Watch Celebrity Mastermind

Celebrity Mastermind is a British television show that originally aired in 2003, and it currently streams on BritBox. The show is hosted by John Humphrys, who is well-known for hosting BBC Radio 4's Today programme and being a long-time presenter on BBC News. He is joined by Clive Myrie, a BBC News presenter, and Adrian Edmondson, a British comedian and actor.

The concept of the show is relatively simple: famous people are invited to answer questions on a specialized subject of their choice, and then in a general knowledge round. This is done in front of a live studio audience, with the aim of winning the Celebrity Mastermind trophy. It's essentially an adaptation of the popular UK quiz show Mastermind, which has been on-air since 1972.

The show begins with each celebrity contestant choosing their specialist subject from a pre-approved list. This could be anything from a particular author or a book, a certain film or television series, or even a historical event. They are then given a few weeks to prepare and study for their questions, and when they arrive at the studio to record their episode, they face the cameras and a barrage of tricky questions from John Humphrys.

After the specialist subject round, the contestants move on to the general knowledge round, which is a more traditional quiz format, with questions covering a range of subjects. Each contestant has two minutes to answer as many questions as they can, with points awarded for each correct answer.

One interesting aspect of Celebrity Mastermind is that the celebrities often reveal their passions and interests through their specialist subjects. For example, in the 2020 series, actress Lesley Manville chose the topic of the films of Mike Leigh, while comedian and presenter Frank Skinner opted for the life and work of George Formby. This gives the show a personal feel and encourages viewers to get invested in the contestants and their chosen topics.

As well as being an entertaining and light-hearted TV show, Celebrity Mastermind also has a competitive edge. The contestants are all high-profile individuals who are used to performing in front of audiences, so there is an added pressure to excel. Many celebrities take the show very seriously and put a lot of effort into their preparation, while others prefer to treat it as a fun challenge.

Another aspect of the show that makes it appealing is the variety of celebrities that take part. In the past, famous faces such as Hugh Dennis, Jo Brand, and Rick Wakeman have all appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, and there is always a mix of actors, comedians, musicians, and sports stars.

One of the most iconic parts of the show is the famous black chair that each contestant sits in to answer their questions. This chair has become a symbol of the show, and contestants often mention how nerve-wracking it is to sit in it and face John Humphrys' questioning.

In terms of production values, Celebrity Mastermind is a high-quality show that is shot in front of a live studio audience. The set is simple but effective, with the black chair and a large screen displaying the questions. The lighting and camera work are all top-notch too, giving the show a professional and polished look.

In conclusion, Celebrity Mastermind is an entertaining and engaging show that is well worth watching for fans of quiz shows, celebrity culture, or just good television in general. It's a fun and challenging programme that tests the knowledge and talents of high-profile individuals, and it's always interesting to see what topics the celebrities choose and how they perform under pressure. With John Humphrys at the helm, Celebrity Mastermind is a classic British TV show that has stood the test of time.

Celebrity Mastermind is a series that is currently running and has 15 seasons (32 episodes). The series first aired on December 21, 2018.