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 37)
Episode 1 (Episode 1)
Air date: 2010-08-20
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Britain's toughest quiz returns for a new series. Host John Humphrys invites four contestants to answer questions in the black chair, first on their chosen specialist subject and then on general knowledge in their quest to become the nations's Mastermind.
Episode 2 (Episode 2)
Air date: 2010-08-27
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues. John Humphrys quizzes four more contenders on their specialist subject and their general knowledge. Subjects are the television series To the Manor Born, the life and career of Lance Armstrong, Napoleon's marshals, and the life and works of Charles Ives.
Episode 3 (Episode 3)
Air date: 2010-09-03
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are the Tudor monarchy, the travelogues of Michael Palin, postage stamps of the 19th century and Belle and Sebastian.
Episode 4 (Episode 4)
Air date: 2010-09-10
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are the Academy Awards, the life of Bertrand Russell, the life and career of Vivienne Westwood, and Julius Caesar.
Episode 5 (Episode 5)
Air date: 2010-09-17
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are sharks, Leeds United - the Don Revie years, Louis XIV of France and the Manic Street Preachers.
Episode 6 (Episode 6)
Air date: 2010-09-24
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts Britain's toughest quiz. Four more contenders are questioned on their specialist subject and general knowledge. Topics are: The Life and Works of Charles M Schulz; The 2nd Ranger Battalion in World War Two; The Plays of Tennessee Williams; and UK Prog Rock 1968-1978.
Episode 7 (Episode 7)
Air date: 2010-10-01
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts Britain's toughest quiz. Four more contenders are questioned on their specialist subject and general knowledge. Topics are the football World Cup finals 1970-2006, the TV plays of Alan Bennett, Bletchley Park and U2.
Episode 8 (Episode 8)
Air date: 2010-10-08
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts Britain's toughest quiz. Four more contenders are questioned on their specialist subject and general knowledge. Topics are: the Hannibal Lecter novels of Thomas Harris, the history of Alcatraz, the Carry On films and The Beatles.
Episode 9 (Episode 9)
Air date: 2010-10-15
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Host John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair. Topics are the solar system, the life and career of Andy Kaufman, the Scottish Covenanters and the Byrds.
Episode 10 (Episode 10)
Air date: 2010-10-22
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. The subjects are: the life and films of Marlon Brando, the history of the Tour De France, the life and works of Ralph Reader and 20th-century American presidents.
Episode 11 (Episode 11)
Air date: 2010-10-29
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. The subjects are: the life and career of Richard Pryor, the Louie Knight novels of Malcolm Pryce, the Grand National since 1960 and the life and works of Robert Doisneau.
Episode 12 (Episode 12)
Air date: 2010-11-05
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. The subjects are: the life and career of Richard Pryor, the Louie Knight novels of Malcolm Pryce, the Grand National since 1960 and the life and works of Robert Doisneau.
Episode 13 (Episode 13)
Air date: 2010-11-12
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt continues for the nation's Mastermind. Subjects tonight are: Mott the Hoople, the life of Robert Baden-Powell, the geography of South America, and Rameses II.
Episode 14 (Episode 14)
Air date: 2010-11-26
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt continues for the nation's Mastermind. The subjects are: History of the SAS; Novels of Evelyn Waugh; Formula 1, 1960-1980; and Life and Films of Charlie Chaplin.
Episode 15 (Episode 15)
Air date: 2010-12-03
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt continues for the nation's Mastermind. Subjects in this edition are: The War Memoirs of Spike Milligan, The Life and Times of Mark Antony, The Life of Lillie Langtry and The History of the Henley Royal Regatta.
Episode 16 (Episode 16)
Air date: 2010-12-17
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys asks the questions as the hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues. Subjects in this edition are the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan; Burgess and MacLean; the life and works of Lewis Carroll; the life and career of Nikola Tesla.
Episode 17 (Episode 17)
Air date: 2011-01-07
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Subjects are the films of Alfred Hitchcock, the life and works of John Hunter, the Harry Potter books and the Welsh settlement of Patagonia.
Episode 18 (Episode 18)
Air date: 2011-01-14
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Subjects are the life and works of John Steinbeck, Iron Maiden, the life of Mahatma Gandhi and English First Division football of the 1970s.
Episode 19 (Episode 19)
Air date: 2011-01-21
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics include the life and works of Armistead Maupin, prehistoric Orkney, the films of Michael Mann, and the Finnish Winter War.
Episode 20 (Episode 20)
Air date: 2011-01-28
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: the Witches of Pendle, the England Football Team in the World Cup, the life and music of Gary Numan, and Operation Barbarossa.
Episode 21 (Episode 21)
Air date: 2011-02-04
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: The Avengers and New Avengers TV series, the Romanov Dynasty, the history of the London Underground, and Scottish malt whiskies.
Episode 22 (Episode 22)
Air date: 2011-02-11
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: the life and music of Richard Thompson, the life and films of Ray Harryhausen, King Stephen and the plays of Shakespeare.
Episode 23 (Episode 23)
Air date: 2011-02-18
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: Dante’s Commedia, Fresh Water Fish of the British Isles, RAF Bomber Command 1939-1945 and the rock band Queen.
Episode 24 (Episode 24)
Air date: 2011-02-25
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys puts the questions to four more contenders. Topics are: Brandon Family Novels of Peter Tinniswood, Orde Wingate and the Chindits, The Life and Career of Douglas Jardine and British Domestic Politics.
Episode 25 (Episode 25)
Air date: 2011-03-04
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: In this semi-final, John Humphrys quizzes five returning contenders, all aiming to book their place in the Grand Final. The subjects are: Glamorgan County Cricket Club, the Dark Ages in Britain, Thomas Paine, the Jack Reacher novels and the television drama Our Friends in the North.
Episode 26 (Episode 26)
Air date: 2011-03-11
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts another semi-final. Subjects include Sean Connery, world heavyweight boxing, Butch Cassidy, and the life and times of John Adams.
Episode 27 (Episode 27)
Air date: 2011-03-18
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts as five contenders return for the third semi-final. Subjects include Black Books, Oskar Schindler, Richard Brindsley Sheridan, Deep Purple and Martin Luther.
Episode 28 (Episode 28)
Air date: 2011-03-25
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts another semi-final. Subjects include Jane Austen, Scottish Post-Punk Bands, Pre-historic Marine Reptiles and Sibelius.
Episode 29 (Episode 29)
Air date: 2011-04-01
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts as five contenders return for the third semi-final. Subjects include Calvin and Hobbes, Aphra Behn, Ronnie Barker, Burnley FC and John Shuttleworth.
Episode 30 (Episode 30)
Air date: 2011-04-08
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts the last semi-final. Subject's include Clive James, the Discworld novels, the novels of Raymond Chandler and Victorian churches of London.
Grand Final (Episode 31)
Air date: 2011-04-15
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: John Humphrys hosts the series Grand Final as six contenders battle it out for the title and the glass bowl. Subjects include William Wilberforce, David Byrne, Paintings in the National Gallery and the Life and Career of Frankie Howerd.
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
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 31
Episodes 21
Episodes 24