History of Mastermind
'Mastermind' is widely regarded as the most
rigorous and intellectual British quiz show, and, after 35 years,
has become one of television's most enduring successes.
'Mastermind' was the brainchild of TV producer Bill Wright, a former
RAF gunner, who drew on his wartime experience as a PoW in Germany
of answering three questions - name, rank and number - to create
the 'Mastermind' ritual of contestants being asked their name, occupation
and specialist subject.
The first ever edition of 'Mastermind' was recorded at Liverpool
University and aired on BBC1 in 1972. The show was hosted by 43-year-old
former journalist Magnus Magnusson, a formidable Scot of Icelandic
parentage. The series was initially thought too 'high-brow' and
was aired in a late night slot. When it was brought to peak hours
it clocked up such a huge audience that it remained there.
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The premise of the game was simple. Four (occasionally
five in later rounds) intellectually-blessed contestants drawn from
the British public, competed against each other and the clock to earn
the most points. |
They did this by answering
genuinely difficult questions. Each was quizzed firstly for two minutes
on the specialist subject of his or her choice, and then - in Round
Two - for a further two minutes on their general knowledge.
Interrogation took place in the famous 'black leather chair', which
in the first 25 year run of the quiz was transported the length and
breadth of the United Kingdom, as shows were recorded in universities,
churches, and other imposing venues in front of a rapt audience. The
show became a national institution, spawning catchphrases including
"I've started so I'll finish" and "Pass!"
Unlike modern quizzes such as 'Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire' or
'The Weakest Link' there were no cash prizes to be won. Instead, drama
was created from a mixture of bold spotlighting, which isolated the
contestant and the quizmaster in an almost gladiatorial fashion, subtle
but powerful use of music - each show opening with the aptly-titled
'Approaching Menace', composed by Neil Richardson, and the absence
of a visible countdown.
Time could seem to slow almost to a standstill as a contestant's last
few seconds ran out! The contest made minor celebrities out of some
of it's winners.
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London cabbie Fred Housego, who won in 1980 (pictured left, presenting
the 1989 trophy to Mary Elizabeth Raw). There's even a Mastermind club, founded in 1978 by contestant Charles Key, for past contenders. |
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The series created a winner every year
(except in 1982 – when a Champion of Champions Special featuring
the previous ten winners was won by Sir David Hunt) until, after
more than 57,000 questions, 'Mastermind' left BBC TV in 1997.
The last programme was filmed at St Magnus
in Orkney. In 2001, the television series was revived on The Discovery
Channel, with well-known chat show host Clive Anderson as quizmaster,
and a new interactive feature which allowed viewers at home to 'play
along'. The new series was a hit, and former BBC host Magnus Magnusson
even appeared to spring a surprise on the finalists by handing over
the season trophy to winner Michael Penrice.
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'Mastermind' soon returned to the BBC,
this time on BBC2, for a Celebrity
Special broadcast in 2002. July 2003 saw the first full series
of Mastermind in six years, with a new quizmaster - John Humphrys,
best known as presenter of the famous Radio Four political and current
affairs programme, 'Today'. The original format remained unchanged,
with 12 first round heats, four quarter finals, and the grand final.
After 17 matches in all, and a total of
48 contestants, the prize of the traditional engraved bowl was awarded
to Andy Page. A further three celebrity specials followed, and regular
'Mastermind' returns to BBC2 again in 2004.
In August 2004 a brand-new series for contestants aged between 10
and 11 called Junior Mastermind was transmitted.
It followed the same format as the original version, with children
answering questions on a specialist subject and then on general knowledge.
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