BBC viewers are slamming the “low bar” for subject choice (Image: BBC)
BBC viewers are slamming Mastermind’s quiz show for its “low standards” in subject choices and demanding a rule change. They accuse the programme, fronted by Clive Myrie, of setting the bar too low by allowing a subject that merely required “a few hours of binge-watching television.” The show, which is known for its tough questions and intense format, traditionally allows contestants to choose an area of expertise before facing a rapid-fire round of questions, with points awarded for each correct answer.
However, this week’s topics, introduced as Twelfth Century Monarch Henry II, The Miss Marple novels of Agatha Christie, Wales rugby test matches, and the TV sitcom Friday Night Dinner, left fans irked. Fans immediately slammed the final subject as “hardly mastermind material” after player Gary stormed past his fellow contestants. “I got almost as many right as him – Friday night dinner is a great show but hardly mastermind material,” one fan blasted.
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This isn’t the first time the BBC series has been slammed for it’s subject choices (Image: BBC)
“Can we please up the bar for acceptable specialist subjects?” penned a second. A third added: “That’s not a specialist subject, that’s a passing interest,” and “A show that was on relatively recently and ran for 6 seasons Just binge watching a TV show doesn’t feel like studying for #mastermind.”
Another irked viewers claimed that TV shows shouldn’t be allowed as subjects at all: “#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.”
Player Gary did manage to win back some fans thought after his impressive performance in the general knowledge round saw him win the entire show with 22 points.
This isn’t the first time the series, hosted by Clive Iyrie, has been slammed for it’s subjects.
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Gary won the entire show much to fans dismay (Image: BBC)
From Narnia and The Matrix films to the fauna of Madagascar and Robbie Williams’s solo career, viewers are constantly unimpressed with the topics on the show and dubbed it “a shadow of its former self.”
One fan mocked: “#Mastermind really is a shadow of its former self. Chosen specialist subject? Pot Noodle Flavours 1982–2008.”. Another penned: “Pick an easy subject.. mine would be ‘Traffic light colours.’”
The inclusion of pop culture topics like The Matrix and Robbie Williams particularly raised eyebrows as one fan wrote: “The solo career of Robbie Williams?? Really??? I give up.” and “Robbie Williams and Narnia. High-brow stuff tonight.”
For decades Mastermind has been celebrated for its challenging and obscure specialist subjects, which test contestants’ depth of knowledge.
Over the years, topics have ranged from Norse mythology to quantum mechanics, setting the bar high for intellectual rigour.
However, more recent episodes have leaned towards more Pop culture subjects and fans have slammed the show for shifting away from its roots.