Tolkien on BBC's Mastermind Feb 12th
From the BBC description of the episode, "Host John Humphrys invites four contenders to answer questions in the black chair. The specialist subjects are TV westerns of the 50s and 60s, the life and work of Tolkien, the government of Gough Whitlam 1972 -1975, and the life and career of Dixie Dean."
The specialist in this topic will be Newnham College (University of Cambridge) Alumna Dr. Valerie Roebuck.
If anyone watches this, can we get a report on the quality of the questions and answers posted in the comments or on the forums?
The episode should be available on BBC's iPlayer for a while after the episode airs, as well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qr337
[Thanks to wellinghall for the tip!]
February 6, 2010 @ 1:56 pm
I will certainly be watching it, Jeremy. (I usually did anyway, but since my father in law won it in 1996, it is now a must-see!)
- wellinghall
February 6, 2010 @ 1:58 pm
Ooooh, what a nice connection with the show! What was the topic he won with?
February 6, 2010 @ 2:21 pm
His subjects were Charles Williams; the Emperor Frederick III; and the Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. The first two rounds were before I got married; the final was just afterwards, and we went along to Bristol (where we now live, oddly enough) to see it being filmed.
- wellinghall
February 6, 2010 @ 2:32 pm
1996 Mastermind Champion
http://oxford-consultants.tripod.com/richard_sturch.htm
February 6, 2010 @ 2:34 pm
That's the one!
February 6, 2010 @ 3:05 pm
Does anyone know who they consult to question set? Wellinghall (I was going to say Andrew, but that's not going to work with you two...), when your father in law was on, did he get an inclination later as to who had been asked to set the questions for any of his subjects? Would they ask Christopher about this sort of thing? I think we should try & get a transcript posted up for a bit of fun & discussion after it's been shown.
February 6, 2010 @ 5:20 pm
Who sets the questions on Mastermind.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5144933/Mastermind-contestant-called-by-BBC-researcher-to-set-questions-for-his-own-round.html
February 6, 2010 @ 8:12 pm
Hilarious article, Trotter!
I read that Shippey set the questions on the previous round (1974 I think?)
It sounds like they will just use reference books for the most part. I really doubt that they would try to reach Christopher, and I am certain that he would not reply if they did try to reach him.
February 7, 2010 @ 12:29 am
Tolkien is quite a popular subject for Mastermind, the last time he was the specialist subject was 2005.
The 1974 round was in the semi-final and the contestant was Elizabeth Horrocks, who eventually won the tournament that year.
February 7, 2010 @ 4:58 am
Facinating trivia! Quite looking forward to watching now; questions will undoudtedly be a load of nonsense though. I guess, now, all they have to do is have a copy of C&G to hand to set the questions! Like to see if any questions (or how many) are film orientated.
February 7, 2010 @ 5:42 am
Sadly I don\'t think they will even go so far as to consult C&G (they would have to have a copy for a start).
I expect the question setter will type Tolkein(sic) into Google and then click on Did you mean Tolkien and finally click on the first link, Wikipedia.
I think it will be interesting to check if all the questions are on the Wikipedia article.
February 7, 2010 @ 6:52 am
Mastermind are meant to pay careful attention to question setting. I have seen a couple of TV programmes about it (quite a few years ago now), and they do contact several experts in each field.
- wellinghall
February 7, 2010 @ 6:58 am
I think they used to do that but not now, I'd love to be proved wrong though. They should consult people like Tom Shippey.