Episode 1
Episode 1
30m
In the first heat, Clive Myrie puts four contenders to the test as they answer questions on specialist subjects including Bruce Springsteen, Switzerland and Sir Roger Moore.
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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 48 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Episode 2
30m
Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Subjects include PG Wodehouse’s Blandings stories, the listed buildings of Liverpool and Beyonce.
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Episode 3
Episode 3
30m
Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include John Cleese, the Alnwick Garden and Marvel's Avengers films.
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Episode 4
Episode 4
30m
Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Margaret of Anjou and The Simpsons.
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Episode 5
Episode 5
30m
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as Clive Myrie tests four more contenders on their specialist subjects and general knowledge. Tonight's subjects are James Bond villains, the life of Lord Byron, JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth and the castles of Northumberland.
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Episode 6
Episode 6
30m
Clive Myrie asks the questions in another heat where the contenders answer questions on the Giza necropolis, Martin Luther, and Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.
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Episode 7
Episode 7
30m
Clive Myrie hosts another heat of the classic quiz where contenders take to the black chair. Tonight's subjects include Margaret Thatcher, the saxophone and venomous snakes.
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Episode 8
Episode 8
30m
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as Clive Myrie tests four more contenders on their specialist subjects and general knowledge. Tonight's subjects are the fauna of the Galapagos Islands, The Mighty Boosh, Uefa Champions League finals and Catherine de’ Medici.
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Episode 9
Episode 9
30m
Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Specialist subjects include the novels of Alan Hollinghurst, The Vicar of Dibley and Edouard Manet.
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Episode 10
Episode 10
30m
Clive Myrie tests four more contenders on their specialist subjects and general knowledge in the tenth heat of a new series of the classic quiz. Tonight's specialist subjects are the Inspector Morse novels, King William IV, the films of Richard Curtis and Joseph Rowntree.
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Episode 11
Episode 11
30m
Clive Myrie hosts as another four contenders take to the black chair, answering questions on their chosen specialist subjects to earn a place in the semi-finals. On tonight's episode, the specialist subjects are British butterflies, the Cornetto Trilogy, Tutankhamun and Kate Bush.
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Episode 12
Episode 12
30m
Clive Myrie hosts another heat, with the contenders answering questions on Great Britain at the Winter Olympics, Goodness Gracious Me and High School Musical.
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Episode 13
Episode 13
30m
The hunt for the nation's Mastermind continues as Clive Myrie tests four more contenders on their specialist subjects and general knowledge under the glare of the spotlight and the ticking clock. Tonight's subjects are Nell Gwyn, Sylvia Plath, Still Game and the island of Sicily.
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Episode 14
Episode 14
30m
Clive Myrie hosts as four more contenders answer questions on specialist subjects including the John Rebus novels, Hamilton and Louis Theroux documentaries.
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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 All Blacks test matches, His Dark Materials, MGM musicals and John Clare.
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Episode 16
Episode 16
30m
Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take to the black chair. Tonight's subjects are Eric Cantona, Black Mirror, Rocky Horror and the novels of John Steinbeck.
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Episode 17
Episode 17
30m
Clive Myrie presents another heat of the classic quiz, with four contenders answering questions on the Gurkhas, Fernando Torres, Pam Ayres and Alfred Hitchcock films of the 1950s.
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Episode 18
Episode 18
30m
Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Subjects include Lee Miller and the history of the Green Party of England and Wales.
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Episode 19
Episode 19
30m
Clive Myrie presents another heat of the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair under the glare of the spotlight and the ticking clock in an attempt to become the next Mastermind champion. Tonight's specialist subjects are Line of Duty, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, the Rebecca Riots and gin.
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Episode 20
Episode 20
30m
Four more contenders face the black chair under the spotlight and the ticking clock in an attempt to become the next Mastermind champion. Clive Myrie hosts and asks the questions on specialist subjects, which this week are the films of Tom Hanks, Sir Edward Elgar, Bess of Hardwick and Björk.
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Episode 21
Episode 21
30m
Clive Myrie hosts another heat of the classic quiz, with contenders answering questions on British and Irish women astronomers, White House pets, Edith Cavell and La Vuelta a España.
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Episode 22
Episode 22
30m
Clive Myrie hosts the classic quiz where contenders take the famous black chair. Subjects are Madonna, the ER character Doug Ross, the rivers of Yorkshire and the NHL.
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Episode 23
Episode 23
30m
Clive Myrie hosts as four more contenders answer questions on specialist subjects including Joni Mitchell, the wives of Henry VIII and the films of Tom Cruise.
Where to watch MastermindEpisode 24
Episode 24
30m
Clive Myrie hosts as contenders take to the famous black chair to answer questions on their chosen specialist subjects for a place in the semi-finals. This week's topics are Grace Kelly, the Cadfael novels and The Beatles' recording sessions.
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Episode 25
Episode 25
30m
Clive Myrie asks the questions in the first semi-final. The specialist subjects are the short stories of Daphne du Maurier, the films of Studio Ghibli, Scott Pilgrim and Formula One.
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Episode 26
Episode 26
30m
Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. Specialist subjects are Vincent van Gogh’s paintings, the Bill & Ted films, drum and bass music and Julia Margaret Cameron.
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Episode 27
Episode 27
30m
Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects are the X-Files, the history of York Minster, England at the Cricket World Cup and the Brooklyn Bridge.
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Episode 28
Episode 28
30m
Clive Myrie presents the fourth semi-final of the classic quiz where contenders return to the black chair under the glare of the spotlight and the ticking clock to win a place in the grand final. The specialist subjects are Wilfred Owen, 20th-century boxing, Frasier and African World Heritage Sites.
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Episode 29
Episode 29
30m
Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects are Irish involvement in the Spanish Civil War, Pulp, Brian Clough and the Harry Potter novels.
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Episode 30
Episode 30
28m
Clive Myrie asks the questions in another semi-final. The specialist subjects are Jean Harlow, Porridge, Alexander the Great and the World Snooker Championship.
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Episode 31
Final
58mfinale
Clive Myrie asks the questions in the grand final. Specialist subjects include Sir Steve McQueen’s film and TV works, the Peak District, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Open All Hours.
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