Magnus Magnusson, KBE was an Icelandic-born British based journalist, translator, writer, and television presenter. Born in Reykjavík, he lived in Scotland for almost all his life, although he never took British citizenship. He came to prominence as a BBC television journalist and was best known as the presenter of the BBC television quiz programme Mastermind, which he hosted for 25 years. He is also known for his famous catchphrase "I've started so I'll finish", which he said whenever the time ran out while he was reading a question on Mastermind.
Early life
Magnús Sigursteinsson was born in Reykjavík on 12 October 1929. But he grew up in Edinburgh, where his father, Sigursteinn Magnússon, was the Icelandicconsul. In Scotland his family adopted a British naming convention and from childhood Magnus used his father's patronymic surname: Magnusson. Magnusson lived with his family in John Street, Joppa, an eastern suburb of Edinburgh. He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and was in the school's marching brass band.
Career
Journalism
After graduating from Jesus College, Oxford, Magnusson became a reporter with the Scottish Daily Express and The Scotsman. He went freelance in 1967, then joined the British Broadcasting Corporation, presenting programmes on history and archaeology, as well as appearing in news programmes.
''Mastermind''
Magnusson presented the long-running quiz show Mastermind from 1972 to 1997 on BBC1. His catchphrase, which the current presenter John Humphrys has continued to use, was "I've started so I'll finish". Magnusson made cameo appearances as himself, hosting Mastermind in Morecambe and Wise as well as the children's series Dizzy Heights and as Magnus Magnesium in The Goodies episode "Frankenfido". Magnusson ended his 25-year run of hosting Mastermind in September 1997, and the original Black Chair was given to him at the end of the production, passing to his daughter Sally Magnusson after his death. Magnusson later returned to present a one-off celebrity special, originally broadcast on 30 December 2002, on BBC Two to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first ever Mastermind final. This was a precursor to the main show returning 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. Following the one-off special, Celebrity Mastermind began airing as a full series also hosted by Humphrys. The celebrity version of the show has continued every year since, alongside the main show. Shortly before his death, Magnusson returned to the regular Mastermind series in order to present the trophy to the 2006 champion Geoff Thomas. His daughter Sally Magnusson presented the trophy to the next series winner, David Clark, while also paying tribute to her father and his legacy to the show.
Magnusson translated a variety of books from modern Icelandic and Old Norse into English. Among these are several works by Halldór Laxness, the Nobel prize-winning novelist from Iceland as well as a number of Norse sagas which he co-translated for the Penguin Classics series: Njal's Saga, The Vinland Sagas, King Harald's Saga and Laxdaela Saga. In 1968 he appeared as a storyteller in five episodes of the BBC children's programme Jackanory, narrating English translations of 'Stories from Iceland'. Magnusson was also the author of a popular history of the Viking Age, called The Vikings.
In later years, Magnusson also wrote for the New Statesman. On 12 October 2006, his 77th birthday, Magnusson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Magnusson mordantly noted that "This has to be one of my worst birthdays ever". His condition forced him to cancel a string of public appearances. He died on 7 January 2007. The Aigas Field Centre has a building named the Magnus House in his honour.
Family
Magnus Magnusson was married to Mamie Baird. They had five children. Their eldest son, Siggi, died in a traffic accident in 1973, when he was struck by a vehicle close to the Glasgow Academy playing fields at Anniesland, Glasgow. Their daughter Sally is a journalist, writer and TV presenter, and youngest son Jon a TV producer, writer and director.
