Mastermind Season 31, Episode 1: Episode 1

1

Episode 1

The life and career of Joyce Grenfell, the RMS Titanic, the life and works of Gustav Mahler and world heavyweight boxing championships 1895-1978 are the specialist subjects as the celebrated quiz returns for a new run. John Humphrys invites the contestants to take the lonely walk to the black chair.

30 min

2

Episode 2

The black chair beckons another four contestants as John Humphrys fires questions on the life and times of president Warren G Harding, the Test career of Geoffrey Boycott, the series Doctor Who and the novels of Tom Sharpe.

30 min

3

Episode 3

The quiz's new nightly run continues. The life and music of George Gershwin, western Europe in the Dark Ages AD 400-800, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and US manned space flights 1961-1975 are the specialist subjects of tonight's four first-round contestants braving the black chair. John Humphrys asks the questions.

30 min

4

Episode 4

The life and films of Maureen O'Hara, punk and new-wave music 1976-1979, the history of Halifax rugby league football club and classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses form the diverse range of specialist subjects facing the quartet of contestants on tonight's first-round heat of the classic quiz. Presented by John Humphrys.

30 min

5

Episode 5

The week of back-to-back rounds concludes as four more contestants face rapid-fire questions from John Humphrys on the subjects of the fantasy novels of Andre Norton, the Tour de France, the works of satirical songwriter Tom Lehrer and the history of the Jewish East End of London.

30 min

6

Episode 6

The history of European Cupfinals since 1970, the life and times of Emma Hamilton, the music of Elvis Costello and the fiction novels of Michael Crichton are the specialist subjects in tonight's first-round clash. John Humphrys invites the contestants to step up to the black chair.

30 min

7

Episode 7

The life and works of Russian expressionist artist Vasili Kandinsky, Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time series of novels, the history of world outdoor athletics championships, and David, the second king of Israel comprise the varied range of specialist subjects chosen by the contestants in tonight's first-round heat. With question master John Humphrys.

30 min

8

Episode 8

Four more intrepid contestants reach the infamous black chair, with John Humphrys asking quick-fire questions on the history of the European Union, Susan Coolidge's What Katy Did novels, the TV series Star Trek: the Next Generation and the history of Manchester United Football Club.

30 min

9

Episode 9

The history of Essex county cricket club, British tank development from 1915, the life and music of Paul McCartney and British mammals form the eclectic group of subjects chosen by tonight's four contestants in another first-round heat of the classic quiz. Presented by John Humphrys.

30 min

10

Episode 10

The second week of back-to-back first-round heats concludes as four more contestants face rapid-fire questions from John Humphrys. Their chosen specialised subjects are the novels of Frederick Forsyth, the life and films of Marilyn Monroe, the life and works of Edward Elgar, and the 1981 Ashes Test series.

30 min

11

Episode 11

The department of Guadeloupe and its dependencies; the Moody Blues; the life and work of 19th-century fossil collector Mary Anning; and aircraft carriers from 1912 are tonight's subjects. John Humphrys asks the questions.

30 min

12

Episode 12

The history of 11th-century England, the television comedy drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet, the life and works of novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, and the life and music of Rod Stewart are tonight's subjects. John Humphrys asks the questions.

30 min

13

Episode 13

The history of the Second World War, the films of Gregory Peck, the history of Plymouth Argyle football club and instruments of the symphony orchestra are tonight's diverse subjects. John Humphrys asks the questions.

30 min

14

Episode 14

The life and works of Vaughan Williams; the life and career of Sir George Cayley; the legends of King Arthur; and the M*A*S*H TV series are tonight's diverse subjects. John Humphrys is the man with all the answers.

30 min

15

Episode 15

The brave quartet in the black chair tonight will be facing questions on the life and works of Titian, Steve Coogan's failed broadcaster Alan Partridge, the history of football's World Cup 1930-2002 and Boswell and Johnson's tours of the Hebrides. John Humphrys is the man with the answers.

30 min

16

Episode 16

Another four contestants brave the lonely walk to the forbidding black chair. Tonight's specialist subjects are the life and reign of Richard III, the history of Burnley Football Club, Homer's Odyssey and the films of Billy Wilder. John Humphrys is the man with the answers.

30 min

17

Episode 17

British top 30 hit singles 1960-1989, the life and works of Cesar Franck, the films of Satyajit Ray and the life and reign of Queen Victoria are tonight's diverse subjects. John Humphrys is the man with all the answers.

30 min

18

Episode 18

Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot murder-mysteries, film dramatisations of Bram Stoker's gothic novel Dracula, the Battle of Britain, and the life and music of Buddy Holly are the specialist subjects. John Humphrys asks the questions.

30 min

19

Episode 19

Cole Porter, the Duke of Wellington, the first two series of sci-fi drama Babylon 5, and photographer Ansel Adams are the specialist subjects. John Humphrys is the interrogator.

30 min

20

Episode 20

The life and works of Wilfred Owen, unicorns, Alexander the Great, and the life and works of Ludwig Wittgenstein are tonight's specialist subjects. John Humphrys invites four contestants to step up to the forbidding black chair.

30 min

21

Episode 21

A broad range of eras are represented, as the contestants face questions on Victorian Britain, British pop music of the 1950s, the journeys of St Paul from the New Testament's Acts and the films of Sergio Leone. With John Humphrys.

30 min

22

Episode 22

A broad range of subjects are represented, as contestants face questions on the life and works of Offenbach, British films of the 1960s, the life and times of Arbella Stuart and wild cats of the world. Hosted by John Humphrys.

30 min

23

Episode 23

Capital punishment in the UK since 1945, the history of the rugby union world cup, the life and films of John Belushi and the history of the Birmingham Royal Ballet are the topics on which John Humphrys grills the four contestants.

30 min

24

Episode 24

The history of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the band XTC, the life and work of George Hudson and the history of Moscow are the topics. Hosted by John Humphrys.

30 min

25

Episode 25

Fawlty Towers, British prime ministers of the 20th century, the life and works of poet Robert Fergusson and English civil wars 1642-1651 are the specialist subjects in the first of six semi-finals. John Humphrys has the questions.

30 min

26

Episode 26

The life and reign of King Charles II, the Conservative government of John Major 1992-1997, the life and work of Albert Einstein and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio series and books are the specialist subjects in the second of six semi-finals. John Humphrys has the questions.

30 min

27

Episode 27

Historical buildings of England, the 1879 Zulu War, British murders and murderers 1850-1950 and The Adventures of Tintin by Herge are the specialist subjects in the third of six semi-finals. John Humphrys has the questions.

30 min

28

Episode 28

The life and reign of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the novels of Margery Allingham, the life and work of Erwin Schrodinger and British popular music from 1972-1984 are the eclectic range of specialist subjects in the fourth of six semi-finals. John Humphrys has the questions.

30 min

29

Episode 29

The history of Manchester City Football Club, the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, the history of Babylonia 2000-539 BC and the US presidential elections 1940-2000 are the specialist subjects in the fifth of six semi-finals. John Humphrys hosts.

30 min

30

Episode 30

In the last of six semi-finals, contestants put their knowledge of Scottish infantry regiments, the history of Liverpool, the life and works of composer Orlande de Lassus and the England football team to the test. John Humphrys asks the questions.

30 min

31

Grand Final

From 96 original contenders, six remain and tonight just one will walk away with the title of Mastermind 2004. Specialist subjects are American presidents of the 20th century, FA Cup finals since 1970, Homer's Iliad, British pop music of the 1960s, the life and reign of Elizabeth I and English Test cricket since 1877. John Humphrys asks the questions.

30 min