Mastermind (Season 35)

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.

  • Poster for Episode 1

    Episode 1 (Episode 1)

    Air date: 2008-09-05

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: New series John Humphrys quizzes on Simon Raven, Newcastle United, Edward IV and Laurence Olivier.

  • Poster for Episode 2

    Episode 2 (Episode 2)

    Air date: 2008-09-12

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Specialisms tonight are Billy the Kid, the Short Stories of Saki, the Great Western Railway and the films of John Carpenter. With John Humphrys.

  • Poster for Episode 3

    Episode 3 (Episode 3)

    Air date: 2008-09-19

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: John Humphrys asks about Noor Inayat-Khan, Ferdinand Magellan, Edith Wharton and Mods

  • Poster for Episode 4

    Episode 4 (Episode 4)

    Air date: 2008-09-26

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Questions on the late Stuart age, Steely Dan, boxer Joe Frazier and Robert Parker's Spenser novels.

  • Poster for Episode 5

    Episode 5 (Episode 5)

    Air date: 2008-10-03

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: John Humphrys asks questions on subjects including Arthur Conan Doyle's Challenger novels.

  • Poster for Episode 6

    Episode 6 (Episode 6)

    Air date: 2008-10-10

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Specialist subjects this week include Rasputin, the Gospels of the New Testament, and West Indies Test cricket. John Humphrys asks the questions.

  • Poster for Episode 7

    Episode 7 (Episode 7)

    Air date: 2008-10-17

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 8

    Episode 8 (Episode 8)

    Air date: 2008-10-24

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Specialist subjects include Scottish mathematician James Clerk Maxwell and the Mitford sisters.

  • Poster for Episode 9

    Episode 9 (Episode 9)

    Air date: 2008-10-31

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Tonight's specialist topics include the Harry Palmer novels and folk singer Tom Paxton.

  • Poster for Episode 10

    Episode 10 (Episode 10)

    Air date: 2008-11-07

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Tonight's specialist topics comprise the Victoria Cross, chess player Bobby Fischer, the Le Mans 24-hour race, and the life of Thomas Cochrane.

  • Poster for Episode 11

    Episode 11 (Episode 11)

    Air date: 2008-11-14

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Tonight's specialist subjects include the Coventry blitz and the Merthyr Rising of 1831.

  • Poster for Episode 12

    Episode 12 (Episode 12)

    Air date: 2008-11-21

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Specialist topics comprise the cricketer Ian Botham, the Munros of Scotland, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming.

  • Poster for Episode 13

    Episode 13 (Episode 13)

    Air date: 2008-11-28

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Topics tonight include rare breeds of British farm animals, Ghenghis Khan and Gothic architecture.

  • Poster for Episode 14

    Episode 14 (Episode 14)

    Air date: 2008-12-05

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Topics comprise WC Fields, Jonathan Creek, Tacitus and the life and career of Keith Moon.

  • Poster for Episode 15

    Episode 15 (Episode 15)

    Air date: 2009-01-30

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Tonight's four specialist subjects are the Ashes series of 1902, AE Housman, British punk rock and the Trans-Siberian Railway. With John Humphrys.

  • Poster for Episode 16

    Episode 16 (Episode 16)

    Air date: 2009-02-06

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 17

    Episode 17 (Episode 17)

    Air date: 2009-02-13

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 18

    Episode 18 (Episode 18)

    Air date: 2009-02-20

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 19

    Episode 19 (Episode 19)

    Air date: 2009-02-27

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Tonight's four specialist subjects are John Wesley, Seinfeld, Kazimir Malevich and the Wars of the Roses. John Humphrys poses the questions.

  • Poster for Episode 20

    Episode 20 (Episode 20)

    Air date: 2009-03-06

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Specialist subjects are the Battle of Coronel and the Falklands War, British birds, sculptor Barbara Hepworth, and Anglo-Saxon kings 871-1016.

  • Poster for Episode 21

    Episode 21 (Episode 21)

    Air date: 2009-03-13

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 22

    Episode 22 (Episode 22)

    Air date: 2009-03-20

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Tonight's specialist subjects are Jackie Stewart, the novels of Wendy Holden, Honore de Balzac and Kraftwerk. John Humphrys poses the questions.

  • Poster for Episode 23

    Episode 23 (Episode 23)

    Air date: 2009-04-03

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: Tonight's specialist subjects are the novels of George Orwell, musician Gram Parsons, Italian politics and composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

  • Poster for Episode 24

    Episode 24 (Episode 24)

    Air date: 2009-04-10

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 25

    Episode 25 (Episode 25)

    Air date: 2009-04-17

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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

  • Poster for Episode 26

    Episode 26 (Episode 26)

    Air date: 2009-05-08

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 27

    Episode 27 (Episode 27)

    Air date: 2009-05-22

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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

  • Poster for Episode 28

    Episode 28 (Episode 28)

    Air date: 2009-05-29

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 29

    Episode 29 (Episode 29)

    Air date: 2009-06-05

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Episode 30

    Episode 30 (Episode 30)

    Air date: 2009-06-12

    Runtime: 30 min

    Overview: 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.

  • Poster for Grand Final

    Grand Final (Episode 31)

    Air date: 2009-06-19

    Runtime: 60 min

    Overview: 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.

Mastermind

Seasons

1972
1972
Episodes 15
1973
1973
Episodes 17
1974
1974
Episodes 17
1975
1975
Episodes 17
1976
1976
Episodes 17
1977
1977
Episodes 17
1978
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Episodes 17
1979
1979
Episodes 17
1980
1980
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1981
1981
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1983
1983
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1984
1984
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1985
1985
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1986
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Episodes 23
1987
1987
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1988
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Episodes 23
1989
1989
Episodes 23
1990
1990
Episodes 22
1991
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Episodes 17
1992
1992
Episodes 17
1993
1993
Episodes 17
1994
1994
Episodes 17
1995
1995
Episodes 17
1996
1996
Episodes 17
1997
1997
Episodes 14
2003
2003
Episodes 17
2004
2004
Episodes 31
2005
2005
Episodes 31
2006
2006
Episodes 31
2007/08
2007/08
Episodes 31
2008/09
2008/09
Episodes 31
2009/10
2009/10
Episodes 31
2010/11
2010/11
Episodes 31
2011/12
2011/12
Episodes 31
2012/13
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Episodes 31
2013/14
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Episodes 31
2014/15
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Episodes 31
2015/16
2015/16
Episodes 31
2016/17
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Episodes 31
2017/18
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Episodes 31
2018/19
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Episodes 31
2019/20
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Episodes 31
2020/21
2020/21
Episodes 31
2021/22
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Episodes 31
2022/23
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Episodes 31
2023/24
2023/24
Episodes 31
2024/25
2024/25
Episodes 31
2025/26
2025/26
Episodes 21
Specials
Specials
Episodes 24