International Mastermind

International Mastermind was an international spin-off of the BBC Mastermind quiz show.

History

The 1979 competition was a one-off series hosted by Magnus Magnusson involving the winners of Mastermind from around the world, including UK Mastermind champions David Hunt and Rosemary James, or winners of quiz shows similar in format to Mastermind.^[1] The competition was won by the Irishman John Mulcahy.

As International Mastermind was a success it became an annual event. In 1980 it was hosted by Magnússon again, but after that it was decided that the winning nation hosted the next series.

In 1981 the programme was hosted by Huw Evans,^[2] who hosted the Australian version of the show, and filmed in the Sydney Opera House. The 1982 edition was made in New Zealand and hosted by Peter Sinclair, who was the questionmaster on the New Zealand version of Mastermind and also the New Zealand version of University Challenge.

Following the first British victory, the 1983 series was hosted again by Huw Evans and was filmed in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford. It was won by Christopher Hughes, better known today as an Egghead, but as this was the final series, he believes he is the reigning International Mastermind and has sometimes introduced himself in each episode of Eggheads as "...still International Mastermind champion...".

Champions

References