Latest news with #Mastermind
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mastermind fans stunned as they realise where they've seen BBC contestant before - but should he be banned from show?
Mastermind fans were left stunned after realising where they have seen one of the BBC contestants from Monday's episode before. The latest episode of the programme saw presenter Clive Myrie, 60, return to our screens to take on four new players. One contestant, Dennis Wang, took to the seat to answer his specialist subject questions about the Men's Euros between 2000 to 2004. He managed to bag himself an 12 correct questions. But his Mastermind debut didn't mark the first time he's appeared on our screens. Dennis took part in Jeopardy UK! last year and managed to win his episode. One contestant, Dennis Wang, took to the seat to answer his specialist subject questions which were about the Men's Euros between 2000 to 2004 (pictured) He was also the team captain for the Crunchers on Only Connect. Not only that, he was part of the Worcester College team while appearing on University Challenge in 2016. Many recognised the player and flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their frustrations. 'Don't think it's fair to have the same guy just competing on all the big quiz shows really? Seems a bit unfair #mastermind.' 'Mr Wang from #onlyconnect ? #quizzymonday #mastermind.' 'Do they have a pool of people who are on every quiz show? You get the same people on this, only connect, university challenge etc. #mastermind.' 'A few years ago there was one lad on Only Connect, Pointless and a couple of other shows in the space of about a month.' 'I've seen Dennis on #Mastermind, Jeopardy, Only Connect... he's a quiz stalwart.' 'I wonder how many people have done the triple of #UniversityChallenge #OnlyConnect and #Mastermind.' Mastermind hit our screens back in 1972. There have been 980 regular episodes across 48 series. The show was originally presented by Magnus Magnusson until 1997. The role was later taken over by Peter Snow until 2000. Between 2001 and 2002, Clive Anderson hosted the show. Then John Humphrys presented between 2003 and 2021. Clive Myrie has been the host since 2021. Back in April Mastermind viewers swiped 'give me a break!' as they criticised what they deemed to be an 'utterly ridiculous' specialist subject in the BBC semi-final. Cathryn Gahan answered questions on the films of Mel Brooks, Arnav Umranikar picked the subject of Homer's Odyssey, Roopam Carroll chose to answer questions on LL Cool J and John Hardin picked the subject of Sir John Mortimer. Those watching at home were really confused about contestant Roopam's specialist subject and flocked to X to complain. One posted: '#mastermind sorry but LL Cool J as a specialist subject in a semi-final is utterly ridiculous. Give me a break!' Another said: 'It's almost symptomatic of what's wrong with #Mastermind these days, in that it's a semi-final, and the specialist subjects include Homer's Odyssey and, erm, LL Cool J...'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘One last nervous wee and bam!': what it's like winning Mastermind Australia
'Sure, happy to help' is probably my most frequent utterance and is responsible for a lot of good trouble in my life. It's how I met my wife, landed my dream job and ended up as this season's champion of Australia's toughest quizshow, Mastermind. I've been fortunate enough to work at AFTRS, the Australian Film Television and Radio School, for the last seven years. One of my former students, Beatrice, emailed to ask if I'd share a casting call for Mastermind Australia with everyone at work. But when I did, I was surprised to see the smartest and most eloquent people I know respond with a flicker of panic – as though they were already in the chair – followed by a polite 'no'. As a recovering people-pleaser, I put in an application myself. And a few weeks later, after a trivia test where I scored a paltry six out of 10, I got the call. I was in. For those unfamiliar with Mastermind Australia, four contenders each face a two-minute round of questions on a specialist subject of their choosing, then 90 seconds of general knowledge. The winner progresses to the weekly final, where they face a two-minute general knowledge round, then a round called the Slow Burn, during which the contenders are given 10 clues to identify something in a specific category, such as books, food, landmarks, inventions; the fewer clues you need, the more points you get for a correct answer. The winner of that weekly final then progresses to a semi-final with new specialist subject and general knowledge rounds. The four semi-final winners then compete in the grand final with a third specialist subject, a Slow Burn round and a general knowledge round. Across 85 episodes, that's 240 contestants competing for one trophy. My top picks for my specialist subjects – Golden Age Simpsons (seasons four to 10, fight me) and the Game of Thrones novels – were too popular. Instead, the producers seized on my third choice: the Jack Parlabane novels by Scottish crime author Christopher Brookmyre. For a show where Welsh narrow-gauge railways was once a subject, my fears this choice was too niche were unfounded. Rereading the nine Parlabane novels was a joy, but this time I was on the lookout for anything that might make an interesting trivia question. For example, a major reveal in Country of the Blind involves the song Arena; I had a hunch it might come up, but couldn't recall the band (Skids). Sure enough, it did – but thankfully it was the song title they were after. To memorise publication dates, I linked each book to where I was in life when I read it. For example, Dead Girl Walking came out in 2015, when I was in a long-distance relationship and working a job I hated. Contestants are given a source material list to prepare from, but it's still unnerving to publicly declare yourself an expert in something, only to have a professional quiz writer say, 'Oh really? Hold my beer.' Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Trivia is one of the few socially acceptable ways to be an insufferable know-it-all, and I've always been blessed with a good memory, so I didn't overly prepare for general knowledge; I played a few Identify This Flag-type quiz games and looked up who's on the $50 note. I focused instead on what I could control: my specialist subject. When filming day arrived, I was more nervous about letting Beatrice down than anything else. I had a very pleasant chat with the other contenders in the green room, though I could sense the crew had been directed not to make any sudden movements, lest they rattle some already rattled people. One last nervous wee and bam! I'm under the lights and first up. Turns out that someone writing quiz questions just for me is my love language. I hit what I imagine is flow state (possibly dissociation) before … Beep-beep-beep. No passes. All correct. Fourteen points. I needed five correct answers in general knowledge to win the episode and managed six, taking me straight to the weekly final. Until I saw the episode weeks later, I couldn't tell you a single one of the questions. I was thrilled to come back as a finalist and, when I did, I was more shocked than anyone to nail my general knowledge round, scoring 14 before we even got to the Slow Burn. Correctly identifying 'cringe' as both a genre of comedy and a word that you can remove a letter from to become an anagram of 'nicer' won me a slot in the semi-final. Now I needed to pick (and study simultaneously) two new specialist subjects. The semi-final was surprisingly the most nerve-racking, as my motivation wasn't 'win a quizshow', but 'please let me play one more time'. If I didn't nail the movies of Kevin Smith, one of my new subjects, I'd never get to the Preacher comics of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, my grand final specialist subject. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Sixteen points was my reward for a gloriously misspent youth behind the counter at Video Ezy in Crows Nest. To say Kevin Smith was influential on my life is akin to saying Quentin Tarantino likes feet – correct, but woefully understated. Revisiting his films took me back to what made me want to make movies in the first place. I only got one answer wrong, which felt like a fitting tribute to one of my heroes. I held my nerve – again, I have no memory of the questions asked – and earned enough points in my general knowledge round to advance to the grand final. They sat my family directly behind the host Marc Fennell. No pressure. For the grand final, I'd taken care to study issue titles, forewords and publication dates, not just plot and character, which was vindicated mightily when I was asked, 'What kind of animal is Charlie?' Answer: he is Ennis's (fictional) pet mongoose. Beep-beep-beep. A perfect round and another 16 points. My fellow finalist Laura crushed it with 14 correct answers about the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice and Simone nailed her round on the movies of Matthew McConaughey with 14 points. Steve didn't do as well on the speeches of JFK – but everything can change with Slow Burn. I had the last choice and ended up with 'Franchise' as my Slow Burn category. The answer is invariably something you have at least heard of; however, the clues to get you there start very obscure. Consequently, I needed six clues to get Star Wars, putting me equal to Simone and Laura with 20 points each going into the final general knowledge round. Laura pulled off impressive nine correct answers, so the pressure was on. I know at least one answer was Florence, as my father barely resisted heckling when I got it wrong, but otherwise it was a total blur. Once I returned to Earth, I learned that I was two points ahead with 11 correct answers. Marc asked me how I felt about Simone going next and I said, 'well, she's very impressive'. Someone in the audience laughed. My wife told me later that it had sounded like I had arrogantly said 'that's very impressive' of my own score. Trash talk is definitively not my style and certainly not very Mastermind. I distinctly remember thinking, 'you might have this' for the first time in the whole competition, but I was terrified of getting ahead of myself. Within seconds of meeting in the green room, Simone, Laura, Steve and I had bonded over this very unique shared experience we were all having. All of us said that by now we really didn't care who won. As I watched Simone's score grow, I couldn't concentrate enough to count her correct answers as I was cheering her on in my head. Beep-beep-beep. Nine points for Simone. Tears sprang to my eyes and my ears started ringing. In a daze I stood up as confetti cannon went off and I was handed the bowl I had seen on TV for years. There are fewer Mastermind Australia winners in the world than people who have walked on the moon – which, come to think of it, is a great trivia question. My win hasn't really sunk in yet, I think due to a combination of impostor syndrome and sheer disbelief that I even ended up on a quizshow. The whole experience has reinforced for me how important it is to be curious and to love things. My fellow grand finalists had such generosity of spirit and an infectious enthusiasm – they seem like people who say 'sure, happy to help' a lot too. Mastermind Australia is on SBS and SBS OnDemand
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
'There were parties everywhere': Cork winner of Mastermind International recalls triumph
Few Irishmen can lay claim to the title of Mastermind in the show's enduring 53-year run but only one is a Mastermind International champion — a mild-mannered geography teacher from Whitechurch, Co Cork. John Mulcahy — just 29 at the time — etched his name into the annals of trivia history in the echoing chambers of London's Guildhall in February 1979. Not only did he outsmart some of the best and brightest minds from across the globe — Nigeria, Australia, Canada — he did so under an oppressive spotlight likened only to that of the Gestapo's merciless methods of interrogation. And with, as Mr Mulcahy described him, the 'stern and distant' Magnus Magnusson at the helm, few would have faulted the Corkman for folding. He was suitably phlegmatic. Remarkably unphased. John Mulcahy, the first Irishman to win Mastermind, holds the trophy at the gate of his home in Whitechurch, where his love of knowledge continues in retirement. Picture: Chani Anderson The soft afternoon glow spilling across his face at his cozy Whitechurch homestead is considerably less oppressive than the spotlight in the Guildhall, but he is perched on his armchair just as he was that night — cross-legged, palms placed gently on knees, sharp, attentive. Likewise, the anecdotes — and the pride — flow out of him like the answers did all those years ago. Mr Mulcahy's ascension to the apex of Mount Mastermind began humbly back home where he claimed Ireland's Top Score title in the summer of 1978. 'At the final of Top Score above in Dublin, the producer of Mastermind, Bill Wright, was there and they announced that the winner would be going on to this international competition. 'RTÉ were good to me, they helped me an awful lot. They brought me up to Dublin for a weekend and pumped me with questions. 'I was doing pub quizzes here at the time in Blackpool with The Bowler's Rest when it was in its heyday. We won the Blackpool festival, which was bigger than the Olympics at the time and they all wanted to come over (to London). 'I went over that night with my sister and my mother, my father couldn't come at the time. There were four friends who came along as well. We had a good time despite it being pretty nail-biting.' Incredibly, there was no financial prize for the Cork man on that wonderful night. 'Nothing financial, just honour, prestige … and a trophy,' he said. What followed, though, transcended material value: A personal letter from then taoiseach Jack Lynch, national recognition and a tidal wave of goodwill — all washed down with enough Guinness to fill the Lee. He had surprised the world, but none more than himself, when it came to the buzzer-beating answer that ultimately crowned him Mastermind International champion. 'It was an interesting question. I still scratch my head and say, how did I get that answer? 'It was about a boxer who twice defeated Jack Dempsey. The only part of the question that I knew was a boxer who had died recently, that was Gene Tunney. The buzzer went off but Magnus continued anyway, saying 'I started so I'll finish'. I knew it was the last question. I gave the answer and it was right. Now, I was a point ahead of the previous contestant." He said the last contestant was David Hunt, who was the champion of champions. "He hadn't done that well in the first round. But, my God, when he got on the chair this time he was absolutely flying it. There was no doubt he was going to win it, only that the time ran out. 'Would you believe he ended up a point below me? You see, you don't see the scores when you're on the chair and you don't have anything to go off, unlike when you're watching television. As a result I wasn't totally clear what was going on. But I was very relieved when it did happen, when it was announced.' The Irishman may have been saved by the bell but his expertise was irrefutable. He rattled off 15 correct answers in round 1 — tackling Irish History from 1916-1922 — and a further 13 in the general knowledge round. He wasn't afraid to pass on a question he didn't know either. No bluffing, no bluster, just unshakeable knowledge. It was a trivia performance defined by egoless precision and quiet confidence. If anyone was prepared going into the Guildhall it was John Mulcahy. He was no stranger to the rhythm and sleight of hand required in buzzer-style quiz shows, having conquered Top Score. 'It was slightly different in that it was the number of questions you could get into the two minutes and you had to be very, very fast. The secret, well I won't say the secret because I certainly didn't go in with any plan — but the idea was that if I didn't know the answer I passed right away. That way I got a couple of extra questions in. 'It wasn't that I was all high and mighty, I was most unimpressive because I missed nine questions. I'd say they were all gasping, wondering how you could win and miss that number of questions. It was just about the speed, there was no time to think.' Little did he know the sheer amount of Irish he would do proud that night. Thousands tuned into Mastermind International from all over the globe the night it aired in March. Irish hearts swelled, puffed up with conceit. Some were even compelled to pick up their pens and write to their Irish champion. 'First of all I think it was a national honour. The whole country took pride in it, so in that sense I was delighted. 'I was also pleased for the family more than myself. I got fed up with it after a while to be honest. 'It's quite amazing, people are still coming up to me and introducing me to others as the fellow who won 'the brain of Ireland' or whatever. They never get the name right of course 'It seemed to mean an awful lot to an awful lot of people. The local people responded hugely, seen of course when hundreds had turned out in Cork Airport at the time. It was crazy." He said the vast bulk of those who wrote to him from around the world were immigrants saying they were very proud of him. Letter from Jack Lynch 'We had a postal strike at home, following Mastermind, that went on for three months. I was inside in school one day, and looking out I saw this army motorbike scorching down the hill outside Deer Park. Next thing there was a knock on the door and this army fella came in handing me the envelope. It was the personal note from Jack Lynch.' The letter to John Mulcahy from Jack Lynch. Lynch knew, as well as anyone, the importance of such a triumph. It was enough to lift a nation — a salve of sorts. It was a moment of grace for a country bleeding from the Troubles, especially when this particular battle of the brains took place in the monarchy's own backyard. What's more, John Mulcahy's triumph shifted the needle considerably on the way people perceived the Irish at the time. 'I suppose you'd have to see it in the context, the Troubles were on at the time and not everything associated with Ireland was good news. I wasn't totally conscious of it but apparently over in England it was a big thing, the Irish jokes were flying at the time. A headline in one of the newspapers read 'The Ultimate Irish Joke' 'I got a phone call from a paper one morning before going into class. They said 'you know that the IQ tests have been carried out'. I don't know what point they were making, apparently the Irish were last. I said 'I'm not that surprised because we don't do IQ tests here, it's not part of the selection for going into school'. Even basic things like that you know you'd be asked to comment on.' His topic of choice in round 1 was hardly impetuous, maybe instinctive, though he claims he never looked at it in such a way. 'The fact that I was taking the topic I chose was of some significance too. I was sitting with this stereotype even though I didn't ever look at it that way. To me, it was just a very interesting episode in the country.' Like any great story, Mr Mulcahy's road to success — and the road after it — was paved with proverbial potholes. In round 2, there was debate over the answer to a question revolving around the works of Rudyard Kipling. There's an argument to say John Mulcahy deserved the point, however, due to a technicality, the question was scrapped. It was a minor derailment that did little to shake the Corkman's composure. 'There was a bit of a glitch while I was in the chair when I was answering a question. There was an interruption from above and they said 'we want to check out that answer' and as it turned out, apparently I'd given out the wrong answer. 'So they said 'well, technically maybe he's right'. The question was about Rudyard Kipling's Plain Tales from the Hills and they wanted to know what hills he was referring to. I said the Himalayas; they flagged it as incorrect. Apparently it was the Simla. 'Someone said, 'well, technically Simla is in the Himalayas now so maybe the best thing to do is take out that question completely'. Now, I was in the middle of a two-minute round and this interruption came. I didn't take a whole lot of notice though, it didn't put me off or anything thankfully." Gay Byrne gaffe And then came the slip. Gay Byrne, ever the showman, prematurely released news of John Mulcahy's victory on RTÉ radio, to the dismay of the BBC who weren't set to air the show until the following month. 'There was a delegation from RTÉ over including Adrian Cronin, who was the producer of The Late Late Show at the time. He rang up Gay Byrne, either that night or the next morning. He said 'the Irish fella is after winning the Mastermind' but never said to Gay to keep it quiet. So, what did Gay do? He put it out on the radio the following morning. 'It was a laugh because my poor father was here at home and he'd gone up to the shop as usual for the milk. They were asking him 'how did John do? How did John get on?' And he'd say 'Ah, he did alright. He didn't let us down anyway'. The next thing he came home and the phone was hopping off the hook, everyone wanting to talk to him. Of course, it was the same inside the school. Press coverage about John Mulcahy. 'They probably were annoyed but this was a matter between RTÉ and the BBC. I didn't know anything. It was on the front page of all the papers over in London. I was out of circulation. There were no mobile phones or anything and the few friends that I was over with had gone home. So, I was on my own and enjoying life until I got to Heathrow where I was paged. 'I think it was the Daily Express turned up with a camera and a reporter and I had to unpackage my trophy and get a photograph taken. When I went up to board the plane an Aer Lingus employee said 'Mr Mulcahy, would you mind just waiting please? We'll try and get people on board and out of the way'. I thought what's all this about? Press coverage about John Mulcahy. 'So they got everyone on and I was last, placed in the front seat. To my surprise everyone jumped up and applauded. The idea was, of course, that I'd be off first in Cork. I was whipped away rather than going through security and they brought me into some room where the family were waiting and the press. It was kind of the VIP treatment which was the last thing I was expecting." He said that when he went into school the following week someone showed up and said "it's Gay Byrne on the phone, he's looking for you". "So I went in anyway and he said 'I've heard a rumour that the BBC withdrew the trophy and that they're going to cancel the programme'. So I said, 'well, as far as I'm concerned, the trophy's at home in the cupboard, I've heard nothing about it'. "I think he was worried that there might have been repercussions over it.' The International Mastermind trophy awarded in 1979 to John Mulcahy. Picture: Chani Anderson And there it still rests, tucked away safely. A simple object but a shining symbol. Surprisingly, Mr Mulcahy never pursued the next big win. Mastermind International would suffice for the Whitechurch whizz. He celebrated with family and friends for days on end, so much so that Guinness House ran out of their signature black stout, having to dash dramatically across to the Oyster mid-revelry and hold up St Patrick's St to roll a dozen more barrels back to HQ. It was pure madness. There were parties everywhere, every crowd wanted something. The celebrations went on for a while "The show, would you believe, was actually shown at home on Ash Wednesday so I went up for a pint the night before and I said that's the end of that now.' And it was. He returned to what he loved most: shaping the minds of the youth. He taught in Deer Park and the local community school in Whitechurch for years before taking tenure as a professor at UCC. As he put it himself, he never had an inclination to do anything else, despite others' expectations. 'There was a program on there one time about television quizzes and they were on about the way some of the winners of Mastermind had gone on to host their own quiz shows among other things but I never had any inclination. There were no offers anyway. 'I was very happy as a teacher anyway, quite happy to continue on.' In a world driven by immediacy and digital shortcuts, John Mulcahy's legacy stands for something rarer. It was a patient, unflashy pursuit of knowledge grounded in curiosity, tempered by humility, and crowned with one of the most quietly extraordinary victories in Irish public life.
Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The 10 best TV quiz shows — ranked by our critic
Trivia fans can rejoice this week as Mastermind and University Challenge return to our screens, making Quiz Monday appointment to view television once again each week. But how do these titans of quizzing sit among the very best quiz shows from TV history? Well, there's only one way to find out. I've ranked the top trivia quiz shows from ten to one. The list is based on 'pure quizzing' formats that rely primarily on answering questions rather than involving other activities like spelling and counting (Countdown), playing darts (Bullseye) or comedy panel shows with quizzing (QI). That's not to say those excluded aren't great shows, they are just not eligible for this list. What do you think is the greatest trivia quiz format? Let us know in the comments below … This general knowledge show ran between 1987 and 1996 and was hosted by the great Henry Kelly, who died this year. Going for Gold, with its theme tune by Hans Zimmer, was the dessert to your lunchtime helping of Neighbours. A kind of quiz equivalent of Eurovision Song Contest, the show in all its eccentric glory brought together the great and the good of quizzing from across the Continent to battle it out in quickfire trivia quizzes for the chance to progress to the final and perhaps win a holiday. It had lots of questions and plenty of laughs. It sent a message to all other quiz-makers: 'Now you're playing catch-up.' It's fair to say that not everyone is immediately on board with Only Connect, the most complicated quiz on TV. However, once you get past the complexities and oddities of the format in the good hands of its super-host, Victoria Coren Mitchell, you'll quickly be drawn into a world of hardcore quizzing and puzzling conundrums. Relaxed and engaging but requiring more lateral thinking than most quiz formats, Only Connect is a show that's rightfully won a large and loyal fanbase. There isn't another quiz in which the presenter feels so important to the format. Not just because he's part of the title, but because Richard Osman's calm, friendly and irreverent spirit runs through this format like a name through a stick of rock. On the face of it, the games aren't 'serious', and because it involves celebrity contestants the stakes should be low. However, it's impossible not to get drawn into this friendly, funny and addictively playable game from the moment it arrives in your living room. It's like the kind of Christmas family game nights that you think people might have somewhere, but have never been to yourself. University Challenge, based on the American format College Bowl, has been a mainstay of the British TV schedules since 1962. The format and set is the stuff of screen legend, immortalised by The Young Ones and the subject of the fabulous Brit-flick Starter For 10. If there is a problem with the show it would be that the questions are too hard. However, that's the point of the programme: to challenge the best and brightest of academia, so for the general viewer just getting a few questions right makes you feel smart. Which 'B' is one of the best-loved quiz formats on British television? Hosted by Bob Holness for a wonderful decade between 1983 and 1993, Blockbusters not only had a ripping theme tune, it had the quirk of single players competing against teams of two to make it across a giant honeycomb-board full of letters. Famed for its youthful contestants with mascots and the gold run with prizes like a Walkman or camping equipment, this show will for ever belong in the hearts of the true quiz fan. • Fingers on buzzers — it's the ultimate quizmasters' quiz! One of the purest of quiz formats, this is all about quickfire trivia. Hosted with aplomb by the firm but fair William G Stewart (1988-2003), then Sandi Toksvig (2014-19), this most brilliant of quiz shows had few bells and whistles (just buzzers and illuminated life bars). It formed an essential part of a golden quiz hour on Channel 4 in the afternoon alongside Countdown. The black chair under a single spotlight, the daunting music and the catchphrase 'I've started so I'll finish' make Mastermind an icon of British television. But more than the aesthetics and atmosphere, this is a show that showcases two of the best of British: weird niche knowledge and nerdiness alongside hardcore pub quiz trivia. While the viewer can marvel at the depth of a contestant's insight into something they don't understand in the first round, in the second round everyone's in the room for some good old-fashioned general knowledge. Perfect. • Is Clive Myrie right to call the Mastermind final 'TV's toughest quiz'? A tip-top Bradley Walsh on presenting duties, a brash professional quizzer with a silly nickname and four amateur pub quizzers trying to beat the teacher — what could go wrong? Nothing, that's what. The show combines a lot of fast-paced quizzing (especially in the breathless final chase) with plenty of banter and silliness in a format that has enough changes of pace to earn a full hour of your television attention. It's no wonder it remains one of the biggest bankers for ITV. I must declare an interest here. I went on The Weakest Link when I was in my twenties. And whereas meeting your heroes can often leave you feeling less enthusiastic, I must admit that my experience of seeing inside the factory (Pinewood Studios back then) only made me love it more. A true quiz phenomenon overseen first by a stern but knowing Anne Robinson, and latterly by the comedian Romesh Ranganathan, the show manages to combine quizzing with a devious format that doesn't always mean the person with all the answers wins. (I didn't.) • Anne Robinson proves we're right wing — and judges are the weakest link Co-created by Peaky Blinders's Steven Knight (alongside David Briggs and Mike Whitehill), Millionaire changed British quizzing when it was launched in 1998. The show offered an unimaginably large prize for answering just 15 multiple choice questions — and you even got lifelines. The beauty of the game is how simple it seems and just how tricky it is to not only know the answers but to have the confidence to risk losing vast sums as you move up the ladder. Chris Tarrant set the template for the encouraging host willing the contestant on along with the viewer, a role that Jeremy Clarkson has continued in the reboot. It's the ultimate quiz show on every level. Long live Millionaire. Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows , the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer , the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don't forget to check our comprehensive TV guide for the latest listings
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Big Brother 27 Premiere Reveals Identity of That Mysterious 17th Houseguest — But There's a Twist
Hotel Mystère — also known as the Big Brother house — is officially open for business! In Thursday's Season 27 premiere, host Julie Chen tees up this summer's murder mystery themed season, which comes with a brand-new house design (what's with all the keys?) and of course, a bajillion new twists. Inside the 'hotel,' mysteries lurk around every corner and nothing is quite as it seems (ooh la la!), as Julie teases us with mentions of a maniacal mastermind, a secret accomplice and a mystery houseguest. But more on that later. More from TVLine Poker Face Finale Introduces Charlie's Ultimate Nemesis in a Shocking Reveal - Plus, Grade It! Sheriff Country Exclusive: Morena Baccarin and Max Thieriot Fire Up First Looks at a Crossover and More Criminal Minds Boss Talks Finale's Chilling Tease, Reveals Season 19 Time Jump and 'Overdue' [Spoiler] Arc After officially meeting the 16 new houseguests (Adrian has his own wall comp in his backyard? Impressive!), a timer in the house slooowly counts down to zero. Julie calls the houseguests to the living room where she tells them they need to be observant little sleuths this season. As she reminds them to 'expect the unexpected,' the lights cut out and the creepy looking HOH relic magically disappears! Meet the Cast of Big Brother 27! View List When the lights return, Julie is gone and a red-masked baddie called the Mastermind says that without the HOH relic, the game can't continue. He tells them to prepare for a night of 'mystery and chaos' (yeah, yeah, we get it), as the phone rings. It's Julie! She tells them to divide into two search parties — one will search for the missing host and one will search for the disappearing relic. The two successful houseguests will earn game-changing powers. All of that campy madness sets us up for our very first comp, where players must figure out which door the host is hidden behind. Pick the wrong door though, and they're eliminated from the competition. After assembling a bridge puzzle and listening to some clues, Zach is the one to find Julie and he wins the game's first power! The second batch of players then play a comp to find the missing relic amid a sea of phonies. After scoping out some clues and conducting a thorough investigation, Jimmy finds the right relic and earns the second power. When we get back from break, Julie reveals the goods. One is actually a prize, and Zach is now $10,000 richer! As for Jimmy, only four houseguests will be playing the first Head of Household competition… and he gets to select who they are! He picks himself, Adrian, Ashley and Vince. In the first HOH comp, houseguest must balance 'cores' (weights) on arms called the 'BB Blaster.' Then, they must race to press down a plunger in order to destroy the mastermind's evil lair. After some careful balancing, the mustachioed Vince becomes the season's first HOH! But before this premiere comes to an end, the houseguests are in for a couple more major shockers. First, the AI Arena is back and it's now a permanent part of the BB game. (It's retitled the 'BB Blockbuster,' but it plays the same.) Before Julie can finish her last thought, the Mastermind returns to add something to the game… or better yet, someone: BB13 winner Rachel Reilly! But Rachel isn't technically the 17th houseguest. (Say what?!) The Mastermind says that one of them is his secret accomplice. If the house figures out who it is, that person will be immediately ejected from the game. But if he or she goes undetected, that player will officially become the 17th houseguest competing for the $750,000! Phew! That's a lot to take in, BB fans. So what did you think of the premiere? Vote in our poll, then let us know your thoughts in the comments. Best of TVLine Mrs. Maisel Flash-Forward List: All of Season 5's Futuristic Easter Eggs Yellowjackets Recap: The Morning After Yellowjackets Recap: The First Supper
