Mastermind

1979

Not Rated
Quiz show featuring members of the public answering specialist and general knowledge questions in a black chair. The series ran for 25 years with host Magnus Magnusson, ending in 1997. It was eventually resurrected on the BBC in 2003.

Where to Watch 1979

17 Episodes

  • Episode 1
    E1
    Episode 1What do you know of the French Foreign Legion, Mammals, the Diaghilev Ballet, and 20th-century Science Fiction? To find out join with a fireman, a zoo keeper, a barmaid and a lecturer who will be attempting to answer questions on these subjects plus a huge range of general knowledge questions. These four contenders are the first in the field in this new Mastermind series which tonight begins at York University. The contenders are: Paul Elliott (fireman), The French Foreign Legion to 1970 Richard Green (zoo keeper), The Mammals Diane Harris (barmaid), The Diaghilev Ballet Albert Preston (lecturer), 20th-century Science Fiction
  • Episode 2
    E2
    Episode 2A political writer, a technical translator, a local government officer and an hotelier take up the challenge tonight of this 1979 Mastermind competition. The subjects upon which they will concentrate are British History, the Life and Works of Solzhenitsyn, the Broadway Musical and the Life and Works of Chopin. This second heat in the series comes from York University. The contenders are: Tony Broadbent (political writer), British History, 1870-1945 Paul Granville Jackson (technical translator), Life and Works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn James Martin (local government officer), The Broadway Musical, 1945-1970 Roy Scott (hotelier), Life and Works of Chopin
  • Episode 3
    E3
    Episode 3The Royal Military Academy of. Sandhurst is host to tonight's programme. An appropriate venue. as many of the questions required for our military subjects emanate from the experts who are stationed here. Mastermind is also a most popular programme among the forces, particularly with the army stationed in Germany. The contenders are: Sarah Catling (veterinary haematologist), History of the English Derby Aylwin Fletcher (tutor and GCE examiner), Life and Works of Max Beerbohm Keith Pierce (police sergeant), History of Hastings and St Leonards Sir Peter Hayman (ex-diplomatist), Marshals of Napoleon I
  • Episode 4
    E4
    Episode 4Many and varied are the specialised subjects tackled by Mastermind contestants. The contenders are: Ronald Graham-Carter (university administrator): Winston Churchill Peter Owen (chartered surveyor): Life and Works of Arthur Ransome Jean Wilson (part-time teacher): English Literature 1550-1900 Paul Wood (local government officer): The Reign of George III
  • Episode 5
    E5
    Episode 5The first of the two Scottish groups taking part turns out to be something of a mini International, with THOMAS BLAHA working in Aberdeen, but who is from Cleveland, USA; LAI-NGAU PAUSON living in Glasgow, but originating from Seattle, Washington; STEPHEN SENN living in Fife, but a Swiss national by birth; and JOE WEST, a pilot stationed on Shetland, hailing from Bournemouth. The venue. for this interesting match is Dundee University Thomas Blaha (teacher): US Government and Politics Lai-ngau Pauson (editor): History of Printing to 1860 Stephen Senn (lecturer): The History and Geography of Dartmoor Joe West (helicopter pilot): World War I
  • Episode 6
    E6
    Episode 6In this second visit to Dundee University, the four aspiring Scottish Masterminds are from Edinburgh, Forfar, Dumbarton and Crieff. The contenders are: Iain Campbell (student): Byzantine History AD 610-867 Elizabeth Compton (farmer): Elizabeth of Austria 1837-1898 James Davis (teacher): European History 1945-1979 Max Todd (teacher): World War I
  • Episode 7
    E7
    Episode 7This, the Welsh contribution to this year's Mastermind, takes place in mid-Wales at Aberystwyth University. The contenders are: Catherine Mason (teacher): Louis XIV of France Ralph Handscomb (driver): The 'James Bond' novels of Ian Fleming Barry Jones (fitter): The Modern Summer Olympics Philip Jenkins (research assistant): The Development of Christianity CAD 30-150
  • Episode 8
    E8
    Episode 8Tonight, the contestants hail from Oswestry, Northampton, Coventry and Redditch, and seek, in this eighth heat, to gain a place in the next semi-final round. They are: Robert Ingle (political agent): The Life of Benjamin Disraeli Deborah Hill-Trevor (farmer's wife): English Life and Times 1780-1815 John McLeod (local government officer): The Career of Oliver Cromwell Gerald Sparrow (teacher): Geology
  • Episode 9
    E9
    Episode 9The chief shoe manufacturing centre of England provides the location for tonight's heat, which takes place in Nene College, Northampton. The contenders are: William Rayner (oilfield technician): Emperor Charles V Caroline Hurlstone (housewife): Plays of Tom Stoppard John Old (teacher): The Moomin Saga of Tove Jansson John Shepherd (air traffic controller): Island of Sark
  • Episode 10
    E10
    Episode 10In this tenth heat four more people seek to obtain a place in the semi-final round. The contenders are: John Weller (bricklayer): British Birds Christopher Budd (Army officer): The Waterloo Campaign Robert Wall (engineer): North Atlantic Ocean Liners Adam Gielgud (NHS ancillary): History of Poland 1900-1945
  • Episode 11
    E11
    Episode 11Tonight sees the start of an All Ireland' contribution to Mastermind with contenders from Rathdrum, Rathmines, Dun Laog haire, Stillorgan, Londonderry, Whitehead, Belfast and Carnckfergus... The first group are from the Irish Republic and for this, and the Northern Ireland group, the historic Trinity College in Dublin is providing the setting. The contenders are: Mary Grogan (librarian): Ballet in Britain 1900-1960 Con Cashman (farmer): Agriculture Beatrice Syms (art teacher): The 'Dragon' books of Anne McCaffrey John Egan (transport supervisor): The Life and Works of James Joyce
  • Episode 12
    E12
    Episode 12Tonight's Northern Ireland match completes the 12 heats of the first round. The winner moves on to join the other 11 semi-finalists, which leaves four places to be filled by the best runners-up. The contenders are: Edward Kennedy (retired naval rating): West Malaysia Martin Bradley (mature student): The Films of Steve McQueen James Nesbitt (civil servant): European History 1914-1945 Jane Morton (local government officer): France since 1814
  • Episode 13
    E13
    Episode 13The 'Bute Hall' in Glasgow University is the setting for the start of the semi-final round, and in this section the contenders are required to offer a new specialist subject. The first four contenders are: Iain Campbell (student): The Works of Evelyn Waugh Sir Peter Hayman (ex-diplomatist): The Life of King George V Robert Wall (engineer): The Spanish Civil War Joe West (helicopter pilot): The Life of Horatio Nelson
  • Episode 14
    E14
    Episode 14This crucial match, which comes from the Bute Hall in Glasgow University, will establish which of tonight's four contenders will move forward to the final round. The contenders are: Richard Green (zoo keeper): History of the Isle of Man John McLeod (local government officer): Sir Arthur Sullivan and his Contemporary Composers John Old (teacher): The Texan Revolution 1835-1836 Peter Owen (chartered surveyor): Life and Works of Beatrix Potter
  • Episode 15
    E15
    Episode 15On this occasion, Mastermind visits Northern Ireland for the first time. The New University of Ulster in Coleraine are the hosts to this third semi-final group of contenders seeking to win through to the Final. They are: Tony Broadbent (political writer): English Poetry Martin Bradley (mature student): Life and Work of Billie Holiday John Egan (transport supervisor): Life of Leon Trotsky Philip Jenkins (research assistant): Vikings in Scotland and Ireland 800-1150
  • Episode 16
    E16
    Episode 16This, the Best of the Runners-up semi-final, is being staged at the New University of Ulster in Coleraine, and by sheer coincidence includes an Englishman, an Irish-woman, a Scot and a Welshman. Tonight's winner will fill the last place in the Final line-up. The contenders are: Barry Jones (fitter) - British Prime Ministers John Shepherd (air traffic controller) - Life and Works of George Borrow Beatrice Syms (art teacher) - Life and Works of Jane Austen James Davis (teacher) - The Mountains of Scotland
  • Final
    E17
    Final'The Painted Hall' of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, provides the historic setting for this year's Mastermind Final. The finalists are: Joe West (helicopter pilot): Royal Navy History 1794-1805 John McLeod (local government officer): Career of Oliver Cromwell Philip Jenkins (research assistant): History of Wales AD 400-1100 Best Runner-up

Cast of 1979

  • Magnus Magnusson

 

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