The history of Mastermind
'Mastermind' is widely regarded as the most rigorous and intellectual British quiz show. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary with question master Clive Myrie as 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 Prisoner of War 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 麻豆社 One in 1972. The show was hosted by former journalist Magnus Magnusson, a formidable Scot of Icelandic parentage who was billed as the show’s “Interrogator”.
The premise of the game is simple. Four contenders drawn from the British public, compete against each other and the clock to earn the most points. They do this by answering genuinely difficult questions. Each contender is quizzed firstly for two minutes on the Specialist Subject of their choice, and then - in Round Two - a further two minutes and thirty seconds on their General Knowledge.
From the very first show, the contenders’ interrogation took place in the famous black leather chair and originally shows were recorded in universities, churches, and other imposing venues. ‘Mastermind’ became a national institution, spawning catchphrases including “Pass” and "I've started so I'll finish".
Contenders compete for a magnificent Glass Bowl – each one unique and decorated by engraver Denis Mann at his studio in Wick – and the honour of being crowned a “Mastermind” Champion.
Even though there is no money at stake, the tension is built from the first bar of the programme’s theme tune, the aptly titled ‘Approaching Menace’ (composed by Neil Richardson) and the studio lighting, which isolates the contender and the question master in an almost gladiatorial fashion.
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 麻豆社 TV in 1997.
The final episode of the original run was recorded, appropriately, at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney. At the end of the programme the famous black chair was given to Magnus Magnusson.
'Mastermind' soon returned to the 麻豆社, this time on 麻豆社 Two, for a Celebrity Special broadcast in 2002. July 2003 saw the first full series of ‘Mastermind’ in six years, with a new Question Master, John Humphrys, best known as presenter of Radio Four’s 'Today' programme.
The original format remained unchanged with four contenders, two rounds of questions and the unrelenting pressure of that spotlight and a new black chair.
John Humphrys stood down as host in 2021, with the 麻豆社 news journalist Clive Myrie taking over as Question Master, familiar to viewers as a regular presenter of the 麻豆社 News at Six and Ten.
‘Mastermind’ returns for its 20th series and 50th anniversary on 麻豆社 Two in September 2022. Contenders brave the black chair with Clive Myrie interrogating them in the hope that they will be crowned the nation’s ‘Mastermind’. The series is produced by Hindsight/Hat Trick productions and is filmed at the 麻豆社’s Blackstaff Studios in Belfast.
