Mastermind (1972)
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.
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Episode 1 - Episode 1
Release Date: 1976-09-07This tense, dramatic and highly-rated quiz competition embarks on its fifth series to discover the ' Mastermind ' for 1976. The contenders for the title are faced with a formidable challenge to their intellect, requiring them to be complete masters of their chosen subject and have a wide general knowledge. Contenders: ROBERT ORR, student, Russo-German War, 1941-1945; ALWYN JAMES, freelance editor, Life and Works of Dylan Thomas; MARY KEAN , housewife, Switzerland MICHAEL DYCHE, RAF navigator, Captain Cook
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Episode 2 - Episode 2
Release Date: 1976-09-14Contenders from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen strive for a place in the Mastermind semi-finals. To succeed they require the knowledge of the specialist, a wide range of general knowledge and the ability to think and act quickly under the pressure of time. Edinburgh University again provides the venue for tonight's contest. Contenders: ROBIN WALDEN, export manager Life and works of Michelangelo GAY SINCLAIR-GIEBEN, schoolmistress Scottish Wars of Independence 1306-1320 ALAN BRUFORD, archivist The Hebrides to 1914 MARTIN NICHOLS, retired neurosurgeon, Naval history 1793-1815
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Episode 3 - Episode 3
Release Date: 1976-09-21Tonight, contenders for the Mastermind title are from Brighton, Bury St Edmunds, London and Cambridge. The venue for this mind marathon is the University of Hull. Contenders: David Morris, government scientist - Books of the Apocrypha Susan Grant, doctor's secretary - Brighton and its inhabitants from 1750 Lance Howard, solicitor - Venice Henry Button, research student - Cambridge Colleges
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Episode 4 - Episode 4
Release Date: 1976-09-28Two teachers, a warehouseman and a housewife make up tonight's group of aspirant ' Master-minds'. Whoever is to succeed requires supreme concentration, thorough subject specialisation and a wide general knowledge. A formidable task, but an exciting challenge. Contenders: JOHN TAYLOR, warehouseman - Northumbrian Kings of the sixth and seventh centuries MARGARET GARRATT, housewife, Dietetics JOHN BYERS , schoolmaster, Life and work of Evelyn Waugh NICHOLAS SPRUYTENBURG , teacher, Life and times of Edward II
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Episode 5 - Episode 5
Release Date: 1976-10-05Tonight's heat comes from Bangor University in Wales. Contestants are: SIMON ST QUINTIN, bus conductor/driver - History and geography of Ethiopia JANET SAVAGE, medical social worker - Life and works of John Keats LEO TWYMAN, translator, the Anglo-Saxon period to circa 655 HENRY PANTIN, geologist, Gliding and its history
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Episode 6 - Episode 6
Release Date: 1976-10-12The half-way stage has now been reached in this preliminary round. Contestants in the sixth heat are: JOHN MAYNARD, Security adviser, Life and times of Richard III JUNE MAGGS, Librarian, The County of Gwent THOMAS GODFREY, Lecturer, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales GEORGE SHELDRICK, Local Government Officer, Life and works of Rembrandt
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Episode 7 - Episode 7
Release Date: 1976-10-19Tonight's heat comes from the University of Leicester, where we welcome four contestants from Northern Ireland. Depth of knowledge, concentration, and nerves of steel will help one of them to find a place in the Semi-final round. Contestants are: Robert Dunbar, Teacher - Life and work of Samuel Becket Lisa Duffin, Librarian - 17th-century Mathematicians Oliver Ferguson, Teacher - Geography of South East Asia Rodney Smith, Teacher - 20th-century British Politics
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Episode 8 - Episode 8
Release Date: 1976-10-26One of tonight's contestants m the eighth heat will win a place in the semi-final round. - From Leicester University TEDDY VON KOENTGSTAEDTE, teacher - Life and works of Hans Christian Andersen SANDYA NARAYANSWAMI, student - Genetics DAVID WILSON, lorry driver -The life and works of James Joyce JOHN SYKES, lexicographer - Mathematics
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Episode 9 - Episode 9
Release Date: 1976-11-02London University provides the venue for this ninth heat. The contestants are: DENIS VANDERVELDE, freelance management consultant - World Postal History ANN-MARY HILLS, housewife - Life of Horatio Nelson JOHN PALMER-BARNES, baker - Life and works of Sir Barnes Wallis ALAN ILIFFE, psychologist - Novels of Anthony Trollope
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Episode 10 - Episode 10
Release Date: 1976-11-09Tonight's heat takes place at the University of London and the contestants are VERNON LEEM-BRlGGEN, commissionaire - The war in Burma (1943-45) ANNE' GOLDSTEIN, freelance writer - English Civil War (1642-1648) DAVID DELVIN, medical journalist - Operas ASHLEY BRAMALL, barrister - British Politics since 1918
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Episode 11 - Episode 11
Release Date: 1976-11-16A wide area of interests are Covered in the specialist subjects by tonight's contestants, whose professions are as varied as the subjects. Tonight's heat comes from the University of Exeter. Contestants: DAVID FLOWER, applied mathematician - The USA AMANDA HILL, postal officer - The descendants of Queen Victoria ROBERT SMITH, London taxi-driver - Viking Atlantic voyages JOHN LANGFORD, careers officer - Oliver Cromwell
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Episode 12 - Episode 12
Release Date: 1976-11-23Tonight's contest comes from Exeter University and completes the first round heats. Contestants: STEWART THOMPSON, Naval Officer - The Rebellion of 1745 DIANA PUGH, housewife - Life and works of Percy Bysshe Shelley TIMOTHY WALLACE-MURPHY, salesman - Medical History 1700-1850 ROGER PRITCHARD, civil servant - Life of the Duke of Wellington
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Episode 13 - Episode 13
Release Date: 1976-11-30Durham University is the venue for the beginning of this semi-final round with four of the 12-heat winners trying for a place in the Final. They are ALAN ILIFFE, psychologist - English theatre 1950-75 SUSAN GRANT, doctor's secretary -The wines of France NICHOLAS SPRUYTFNBURG, teacher - The life of Cardinal Wolsey HENRY PANTIN, geologist - Life and works of Berlioz
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Episode 14 - Episode 14
Release Date: 1976-12-07with Magnus Magnusson at the University of Durham. Contestants: ALAN BRUFORD, archivist - Life and works of Handel MARY KEAN, housewife - Life and works of Tolstoy JOHN SYKES, lexicographer - Physics AMANDA HILL, postal officer - British Saints
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Episode 15 - Episode 15
Release Date: 1976-12-14Tonight's contestants meet at the University of Bristol. They are: GEORGE SHELDRICK, local government officer - French medieval history 987-1328 LISA DUFFIN, librarian - Life cycle/habits of the honeybee ROGER PRITCHARD, civil servant - British warships from 1914 to the present day DAVID DELVIN, medical journalist - Field and track athletics (amateur) 1855-1960
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Episode 16 - Episode 16
Release Date: 1976-12-21The University of Bristol is the scene for the last of the Semi-finals. A chance for the four best heat-losers to gain the fourth and final place in this year's Mastermind Final. They are GAY SINCLAIR-GIEBEN, schoolmistress - The fictional novels of C. P. Snow DAVID FLOWER, applied mathematician - Physics JANET SAVAGE, medical social worker - The Gunpowder Plot DAVID WILSON, lorry driver - Life and works of Ibsen
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Episode 17 - Episode 17
Release Date: 1976-12-24The Final NICHOLAS SPRUYTENBURG, teacher - Life and times of Edward II ROGER PRITCHARD, civil servant - Life of the Duke of Wellington AMANDA HILL, postal officer - Descendants of Queen Victoria Best runner-up