Celebrity Mastermind


Celebrity Mastermind is a celebrity version of Mastermind, a British television quiz show broadcast by BBC television. It began in 2002 as a one-off special, expanding to the current arrangement of 10 episodes, broadcast during December and January. It is hosted by John Humphrys, who also hosts the main show.

Format

The format is the same as the standard show, although each episode is treated as a single contest with the winner receiving a trophy and contestants fees being donated to charity.

History

The original BBC version of Mastermind, hosted by Magnus Magnusson, was broadcast on BBC One from 1972 to 1997. While other versions continued on radio and satellite television, the show did not return to BBC Television until 2002, with a one off episode, the Mastermind Celebrity Special, originally broadcast on 30 December 2002 on BBC Two to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first ever Mastermind final. The original host, Magnus Magnusson, was brought back for this special.
This was a precursor to the main show also being returned to the BBC with a new host, John Humphrys. The first series of the main show hosted by Humphrys began on BBC Two on 7 July 2003. The celebrity version then also aired on BBC Two for a first full series of three episodes in December 2003/January 2004, also hosted by Humphrys.
The celebrity version of the show has continued every year since, alongside the main show. Although the main show has remained on BBC Two, the celebrity version was promoted to BBC One from series 2 onwards.

Episodes

2002 Special

Transmission dateCelebritySpecialist subject
30 December 2002Adam Hart-DavisHeroes of Science and Invention before 1900
30 December 2002Jonathan MeadesEnglish Architecture 1850–2002
30 December 2002Janet Street-PorterBritish Teapots 1735–1970
30 December 2002Vic ReevesThe Golden Age of Piracy 1680–1720

Series 1 (2003–04)

Series 2 (2004)

Transmission dateCelebritySpecialist subject
23 July 2004Edwina CurrieMarie Curie
23 July 2004Simon KingBritish wildlife
23 July 2004Tracy-Ann ObermanThe Imperial Roman family
23 July 2004Richard WhiteleyThe BBC's history and programmes 1950-60
30 July 2004Matt AllwrightThe films of the Coen Brothers
30 July 2004Bernard CribbinsAngling
30 July 2004David GrantStevie Wonder
30 July 2004Murray WalkerFormula One
6 August 2004Tara Palmer-TomkinsonThe life and works of Audrey Hepburn
6 August 2004Steve RiderMasters golf
6 August 2004Arabella WeirDallas
6 August 2004Adam WoodyattBlackadder Goes Forth
26 December 2004Ricky GrovesBritish pop music
26 December 2004Neil HamiltonBritish politics
26 December 2004Martin OffiahSecond World War
26 December 2004Hugh QuarshieRichard Pryor
31 December 2004Eric KnowlesThe artistry of René Lalique
31 December 2004Shirley RobertsonOlympic sailing
31 December 2004Jimmy SavileTop of the Pops
31 December 2004Tom WardPhilip Larkin

Series 3 (2005–06)

Transmission dateCelebritySpecialist Subject
28 December 2005Jeremy BeadleThe Solar System
28 December 2005Natalie CassidyFriends
28 December 2005Jeremy EdwardsJohnny Depp
28 December 2005Tim RiceLondon capital murders
29 December 2005Diane AbbottJamaican politics
29 December 2005Phil CornwellThe Apollo space missions
29 December 2005Monty DonThe Beatles
29 December 2005Nicholas OwenRailways of south-east England
30 December 2005Andrew CastleMen's Grand Slam tennis
30 December 2005Graeme Le SauxHistory of Jersey
30 December 2005Peter TatchellMalcolm X
30 December 2005Gina YashereLifts
1 January 2006Diarmuid GavinU2
1 January 2006Lembit ÖpikKander and Ebb musicals
1 January 2006Wendi PetersJapanese motorcycles
1 January 2006Paul RossThe life and work of Ezra Pound
2 January 2006Iain BanksMalt whisky
2 January 2006Myleene KlassThe third series of Sex and the City
2 January 2006Alistair McGowanThe life and work of Erik Satie
2 January 2006Sid WaddellThe history of rock 'n roll 1955-65

Series 4 (2006–07)

Transmission dateCelebritySpecialist subject
26 December 2006Clare Balding
26 December 2006Ranulph Fiennes
26 December 2006Rageh Omaar
26 December 2006Steven Pinder
27 December 2006Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
27 December 2006Henry Kelly
27 December 2006Edward StourtonPope John Paul II
27 December 2006Kelli Young
28 December 2006Todd Carty
28 December 2006Paul Henshall
28 December 2006Henry Olonga
28 December 2006Gok Wan
29 December 2006Iain LeeThe Monkees
29 December 2006Jimmy McGovernThe First Fleet
29 December 2006Scott MillsPrisoner Cell Block H
29 December 2006Bernie NolanThe films of Frank Sinatra
30 December 2006Josie d'ArbyThe practices of Reiki
30 December 2006Dave SpikeyHuman blood
30 December 2006Brian TurnerAntoine Careme
30 December 2006Matthew WrightFrank Zappa

Series 5 (2007–08)

Transmission dateCelebritySpecialist subject
31 December 2007Paul BradleyCaptain Beefheart & His Magic Band
31 December 2007Dan SnowSeven Years' War
31 December 2007Peter SerafinowiczMonty Python's Flying Circus
31 December 2007William G. StewartLord Elgin and his Marbles
1 January 2008Adrian EdmondsonSex Pistols
1 January 2008Bill TurnbullBeekeeping
1 January 2008Jan RavensDaphne du Maurier
1 January 2008Benjamin ZephaniahJamaican Reggae up to 1985
2 January 2008Steve CramSunderland A.F.C.
2 January 2008Anjum AnandPartition of India
2 January 2008Tony HawksTony Hawk
2 January 2008Bill KenwrightThe Hit Parade 1957–1964
3 January 2008Wayne SleepBob Fosse
3 January 2008Yvette FieldingHenry VIII
3 January 2008DJ SpoonyRay Charles
3 January 2008Brian SewellBritish motor cars 1930–1950
4 January 2008Kaye AdamsThe Pankhursts
4 January 2008Simon RimmerTranmere Rovers F.C.
4 January 2008Danny WallaceGhostbusters
4 January 2008Nicholas ParsonsEdward Lear

Series 6 (2008–09)

Series 7 (2009–10)

Series 8 (2010–11)

Series 9 (2011–12)

Series 10 (2012–13)

Series 11 (2013–14)

Series 12 (2014–15)

Series 13 (2015–16)

Series 14 (2016–17)

Series 15 (2017–18)

Series 16 (2018–19)

Series 17 (2019–20)

Transmissions

Trophy

The trophy presented to each winner was originally a commemorative glass bowl. The current trophy is a wedge-shaped piece of glass.