex Yeats (charity worker): The history of South Africa and South West Africa (Namibia) since 1948
The Final (Episode 17)
Air date: 1983-05-08
Overview: Forty-eight contenders started in January and tonight four are in at the 'finish' of the 1983 series. Middle Temple Hall in London is the setting for the final as two men and two women do battle for the title of Mastermind 1983. The winner will receive the engraved Caithness Glass trophy from the Chairman of the BBC, George Howard, and an invitation to represent the United Kingdom in Mastermind International later this year. Contestants: Christopher Hughes (London underground train driver): British steam locomotives 1900-68 Margaret Peat (school science technician): Life of Richard III Kathryn Tyson (civil servant): Shakespeare's tragic heroes Alex Yates (charity worker): Slavery and the slave trade
Seasons
Episodes 15
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 23
Episodes 23
Episodes 23
Episodes 23
Episodes 22
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 17
Episodes 14
Episodes 17
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
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Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 31
Episodes 21
Episodes 24