Mastermind contestants have been impressing viewers with incredible knowledge around their specialist subjects since 1972.
However in recent years, some fans have kicked off over the ‘dumbed down’ topics on the BBC quiz show – and have called for the rules and regulations over what gets picked to be overhauled.
On Monday there was uproar over one contestant answering questions about sitcom Friday Night Dinner.
Just last year other fans slated the show as ‘a shadow of its former self’ after the contestants revealed their specialist subjects – which consisted of Narnia, The Matrix films, Madagascar and Robbie Williams ‘s solo career.
However, over the years, many challengers have picked television shows, so Channel 4 hit Friday Night Dinner is far from an exception.
One fan took to a Digital Spy forum to share their frustration over the dumbing down of the questions used.
Mastermind’s most ridiculous specialist subjects as fans brand ‘dumbed down’ BBC quiz a ‘shadow of its former self’ and call for overhaul of rules
They wrote on the site: ‘There are still a lot of challenging questions but some are just too easy. I think it really takes the shine off what used to be a really prestigious title and I just don’t enjoy the show so much. Quizzes have different levels and are all fun in their own way but it seems a mistake to change the pitch.’
Many agreed and were quick to echo the sentiment.
One replied: ‘I find that the first question of the specialist subject round is always easy, maybe to help the contestant settle in. I agree that the general knowledge questions have progressively become easier, sometimes markedly so. I will continue watching however!’
Another joked: ‘It is not that the questions are getting easier it is just that as you get older you become cleverer and know a lot more.
‘(Anyway, that’s my explanation for knowing more answers nowadays.).
‘Here are some of the other times that lighter topics have been used… ‘
A third confessed: ‘When mastermind was on in the 80’s I could hardly answer one question. They seemed very hard. Unless I know more things now, they do seem easier.’
Here we take a look at some of the topics that have caused outrage among viewers.
Friday Night Dinner
Retired teacher Gary Austin’s topic – Friday Night Dinner – left some watching at home in a bit of a huff
Friday Night Dinner aired on Channel 4 between 2011 and 2020
On Monday night, Eddie Crawford, Kate Bleazard, Nathan Hamer and Gary Austin battled out for a place in the show’s semi-finals.
Retired teacher Gary’s topic – Friday Night Dinner – left some watching at home in a bit of a huff.
During his specialist round he bagged 12 points and then beat everyone during the general knowledge round – and fans weren’t impressed.
One fumed on X: ‘I got almost as many right as him – Friday Night Dinner is a great show, but hardly Mastermind material.’
Another chimed in: ‘Can we please up the bar for acceptable specialist subjects?’
A third added: ‘That’s not a specialist subject, that’s a passing interest.’
‘#Mastermind shouldn’t allow TV programs as specialist subjects! You watched a few episodes of a program? Great. That’s not the as studying world history, science, literature. Moan over haha,’ a fourth chimed in.
Peppa Pig
Journalist Jennie Bond, 74, picked Peppa Pig as her specialist subject – and she managed to bag seven points.
Peppa Pig has had eight successful series and over 350 episodes – and the show airs on Channel 4 and Nick Jr
On December 23 last year, Jennie Bond, Des Clarke, Nabil Abdulrashid and Abby Cook took to the studio to answer questions on the BBC show.
And journalist Jennie, 74, picked Peppa Pig as her specialist subject – and she managed to bag seven points.
But despite the ‘easy’ subject, she actually placed last against the rest of the famous faces.
Those watching at home couldn’t believe that the children’s show was what she wanted to answer questions on.
One wrote on X: ‘It’s fair to say I did not have former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond choosing Peppa Pig as her Mastermind specialist subject on my Christmas bingo card.’
Another added: ‘Jennie Bond having Peppa Pig as her Mastermind specialist subject wasn’t on me 2024 bingo card mind.’
‘How can you go on Mastermind and your specialist subject is Peppa Pig,’ a third chimed in.
Alan Partridge
Company director Craig Murray picked Alan Partridge during an episode in 2021
Alan Partridge is a comedy character played by Steve Coogan
Company director Craig Murray picked Alan Partridge during an episode in 2021.
Presenter John Humphrys said of his topcic: ‘Alan Partridge, the enect, hapless and often obnoxious fictional broadcaster created by Steve Coogan.’
Some questions included: ‘What’s the name of the conductor played by the musical director Steve Brown, who leads the house band on Alan Partridge’s television chat show, Knowing Me, Knowing You?
Another was: ‘In the day-to-day Allen tries to explain the group system for the 1994 football world cup with the help of a complicated studio prop. What name does he give it?’
Craig only managed to bag himself five points.
Some took to social media to share their confusion over Craig’s choice.
A fan said: ‘One of the #Mastermind specialist subjects is… Alan Partridge. What?’
Another questioned: ‘Would Alan Partridge be an acceptable subject on #mastermind.’
Drag Race
Dr Ranj took to the studio in 2020 alongside Jess Wright, Alan Johnson and Katy Brand to answer their specialist subjects
Ru Paul’s Drag Race has been on our screens since 2009 – it has had 17 series since then
Dr Ranj took to the studio in 2020 alongside Jess Wright, Alan Johnson and Katy Brand to answer their specialist subjects.
The former This Morning star told host, 45, that he was going to show off his knowledge on the popular reality show.
Despite fans thinking that it is a easy subject, the telly favourite only managed to score two points.
Mastermind has been on our screens for a whopping 53 years.
Fans have shared their frustration for a number of years, which led the BBC to reveal their banned subjects back in 2018.
Mark Hellsby, who was the show’s producer at the time, said there had to be ‘two good quality books’ on the subject.
He said: ‘Some of the shorter sitcom series – Fawlty Towers, Blackadder and Father Ted for example – have been exhausted for new questions.
‘Thirty-two people wanted to do Fawlty Towers last year, 19 wanted Blackadder and 22 wanted Father Ted.
‘Some of the very popular literary subjects, such as the Chronicles of Narnia or Roald Dahl probably wouldn’t be agreed to for the same reason.
‘As a minimum, we would want there to be at least two good quality books on a biographical or historical subject.
‘TV, film and literary subjects are a bit more subjective, but we would never allow just one book or one film.’
Mastermind airs Mondays on BBC Two and is available to stream on iPlayer.
