Mastermind marks 500th episode

Mastermind celebrates its 500th episode for SBS on Thursday.

Mastermind was first shown in the UK in 1972 and an Australian version first screened on ABC from 1978 to 1984 hosted by Huw Evans.

SBS revived the series in 2019, produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia, and hosted by Jennifer Byrne. Marc Fennell became host from Season 3.

This Thursday contestants Katrina Pattison, Eric Wan, Callum Baggott and Zoey Cash will be tested on AFL’s Collingwood, the game of Mahjong, Daniel Ricciardo and the music of Smokey Robinson.

SBS has welcomed more than 1000 contestants in the famed black chair, collectively facing 34,000 questions on chosen subjects, and over 37,000 general knowledge questions. Two previous series winners have even joined the question writing team.

Kylie Washington, General Manager BBC Studios Productions Australia, said: “Mastermind is the little show that could, bringing audiences back week after week. The specialist subjects are a window into the Australian psyche and we love to celebrate the individuality of our contenders as we get to know why this is their chosen – and often very niche – subject.”

Emily Griggs, SBS Head of Entertainment and Food, said “What an incredible milestone – 500 episodes! This is a remarkable achievement for any show and a true testament to the quality and appeal of Mastermind. Australia is the only territory in the world to have Mastermind episodes Monday to Friday, highlighting SBS’s commitment to delivering programs that both educate and entertain. Mastermind has become a favourite among viewers, captivating quiz enthusiasts and general audiences alike with its challenging questions and engaging format.”

Series winners and their specialist subjects for the finals are:

Troy Eggleston (Melbourne Cup Winners),
Jacqui Markham (The Princess Bride),
William Laing (The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis),
Stirling Coates (The Incredibles)
Miles Glaspole (AFL Grand Finals)

Celebrity Mastermind winners:

Mark Humphries ( The Musicals of Stephen Sondheim)
Phil Burton (Queen)

Other celebrities were quizzed on Dolly Parton (Myf Warhurst), The Nanny (Courtney Act), The History of LSD (Ben Lee), Asian Cuisine (Adam Liaw), History of Australian Surfing (Shane Gould) Cats (Jessica Rowe) and Harry Potter (Joel Creasey).

Mastermind screens 6pm weeknights on SBS with Episode 500 on Thursday.