Episode 1
Episode 1
30m
John Humphrys presents the first heat of the series. The specialist subjects are The Levellers, Julie Andrews, Black Books and Isabella of Castile.
Where to watch Mastermind
TV series
Mastermind
1972NR49 seasons5.7 / 10
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.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Mastermind premiered September 11, 1972. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
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.
Season 47 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Episode 2
30m
John Humphrys presents the second heat of the classic quiz. The specialist subjects are Manchester United, the novels of Toni Morrison, Berthe Morisot and William Tyndale.
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Episode 3
Episode 3
30m
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz. Tonight's specialist subjects are Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin, Blackadder, the Boxer Rebellion and Blake's 7.
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Episode 4
Episode 4
30m
John Humphrys presents the fourth heat of the classic quiz. Tonight's specialist subjects are the Montgomery Bus Boycott, The Crown, the history of anaesthesia and Stormzy.
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Episode 5
Episode 5
30m
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as John Humphrys tests four more contenders. Tonight's specialist subjects are Vanessa Bell, Rachmaninoff, Sherlock and David Bowie.
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Episode 6
Episode 6
30m
John Humphrys hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. The specialist subjects are the Weimar Republic, Alex Higgins, the bridges of London and UK cheeses.
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Episode 7
Episode 7
30m
Four more contenders brave the famous black chair. Specialist subjects are Joe Calzaghe, The Beach Boys, Joseph Stalin and the Gospel of John.
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Episode 8
Episode 8
30m
John Humphrys hosts the classic quiz. Tonight's subjects are freshwater fish of the British Isles, Nick Cave, the history of Scouting in the UK and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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Episode 9
Episode 9
30m
John Humphrys hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Specialist subjects are John Singer Sargent, The Sopranos, Jane Austen novels and Nick Drake.
Where to watch Mastermind
Episode 10
Episode 10
30m
John Humphrys hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Specialist subjects are Lyndon B Johnson, A Song of Ice and Fire, seabirds and children's TV.
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Episode 11
Episode 11
30m
John Humphrys hosts another heat of the classic quiz. Tonight's specialist subjects are Kenneth Williams, UK hit singles 2000-2004, Ada Lovelace and the Rugby World Cup.
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Episode 12
Episode 12
30m
John Humphrys hosts another heat of the classic quiz where contenders take to the black chair. Tonight's subjects include Life on Mars, the Titanic, Barbara Castle and the Periodic Table.
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Episode 13
Episode 13
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in another heat where the contenders answer questions on Marlene Dumas, Edward Thomas, Guy Burgess and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
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Episode 14
Episode 14
30m
Four more contenders take to the black chair to answer questions on their specialist subjects, including the London 2012 Olympic Games, Hancock's Half Hour and John Wyndham novels.
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Episode 15
Episode 15
30m
Four more contenders brave the black chair in another heat of the classic quiz and answer questions on Tchaikovsky, the Evil Dead trilogy, Rafael Nadal and This Country.
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Episode 16
Episode 16
30m
In another heat of the classic quiz, four more contenders brave the black chair and answer questions on the mammals of the British Isles, Friends, Damien Hirst and Wimbledon.
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Episode 17
Episode 17
30m
Four more contenders take to the black chair in tonight's programme, where the specialist subjects include the Mongol invasions, the plays of Aristophanes and Broadway musicals.
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Episode 18
Episode 18
30m
Four more contenders take to the black chair in tonight's heat where the specialist subjects are Homer's Odyssey, The Good Life, the history of Portsmouth and Taika Waititi.
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Episode 19
Episode 19
30m
John Humphrys presents another heat of the classic quiz, with four contenders answering questions on Sidney Poitier, Greek mythology, Soundgarden and the Women's Institute.
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Episode 20
Episode 20
30m
John Humphrys hosts as contenders answer questions on their specialist subjects, which are Ernest Rutherford, Hitchcock films, the motorways of England and the Poldark novels.
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Episode 21
Episode 21
30m
John Humphrys presents the classic quiz where contenders take the black chair. Specialist subjects are the Russian Revolution, King Crimson, The Hunger Games and George Orwell.
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Episode 22
Episode 22
30m
John Humphrys is back at his desk, asking four more contenders questions on their specialist subjects. In this programme, they are Kimi Raikkonen, Gloucestershire, Poirot and lidos in Britain.
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Episode 23
Episode 23
30m
John Humphrys hosts and contenders answer questions on their specialist subjects, which are Stephen Sondheim musicals, dog breeds, Alan Partridge and the Charles Paris novels.
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Episode 24
Episode 24
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in another heat of the classic quiz. The specialist subjects are Otto von Bismarck, hand knitting, Robert Louis Stevenson and the films of the Coen Brothers.
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Episode 25
Episode 25
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in the first semi-final. The specialist subjects are the Booker Prize, the city of York, the Busby Babes and the Russo-Japanese War.
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Episode 26
Episode 26
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects are films based on the works of Stephen King, Joan Rivers, US state capitals and Neil Gaiman novels.
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Episode 27
Episode 27
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in another semi-final. Specialist subjects are the films of Powell and Pressburger, the Bauhaus movement, Emil Zátopek and the Liberal Democrats.
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Episode 28
Episode 28
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in another semi-final. The Specialist subjects are R.E.M., Father Ted, David Niven and John Wesley.
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Episode 29
Episode 29
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects are Christopher Eccleston, Metallica, Beatrix Potter and the Greco-Persian Wars.
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Episode 30
Episode 30
30m
John Humphrys asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects are William Pitt the Younger, The Bridge, the Grand National and the plays of Joe Orton.
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Episode 31
Final
30mfinale
John Humphrys asks the questions in the grand final of the classic quiz. Tonight’s subjects include Shackleton's Antarctic expedition of 1914-17, Cole Porter and Jimmy Carter.
Where to watch MastermindEpisode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about Mastermind
Cast
Magnus Magnusson
John HumphrysSelf - Host
Clive MyrieSelf - HostCredits
- Created by
- Bill Wright
Production details
- Status
- Returning Series
- Series type
- Talk Show
- Episodes
- 1,151
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
BBC OneUnited Kingdom
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
Hat Trick ProductionsUnited Kingdom- Hindsight Productions
Themes
knowledgequiz