Mastermind (Season 52)

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.

Episode 1 (Episode 1)
Air date: 2025-07-14
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: In the first of 24 heats, Clive Myrie puts four contenders to the test. Specialist subjects include the Women’s Institute, Carl Lewis and the films of The Muppets.
Episode 2 (Episode 2)
Air date: 2025-07-21
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. The specialist subjects are the men’s Euros from 2000 to 2024, Truman Capote, Gilmore Girls and LS Lowry.
Episode 3 (Episode 3)
Air date: 2025-07-28
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take on the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include Jodie Whittaker's tenure on Doctor Who and Edward III.
Episode 4 (Episode 4)
Air date: 2025-08-11
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take to the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include The Hunger Games and Edvard Munch.
Episode 5 (Episode 5)
Air date: 2025-08-18
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in another heat of the classic quiz. Specialist subjects include the history of sheep and the music of Katy Perry.
Episode 6 (Episode 6)
Air date: 2025-08-25
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts another heat of the classic quiz where contenders take the black chair. The subjects include, Barack Obama, the Dambusters Raid and Real Madrid from 2000 to the present.
Episode 7 (Episode 7)
Air date: 2025-09-01
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Four more contenders brave the famous black chair in another heat of the classic quiz. Specialist subjects include Katherine Parr and Pierce Brosnan's tenure as James Bond.
Episode 8 (Episode 8)
Air date: 2025-09-08
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: The search for the nation's Mastermind continues as Clive Myrie tests four more contenders on their specialist subjects and general knowledge. The specialist subjects are the comedian Bob Mortimer, dolphins and porpoises, the singer Eva Cassidy and the England cricket team under Michael Atherton.
Episode 9 (Episode 9)
Air date: 2025-09-15
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take on the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include People Just Do Nothing and the Roman emperor Nero.
Episode 10 (Episode 10)
Air date: 2025-09-22
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take on the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include the musical Evita and the works of Sally Rooney.
Episode 11 (Episode 11)
Air date: 2025-09-29
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in another heat where the contenders answer questions on subjects including The Simpsons and the plays of Samuel Beckett.
Episode 12 (Episode 12)
Air date: 2025-10-06
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz. The subjects include the Jurassic Coast, the band Queen and Mickey Mouse cartoons from 1928-1935.
Episode 13 (Episode 13)
Air date: 2025-10-14
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in another heat where the contenders answer questions on the films of Billy Wilder, Neil Diamond and the Apollo space program.
Episode 14 (Episode 14)
Air date: 2025-10-20
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts as four more contenders answer questions on specialist subjects, including Richard Nixon, the band Nirvana and the television sitcom Derry Girls.
Episode 15 (Episode 15)
Air date: 2025-10-27
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take on the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include the musical Les Miserables, Florence Nightingale and The O.C.
Episode 16 (Episode 16)
Air date: 2025-11-03
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take to the black chair. The specialist subjects include Roxy Music, Marc Chagall and the original Tomb Raider games.
Episode 17 (Episode 17)
Air date: 2025-11-10
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie presents another heat of the classic quiz, with four contenders answering questions on such subjects as the Great Reform Act of 1832, the castles of South Wales and Maroon 5.
Episode 18 (Episode 18)
Air date: 2025-11-17
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts, with contenders answering questions on specialist subjects including Aneurin Bevan, the musicals of Stephen Sondheim and Upstairs, Downstairs.
Episode 19 (Episode 19)
Air date: 2025-11-24
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts another heat of the classic quiz as four more contenders take on the black chair. Subjects include the French Revolution and the poetry of John Betjeman.
Episode 20 (Episode 20)
Air date: 2025-12-01
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts as four more contenders answer questions on their specialist subjects, which include the planets of the solar system and the films of Kirsten Dunst.
Episode 21 (Episode 21)
Air date: 2025-12-08
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take on the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include Muhammad Ali and Homer’s Iliad.
Episode 22 (Episode 22)
Air date: 2025-12-15
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take on the famous black chair. The specialist subjects include British butterflies, Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books and Twin Peaks.
Episode 23 (Episode 23)
Air date: 2026-02-23
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts as four more contenders answer questions on specialist subjects including the London 2012 Olympic Games and British waterfowl and wading birds.
Episode 24 (Episode 24)
Air date: 2026-03-02
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take on the famous black chair. Subjects include Jimi Hendrix, the operas of Giacomo Puccini and Wilfred Owen.
Episode 25 (Episode 25)
Air date: 2026-03-09
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in the first semi-final. The specialist subjects include Fleabag, Michael Faraday, the presidency of Ronald Reagan and British marine invertebrates.
Episode 26 (Episode 26)
Air date: 2026-03-16
Runtime: 29 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects are Jeff Buckley, the managerial career of Rafael Benítez, Andy Warhol and the classic Routemaster bus.
Episode 27 (Episode 27)
Air date: 2026-03-23
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. Specialist subjects include Clint Eastwood's western films and the footballer Cyrille Regis.
Episode 28 (Episode 28)
Air date: 2026-03-30
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. Specialist subjects include George Frideric Handel, the films of Christopher Nolan and the US Masters tournament from 1990 to the present.
Episode 29 (Episode 29)
Air date: 2026-04-06
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects include Yellowstone National Park, The Silmarillion and the England Men's Team at the Fifa World Cup.
Episode 30 (Episode 30)
Air date: 2026-04-13
Runtime: 28 min
Overview: Clive Myrie asks the questions in the last semi-final. The specialist subjects include Amelia Earhart, Sir Laurence Olivier, the red wines of Burgundy and the songs of Sir Noël Coward.