Grand Final Mastermind

Last summer, 96 contenders hoped

that they had what it took

to win the toughest challenge in quizzing...

but most of them were to see their hopes dashed.

Only six remain.

Tonight, we will find out who is to be crowned the nation's Mastermind.

This is the Mastermind Grand Final.

First in the spotlight tonight is Alan Heath,

a chartered accountant from Buckingham.

He's answering questions on Thunderbirds.

Next - Richard Tring,

an administrator from Kent on England Test Cricket since 1970.

Christine Harrison is an agency worker from Southampton.

Her subject - Elizabeth Gaskell.

Andrew Diamond, an IT consultant from Walthamstow.

His subject - the Seven Years' War.

Ewan Paton, a barrister from Bristol,

answers questions on the Ryder Cup.

And Jim Maginnis,

an RAF Navigator from Lurgan.

His subject - the Battle for Berlin.

APPLAUSE

Hello and welcome to the Mastermind Grand Final with me, John Humphrys.

Tonight's six finalists have won their way through the heats

and the semifinals,

but this is where it gets really serious.

Only a tiny number of people throughout the nation

can claim the title of Mastermind

and, in the next hour,

we shall find out who will be the latest to join that elite group.

They all know the rules, as I'm sure you do.

They get two minutes on their specialist subject

and 2½ minutes on general knowledge.

Five of them will leave empty-handed.

The winner will take home the glass bowl

and the right to say, "I was the Mastermind Champion."

Let's get on with it, then,

and ask our first finalist to join us, please.

And your name is?

Your occupation?

And your specialist subject?

Thunderbirds are go!

Thunderbirds was my favourite programme as a child

and I revisited it at every opportunity

when it was re-shown again.

It was the popular culture of the time,

it was the action sequences

and the models, and the puppetry.

It was the epitome of great television in the 1960s.

Thunderbirds is a tough subject to take on Mastermind.

It's 32 episodes - that's 27 hours of television.

That's a lot of watching to do.

For the special subject, because it's a TV series,

he really has to watch television.

So, he sits and watches Thunderbirds in the evenings.

Ah, biscuits.

Yeah, how's it going?

Not too bad, thank you very much.

F-A-B. I like it.

We never really thought he'd get through the first round

and he's done so well. I'm so proud of him.

You called, m'lady?

Yes, Parker. Get to the Rolls-Royce.

We are going for a little drive.

I'm at the Slough Trading Estate,

where the original series of Thunderbirds was filmed.

I'm just about to see the new series being filmed.

Stephen, can you tell me about this new Thunderbirds project of yours?

Our aim is to make three episodes of

what's now known as classic Thunderbirds

using, basically, pretty much all the same techniques

that they would use back in the 1960s.

We've got three seconds to switch off that beam.

Whilst over here, I got to meet Jamie Anderson,

which was an amazing experience to

actually have met the son of the creator.

Well, I brought along something from Dad's archive.

-Oh, excellent.

-It's a book of some photos which he kept.

He wasn't a very nostalgic man.

-Fab

-1. The original Fab

-1. Yes.

-And me as a kiddie...

-Is that you?

-Yeah.

-Amazing.

..with the original Fab 1.

Amazing.

To win the grand final of Mastermind would be incredible.

It would be the apex of any quizzing career.

It would be a dream come true.

Two minutes on Thunderbirds starting now.

Thunderbird 5, the space station at the heart

of International Rescue's communications network,

is manned alternately by John Tracy and which of his brothers?

-Alan Tracy.

-Yep.

Gerry Anderson was partly inspired with the idea for the series

by a rescue operation mounted after a mining disaster in which country?

-Germany.

-Yep.

In Trapped In The Sky

when the atomic-powered Fireflash aircraft

is found to have a bomb in its landing gear,

London Airport's evacuated.

The alert uses the code RH -

what do the letters stand for?

-Radiation hazard.

-Correct.

In Terror In New York City,

which US Navy warship fires missiles

at Thunderbird 2 because it believes it's hostile?

-The Sentinel.

-Yes.

Who kidnaps Lady Penelope and Sir Jeremy Hodge

in Anderbad Tunnel in order to find out the details

of a new process that can produce rocket fuel from seawater?

-Godber.

-Yep.

A company making a film about a Martian invasion

unwittingly provides cover for the Hood

who traps two actors in a cave so he can film the Thunderbirds in action

when they come to the rescue.

What is the company called?

-Bletcher...

-No, Goldheimer Film Unit.

What is the name of the tanker

carrying a highly combustible liquid,

Alsterine, which blows up when it's surrounded

by a mysterious sea mist in Danger At Ocean Deep?

-Ocean Pioneer.

-Yes.

Who is the inventor of the Crablogger

tree-felling machine that is about to crash into the dam

at San Martino when its shutdown procedure is activated?

-Jim Lucas.

-Yes.

In Desperate Intruder, what is the name of the device

that Scott and Gordon used to rescue Brains from the ruins of the temple

on the bed of Lake Anasta?

It is, essentially, a huge airbag.

Hydrostatic Hoist.

Yes, in Day Of Disaster,

which suspension bridge collapses under the weight

of the Martian probe rocket being driven across it?

It's already been weakened by a storm.

-Allington Suspension Bridge.

-Correct.

Which lost pyramid do Lindsay and Wilson discover

while they're waiting for International Rescue

while they're stranded in the Sahara desert with no water?

-Khamandides.

-Yes.

David Holliday provided the voice of Virgil Tracy in series one.

Which actor took over for series two?

-Jeremy Wilkin.

-Correct.

What painting by Bricasso is apparently stolen

when the Duchess of Royston takes it to New York?

-Portrait of a Gazelle.

-Correct.

What is the title of the final episode,

shown on Christmas Day 1966?

The show was cancelled six episodes into the second series...

BEEP

..when it failed to sell in America.

-Give Or Take A Million.

-Is correct.

Alan, you have no passes.

You've scored 13 points.

APPLAUSE

And our next finalist, please.

And your name is?

Your occupation?

And your specialist subject?

We're here at the Oval today cos this is where

the first ever Test match was played in this country, back in 1880.

This ground has witnessed some of the most memorable performances

by English and overseas players.

One of my fondest memories of Test cricket

is actually coming to watch a game in person here at the Oval in 1979.

I came to the last two days.

It was against India, fourth test of the series.

I was lucky enough to see some world-class players in action.

Geoffrey Boycott completing a century while I was here.

That should be his hundred. It's dropped short.

It's cracked through mid-wicket by Boycott.

And then Sunil Gavaskar

made an absolutely faultless 221.

Records and achievements going by the board here.

The best innings, I still say, I've ever seen in any form of cricket.

It's amazing.

Having watched cricket from this place on television over the years,

and being here as a spectator,

I can't believe I'm actually on the outfield, this close to the square.

Unbelievable.

Magical place.

Love it.

I played cricket for a couple of years in my late teens, early 20s

before knee problems meant

I couldn't really run properly any more, so I gave it up.

But then, a few years ago, I started umpiring for a local team

in their league cricket, which I did for about seven or eight years.

The friends I've spoken to about being on Mastermind

are very, very pleased for me.

They think it's about time, some of them, to be honest.

I think it was a surprise to them,

but probably more of a surprise to me, that I've made it.

Semifinal went to a tie-break,

which I believe is very unusual in Mastermind.

Very nerve-racking,

but, thankfully, I managed to come through.

Tonight's winner, Richard Tring.

APPLAUSE

To revise for the final, I've been looking through old record books,

scorecards, mostly provided by the late great Bill Frindall.

The facts and figures are there

and hopefully they'll all come to mind when I need them.

To win the grand final of Mastermind

would be right up there with

probably the greatest achievements in my life.

Two minutes on English Test Cricket starting now.

Which England batsman won the Compton Miller medal

as player of the series in the 2015 Ashes,

for scoring 460 runs -

including two centuries and taking eight catches?

-Joe Root.

-Yep.

Whom did England play against in the first test match

to be held at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground in 2011?

-Sri Lanka.

-Yes.

Whose only Test century for England came on his Test debut

against the West Indies at The Oval in 1973?

Frank Hayes.

Yep. Who scored a triple century in England's first innings

and a century in the second innings against India at Lord's in 1990?

Graham Gooch.

Yes. The former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones

-was born in which country?

-Australia.

Papua New Guinea.

Which Derbyshire player took two catches in South Africa's

first innings at Edgbaston in 1998 while he was acting as a substitute?

Chris Adams.

Ben Spendlove. Since the 2004/5 season, the trophy awarded to

the winner of the Test series between England and South Africa

has been named after which South African-born England cricketer?

Basil D'Oliveira.

Correct. What natural phenomenon resulted in an unusual rest day

after the first day in the 1980 Golden Jubilee Test between England and India at Bombay?

Total eclipse of the Sun.

Yes. In which Pakistan city did the infamous incident

take place in 1987 when the England captain Mike Gatting

and umpire Shakoor Rana started to argue with each other?

Faisalabad.

Yes. Which opening batsman captained England against New Zealand

in the First Test in 2004 after Michael Vaughan

twisted his knee during practice?

Andrew Strauss.

Trescothick. Against which country did England play only six Test matches,

-from 1996 to 2003?

-Zimbabwe.

Yes. Who scored three consecutive Test centuries against the West Indies

in 2009, but lost his place in the England team later that year?

Ravi Bopara.

Yes. Which wicketkeeper made his Test debut against the West Indies

at Port of Spain in 1981 and played his last Test,

-also against the West Indies, in 1988?

-Paul Downtown.

Yep. Whose Test career lasted just over 30 minutes

before he was hit on the head by a ball from Malcolm Marshall

in 1984 at his home ground of Edgbaston?

He spent several days in hospital recovering,

and never played Test Cricket again.

Andy Lloyd.

Yes. David Gower made his Test debut...

BEEP

..at Edgbaston in 1978 against Pakistan

and hit the first ball he faced for four.

-Who was the bowler?

-Liaqat Ali.

It was indeed. Richard, no passes for you, either.

You have scored 12 points. APPLAUSE

And our next finalist, please.

And your name is?

Your occupation?

And your specialist subject?

I'm at the John Rylands library, and I'm here to have a look

at the most important Gaskell collection in the world.

When people think of the 19th century,

the women writers they choose are the big three -

Jane Austen, George Eliot, and the Bronte sisters -

but I think Mrs Gaskell deserves a place amongst them.

I was drawn to her courage as a writer.

In those days, women writers were frowned upon,

and people like George Eliot had to actually write under a pen name -

she was really Mary Ann Evans.

But Mrs Gaskell, I feel, was very courageous in her writing.

She brings to light a lot of subjects

which women in particular were not supposed to talk about at the time.

It was a real thrill to be able to see the actual manuscript

of The Life Of Charlotte Bronte,

and to think that this was Mrs Gaskell's own hand

that had written it - all her crossings out and alterations.

It's quite something to see this actual manuscript in all its glory.

There have been some very good adaptations

of Mrs Gaskell's work on television.

In particular, Cranford.

It is a joy to us that your stepmother can spare you.

Now that there are so many little Smiths at home - four already.

Five.

Five! The eldest barely seven.

I'm standing, at the moment,

in the Elizabeth Gaskell house in Plymouth Grove, Manchester.

The place where she lived.

And it's where she wrote so many of her novels,

and did so much of her work.

It's wonderful being here

because I feel as if it's really brought home to me

what she was like,

and I'm almost expecting her to walk through that door

at any minute now,

and wonder what I'm doing here talking to a BBC crew!

SHE LAUGHS

Elizabeth Gaskell is quite a tough subject

in the sense that she obviously wrote quite a bit -

not just the novels, but articles, short stories, and novellas.

I've studied for the subject

by obviously reading up as much as possible,

and I'm making notes on each book as I go along,

which is obviously quite hard work,

but it's quite a lot of fun.

I never honestly believed I would make it through to the final.

I'm delighted that I've come this far, but, having said that,

I would love to win that trophy.

Two minutes on Elizabeth Gaskell, starting now.

Gaskell's novel Cranford was first published as a serial in 1851

and as a book in 1853 and was largely inspired by

her memories of her upbringing in which Cheshire town?

Knutsford.

Yes. What is the title of Gaskell's first published work,

a poem co-written with her husband William,

a clergyman and teacher whom she had married in 1832?

Bran.

Sketches Among The Poor.

Under what pseudonym did she publish the stories The Sexton's Hero,

Christmas Storms And Sunshine,

and Libbie Marsh's Three Eras in Howitt's Journal in the late 1840s?

Cotton Mather Mills.

Yes. Gaskell was brought up as a member of a non-conformist branch

of Christianity that rejects the concept of the Trinity,

and was popular among the leaders and intellectuals

of Manchester society. What is it called?

Unitarianism.

Yes. The 1854 edition of Gaskell's first novel, Mary Barton,

included two lectures by her husband William as an appendix.

What was the subject of the lectures?

Pass.

Between about 1821 and 1826 Gaskell attended a boarding school

run by sisters in Warwickshire, initially at Barford,

later in Stratford-on-Avon.

What was the sisters' surname?

Byerley.

Yep. In North And South, what is the name of the industrialist

who tells Margaret Hale that, "Cromwell would have made a capital mill-owner.

"I wish we had him to put down this strike for us"?

Mr Thornton.

Yes. In 1857, who threatened to sue for libel in response to

suggestions in Gaskell's biography of Charlotte Bronte that she

had seduced Branwell Bronte while he was tutoring her children?

Lady Scott.

Yes. In the story The Grey Woman, set in Germany and France

in the late 18th century, what is the name of Anna's resourceful maid

who helps her escape from her murderous husband?

Amante.

Yes. What maritime industry, along with fishing,

is central to the coastal town of Monkshaven

in the 1863 historical novel Sylvia's Lovers?

Whaling.

Yep. What is the name of the Old Bachelor,

a cousin of Miss Pole and a former admirer of Miss Matty,

to whose home Mary Smith pays a visit

in the fourth chapter of Cranford?

Thomas Holland.

Thomas Holbrook.

What was the title of the story The Ghost In The Garden Room

changed to, when it was reissued in the collection

Right At Last And Other Tales by Sampson Low in 1860?

A Crooked Branch.

Yes. What word was added against Gaskell's wishes

to the title of her 1863 novella...

BEEP

..A Night's Work by her editors,

Charles Dickens and George Smith?

Dark.

Is correct.

You had just one pass.

-Those lectures were on the subject of the Lancashire dialect.

-Oh!

So, just that one pass, Christine - you've scored ten points.

APPLAUSE

And our next finalist, please.

And your name is?

Your occupation?

And your specialist subject?

It's hard to believe that after all these weeks

reading about the Seven Years' War,

here I am actually at the site of one of the major engagements.

In fact, the battle at Fort Ticonderoga was the biggest battle

in North America until 100 years later in the Civil War.

The Seven Years' War was a global conflict,

which officially began when Britain declared war on France.

Conflict broke out in 1754 to 1755,

when Britain attacked disputed French positions

in North America and seized hundreds of merchant ships.

It was described by Churchill as the first WORLD war,

and started the next 150 years of colonial history.

Basically, it's the reason why you can get a decent curry in London,

but not in Paris.

During a failed attempt to take the Fort,

the darling of the British Army,

General Lord Howe, was killed

down there.

The Seven Years' War is a tough subject.

The British colonial, British and French bits are OK,

but the interminable battles between Prussia and Austria...

..they're hard to get your head around.

The way I've been learning my specialist subjects -

and I hope it works in the final - is to just read a lot about it,

read around it, and then distil everything I've read

into a spreadsheet that answers maybe 100 questions on the subject.

I applied for Mastermind because every Friday night

when John Humphries says, "If you want to be a Mastermind..."

my wife says, "My husband does!"

And here I am.

I haven't been spending all my time revising -

I've still got plenty of time to play my banjo with my band.

I've been playing for about 20 years.

FOLKSY TWANGING

When my friends and family found out I'd got onto Mastermind,

they all thought I was, to put it politely, a smarty-pants.

But they knew that already.

Getting to the final has been like some sort of weird dream.

I've been watching it for over 40 years.

I've been in other broadcast quizzes,

and in one case got to the final - though I didn't win it -

but to do it in Mastermind,

which is the king of them all, would be amazing.

Two minutes on the Seven Years' War, starting now.

The invasion of a Mediterranean island led to Britain declaring war

on France on 17th of May 1756. Which island?

Minorca.

Yep. The commander of the Allied cavalry at the Battle of Minden

failed to obey repeated orders to charge, which led to a court-martial

that found him unfit to serve in a military capacity.

-Who was he?

-Duke of Cumberland.

No, Lord Sackville.

The capitulation of a fort to the French on 9th August 1757

was followed by the killing, by French-allied Native Americans,

of many of the surrendered British garrison as they marched away.

-Which fort?

-William Henry.

Yes. Admiral Sir Edward Hawke's defeat of a French fleet

at a battle on 20th November 1759

put an end to the threat of a French invasion of Britain. Which battle?

Lagos.

No, Quiberon Bay.

To which fortified camp did the Saxon army withdraw in August 1756

after an invasion by the Prussian army under Frederick the Great?

Hagenbeck.

Pirna. At what battle fought on 12th August 1759 was the Prussian army

decisively defeated by a combined Russian and Austrian force?

They'd already been defeated at Paltzig.

Kohlin.

Kunersdorf. Who replaced Cardinal de Bernis as Minister for Foreign Affairs

to Louis XV in December 1758

and controlled French foreign and military policy

-for the remainder of the war?

-Pass.

Which Caribbean island

was captured by a British Expeditionary Force in May 1759,

and then used as a base for attacks on neighbouring French-controlled islands?

The Force had previously failed to take Martinique.

Dominica.

Guadeloupe. Which French privateer landed a force of French troops

at Carrickfergus in February 1760 and threatened Belfast?

Pass.

Who succeeded Ferdinand VI as King of Spain in August 1759

and, after offering to mediate between Britain and France,

signed a pact with Louis XV that led to Spain

entering the war in January 1762?

Pass.

What was the name of the fortress at the entrance to Havana harbour

that fell in July 1762 after the British successfully detonated

a mine under one of its bastions?

Morro Castle.

El Morro, yes. Who took command of the British troops during the final stages...

BEEP

..of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham

after the death of General Wolfe and the wounding of his second-in-command?

-Pass.

-Well, I can tell you, because you are out of time.

It was George Townshend.

The other passes...

It was Charles III, or Carlos, if we prefer, who succeeded Ferdinand VI.

Francois Thurot was the French privateer who landed those forces

at Carrickfergus,

and Etienne Francois, Duc De Choiseul,

replaced Cardinal de Bernis as Minister for foreign affairs.

-Andrew, you have three points.

-Yeah.

APPLAUSE

And our next finalist, please.

And your name is?

Your occupation?

And your chosen subject?

We're here at the Belfry, a golfing resort in the West Midlands,

the home of four Ryder cups.

A very special place in the Ryder Cup's history.

I'm really keen to have a look round, and perhaps play a few holes.

The Ryder Cup is held every two years.

It's between the USA, now, and Europe.

Until 1979, it was the USA against Great Britain and Ireland.

But after one heavy defeat in '77,

it was agreed to make it a USA vs Europe match.

In recent years, it's been very, very close, and very exciting.

It's an amazing place,

it's got lots of fantastic pictures on the walls,

lots of memories that I've...

I watched on television when I was young.

And being here in the flesh and seeing it is quite incredible.

Well, so many great players have played here,

I really can't wait to give it a go myself.

It's amazing being here on the 18th at the Belfry.

I watched it on television 30 years ago, when I was 14,

when Britain and Europe first won the Ryder Cup after 16 years,

and I sat and watched all of the team play brilliantly,

and I remember Sam Torrance playing here on the last day

and clinching it, so it's a very special place for me.

-CHEERING

-Not a million miles away, is it?

HUGE CHEERS

One tactic that I've had is never to pass.

In my first ever contest,

my daughter had said that I should say hamster

if I didn't know the answer.

Which domestic animal does the prefix ailuro refer to? As in the word ailurophile.

-Hamster.

-Cat.

That's about one syllable more than pass,

but I kept moving and kept going.

I'd be very proud and pleased to win it.

I'm not quite sure how I'd react.

Whether I'd smile or start crying or just stare ahead in shock, but...

we'll wait and see.

Two minutes on the Ryder Cup, starting now.

At which country club in Massachusetts was the first official Ryder Cup held

-in June 1927?

-Worcester.

Yep. What was the surname of the Somerset brothers Ernest,

Charles and Reg, who all played for the British team

in 1935 at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey?

Whitcombe.

Yep. When the Cup's format was revised for the first time in 1961,

how many matches were played?

Two years later, the contest was extended to three days,

and 32 matches.

12.

24. Christy O'Connor Jr famously played a second shot over the water

to the 18th green at the Belfry in 1989 to secure

a one-hole victory over Fred Couples. Which club did he use?

2-iron.

Yep. In their heavy defeat in 1963, who was the only British player

to avoid defeat in the afternoon singles

when he gained a half against Tony Lema?

He had beaten Arnold Palmer in the morning.

-Peter Alliss.

-Yep. At which club in St Louis was the 1971 contest played?

After a heat wave during the practice days,

the opening ceremony was postponed because of torrential rain.

Old Warson.

Yep. Who captained the USA team

when they lost by a record nine points at Oakland Hills in 2004?

Hal Sutton.

Yep. Two Spanish players were picked when the Great Britain

and Ireland team was expanded to include the rest of Europe in 1979.

Seve Ballesteros was one. Who was the other?

Antonio Garrido.

Yes. Who was Lee Westwood's partner when his record-equalling run

of 12 consecutive Ryder Cup matches unbeaten finally came to an end

in a four-ball match against Boo Weekley and JB Holmes in 2008?

Patrick Harrington.

Soren Hansen. The 2014 Ryder Cup was played on the course at Gleneagles

that was designed by Jack Nicklaus

and was formerly known as the Monarch's course. What is it called?

PGA Centenary.

Yep. At which Florida club was the 1939 contest scheduled to be played?

It was cancelled because of the start of the Second World War.

Ponte Vedra.

Yep. An American businessman subsidised the costs

of the first post-war contest on condition that

the contest would be held in Portland, Oregon. Who was he?

-Robert Hudson.

-Yep. The so-called "war on the shore" at Kiawah Island in 1991

was played over which course?

The Ocean course.

Yes. Who beat Jay Haas by one hole to win the trophy back for Europe in 1995...

BEEP

...when they were captained by Bernard Gallagher? It was his only Ryder Cup.

Philip Walton.

Is correct.

No passes, Ewan.

12 points.

APPLAUSE

And our final finalist.

And your name is?

Your occupation?

And your specialist subject?

I'm here at the Humboldthain flak tower in Berlin.

This tower played a pivotal role in the defence of Berlin,

attempting to take out Soviet tanks and artillery.

There was three in the city.

They were basically very, very tall, very strong structures

which housed, on the top, eight 128mm flak guns,

and also 20mm and 37mm flak guns.

That was their primary role.

They were also used as hospitals,

they were used for storing treasures,

they were used for shelters for people during raids,

and this particular tower could hold up to 15,000 people.

As part of the research, I'm going to the Commonwealth War Graves

on the Heerstrasse,

which contains about 3,500 Allied soldiers,

and the majority of them were airmen

who were killed for the Battle of Berlin,

so it's a very, very poignant place to visit,

and see chaps who basically did the same job as me,

70-odd years ago, and didn't come back.

The significance of the seven headstones down the centre

is that each row of seven shows one bomber crew,

whether it's a Halifax, Lancaster, or Stirling,

and in fact the front row of seven graves here

are all members of my old squadron, 12 Bomber Squadron.

I think the average age of a Bomber Command aircrew was 22,

and there are guys here much younger than that. 18, 19 years of age.

Really, really very emotional.

Initially, I was writing out questions in an A4 binder,

which really didn't work,

so my daughter, who's just finished her master's degree,

suggested I use flash cards,

and I can sit with a pile and just pick them out at random,

and it means that I don't...

that I can't cheat by looking down the list, as it were.

I reached the semifinal back in the 1991 series.

Your name, please?

Occupation.

I was in the lead after the first round,

but unfortunately the general knowledge questions didn't go my way.

In fourth place on 26 points is Jim Maginnis.

Before the semi-final I got incredibly nervous.

I suspect it's going to happen again, only on a greater level,

but I think once you get in the chair, once you sit down

and once the music starts, the lights go down,

I think then you just focus on the next 4½ minutes of your life.

At least I can hold my head up and say, "I was a Mastermind finalist,"

and there's not too many people can do that.

The Battle for Berlin in two minutes, starting now.

Which building in central Berlin was chosen by Stalin

as the symbolic goal for the advancing Red Army?

It was a burnt-out shell by the time it was captured.

Reichstag.

Artur Axmann was the national leader of a German military group

that was heavily involved in the Battle - which group?

-Hitler Youth.

-Yes. Which bridge across the River Spree

was attacked in the afternoon of the 28th April, 1945?

It was the last major obstacle for the Russians to overcome

before reaching the Reichstag.

-Moltke Bridge.

-Yes. What is the name of the German army,

led by General Busse, that was surrounded by advancing Russian troops

south-east of Berlin, and eventually broke out westwards

to join the Twelfth Army near Beelitz?

-Ninth Army.

-Yes. Which town, south of Berlin, housed the Maybach bunkers

that were the general communications headquarters for the German forces?

They were evacuated just before they were overrun by the Red Army.

-Zossen.

-Yes. Who was the commander

of the Russian Fifth Shock Army?

He was installed by Marshal Zhukov as commandant of Berlin

when the battle was still raging.

Bezarin.

Yes. On what date in 1945 did Adolf Hitler commit suicide

in the Reich Chancellery bunker?

-30th April.

-Yes.

Which Russian Marshal led the armies of the First Ukrainian Front

that attacked Berlin from the south and south east,

although Stalin gave the honour of finally capturing

the Reichstag to his rival, Marshal Zhukov?

-Koniev.

-Yes. In which suburb of Berlin

was the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics?

After the Red Army captured it,

the Soviet Union used its material for its own nuclear programme.

-Dahlem.

-Yes. Heinrich Himmler tried to negotiate

with a member of the Swedish Red Cross

for a favourable German surrender to the Western Allies

without Hitler's knowledge. Who was the Red Cross member?

-Bernadotte.

-Yes.

By what acronym was the counter-intelligence agency

attached to Red Army units known?

The agency was active in the search for Hitler's remains

after the battle was over.

-Smersh.

-Yes.

Who did Hitler name as the next President

of the German Reich in his last Political Testament

before he committed suicide?

-Doenitz.

-Correct.

Which fortress stands on an island at the confluence

of the rivers Spree and Havel? Its defenders surrendered

to the Russians on 1st May.

-Spandau.

-Correct. What is the name of the Russian general

who took the surrender of Berlin from General Weidling on 2nd May?

-Chuiko.

-Correct.

Which high-ranking SS officer was married to Eva Braun's sister?

He was executed when Hitler discovered he had plans to escape from Berlin.

-Hermann Fegelein.

-Correct.

No passes, Jim. All of them right, you have a total of 15 points.

APPLAUSE

Well, this is shaping up to be quite a battle.

Let's have a look at the scores. In sixth place,

three points, Andrew Diamond.

Fifth place, ten points, Christine Harrison.

Joint third place, 12 points apiece,

Richard Tring and Ewan Paton.

Second place, 13 points, Alan Heath.

In the lead with 15 points, Jim Maginnis.

APPLAUSE

So, all those months of hard work come down to this -

general knowledge. 2½ minutes of questions each

that will decide who is going to be the nation's Mastermind.

And as you will know, if there's a tie at the end of this round,

then the number of passes is taken into account, and the person with

the fewer passes is the winner, and if they're tied on passes, as well,

there will have to be a tie-break, so let us get on with it

and ask Andrew to join us again, please.

And I won't remind you how many points you've already got

because I suppose you can remember.

Anyway, you've got 2½ minutes for this general knowledge,

so let's see how you do with it. Here we go.

Rufus Norris succeeded Sir Nicholas Hytner

as the Artistic Director of a London theatre company

in April 2015 - which company?

-Old Vic.

-The Royal National.

According to legend, for how many days

is it supposed to rain if it rains on St Swithin's Day,

15th July?

-40.

-Yes. The novels Howard's End,

A Room With A View and A Passage To India,

which have all been made into films, were written by whom?

-EM Forster.

-Yes. Which female athlete

won the 800 and 1500m at the 2004 Olympics

to become only the second Briton after Albert Hill in 1920

to achieve the double?

Pass.

What name is given to the 1521 assembly of the Holy Roman Empire

before which Martin Luther appeared to defend his views?

-Diet Of Worms.

-Yes. What name was traditionally given

to a generally itinerant mender of pots, kettles

and other metal household articles?

The term was also sometimes applied to a gypsy.

-Tinker.

-Yes. The estuary of the River Dovey

forms the southernmost boundary of which National Park?

-Snowdonia.

-Correct. Methanoic acid,

found in ant and nettle stings, is more commonly known

by what name that comes from the Latin for "ant?"

-Formic acid.

-Yes. Which composer's last works

include The Art Of Fugue,

which was unfinished when he died in 1750?

-JS Bach.

-Yes.

Which animated cartoon character returned to Britain's television screens

in September 2015 after an absence of more than 20 years,

now voiced by Alexander Armstrong?

It's a dog, but I can't remember which.

Danger Mouse.

What was the name of the Irish Prime Minister

who signed the Downing Street Declaration with John Major in December 1993?

It paved the way for the end of armed conflict in Northern Ireland.

-Haughey.

-Reynolds.

In which country were the film actress sisters

Magda, Eva and Zsa Zsa Gabor born?

-Hungary.

-Yes.

Which aquatic insect, that gets its common name

from the shape of its body, has long oar-like hind legs

that it uses to propel itself?

-Water Boatman.

-Yes. Which Post-Impressionist painter,

who was born in Aix-en-Provence and died there in 1906,

is regarded as the precursor of modern art, especially Cubism?

-Braque.

-Cezanne.

What item provided the title of Rihanna's hit single

that topped the charts in May 2007?

-Pass.

-The Sundance Film Festival,

which helps promote up-and-coming and independent film makers,

is named after a famous role of an American actor

and director who is heavily involved with the festival - who is he?

-Newman and the other guy.

-Robert Redford.

Which country has borders with Vietnam

to the south-east and east, Laos to the north-east

and Thailand to the north and west?

-Cambodia.

-Yes. What is the English name of the edible bean

usually known in North America as the fava bean?

-Flageolet.

-Broad bean.

Which Rugby League Club became the Giants

at the start of the 1996 season?

-Wigan.

-Huddersfield.

Your passes, Andrew - an umbrella was the item provided

by the title of that Rihanna hit single,

and Dame Kelly Holmes was the great runner.

-You've redeemed yourself. You've got a total of 13 points.

-Thank you.

APPLAUSE

And now Christine again, please.

And you start out, Christine, with 10 points,

with your knowledge of Elizabeth Gaskell. Let's see how you do

with 2½ minutes of general knowledge, starting now.

Which southern hemisphere country took part

in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2015?

-Australia.

-Yes. Which title character

of a Shakespeare play had been a student

at the University of Wittenberg?

-Romeo.

-Hamlet. Royal, glace and fondant

are three types of which decorative topping?

-Icing.

-Yes. What word that comes

from the late Latin for "I shall please"

means a remedy that has a psychological rather than a real medical value?

-Panacea.

-Placebo.

Which fictional Edinburgh schoolteacher famously said,

"Give me a girl at an impressionable age and she is mine for life"?

-Miss Jean Brodie.

-Yes. Which Irish-born painter's

works include Three Studies of Lucian Freud

and Study for Head of Lucian Freud?

Both have been sold at auction in recent years.

-Bacon.

-Yes. In the alphabet of which western European language

do J, K, W, X, and Y only exist in imported words?

-Inuit.

-Italian. Who teamed up with Marc Almond to top

the UK Singles Charts in 1989 with a version of his

1967 hit single Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart?

-Gene Pitney.

-Yes. Which remote island in the Pacific

was named in honour of the Holy Day in 1722 on which the Dutch

explorer Jacob Roggeveen became the first European to visit it?

-Easter Island.

-Yes. The rubric, a set of instructions

at the top of a document such as an examination paper

was traditionally written or printed in what colour ink?

-Blue.

-Red.

Which Romantic poet was the son of a former army captain

known as "Mad Jack" and his second wife, Catherine Gordon, a Scottish heiress?

-Byron.

-Yes. Which British duo won the gold medal

for ice dancing at the 1984 Winter Olympic games in Sarajevo?

-Torvill and Dean.

-Yes. In the Bible,

who was commanded by God to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac?

-Abraham.

-Yes. The carline, which has

a yellowish-brown flower, is a species of a prickly wild plant

that usually has a reddish-purple flower head. Which plant?

-Cactus.

-Thistle.

What celebration is Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington

generally credited with originating in 1910?

It was officially recognised in the USA by Lyndon Johnson in '66

and is held on the third Sunday in June.

-Father's Day.

-Yes.

Which Hungarian-born physicist's role in developing the first

thermonuclear bomb led to him being called the "father of the H-bomb?"

-Niels Bohr.

-Edward Teller.

Which composer was six years old when his father took him

and his older sister, Maria Anna,

around Europe's grand capitals to demonstrate their musical talents?

-Mozart.

-Yes.

What name for the vast Turkish Empire that existed

from about 1300 to 1922 comes from that of its ruling dynasty?

-Ottoman.

-Yes. Which area of high ground

in the Peak District was the scene of a mass trespass in 1932

by walkers seeking access to its open moorland?

-Scafell.

-No, Kinder Scout.

No passes, Christine, you have a total now of 22 points.

APPLAUSE

And now Richard again, please.

And you also start out with 12 points, Richard,

with your knowledge of Test cricket. The score to beat, as it stands,

is 22. 2½ minutes of general knowledge in which to do it.

Here we go.

Which song, written by Bert Russell and Phil Medley

and recorded by The Beatles, begins, "Well, shake it up, baby, now?"

-Twist And Shout.

-Yes. What name is given

to the thin, rocky outermost layer of the Earth that includes its surface?

Together with a portion of the upper mantle it forms the lithosphere.

-Crust.

-Yes. What does the "Wi" in the term Wi-Fi stand for,

in the facility that enables devices such as computers and smart phones

to communicate with the internet without a direct cable link?

-Wireless.

-Yes. Which Arthur Miller play

set in 17th-century New England was written in 1953

and is a thinly veiled attack on Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist witch-hunt?

-The Crucible.

-Yes. The artist Donald McGill,

who was prosecuted for obscenity in 1954,

has a museum dedicated to his work in Ryde on the Isle of Wight -

what type of artworks was he famous for?

-Postcards.

-Yes, saucy postcards.

The song No Matter What from the musical Whistle Down The Wind

was a UK number one hit single for which Irish boyband in 1998?

-Boyzone.

-Yes.

What word for a person of outstanding merit or virtue

who serves as a model for others is also a term for an outstanding diamond?

-Bright spark.

-Paragon.

The cast of an award-winning American musical

that toured Britain in 2015 consists of three humans

and 11 puppet characters who interact as if they are human. Which musical?

-Avenue Q.

-Yes. Who features on Alfred Leete's

celebrated poster with his finger pointing towards the viewer?

It first appeared on the cover of the magazine London Opinion

in September 1914.

-Lord Kitchener.

-Yes.

The radio and television sports presenter Kelly Cates

is the daughter of a former footballer who played for Celtic, Liverpool

and Scotland - who is he?

-Kenny Dalglish.

-Yes. In the world of finance,

what's defined as the value of an asset

less the value of all liabilities associated with that asset?

-Profit.

-Equity.

From 1940, which country obliquely described its plans

for expansion as building a "Greater East Co-Prosperity Sphere?"

-Soviet Union.

-Japan.

What is the meaning of the word "suss,"

used to describe one of the styles of wine produced in Germany?

-Dry.

-Sweet.

Which prominent Labour politician was born

Barbara Anne Betts in Chesterfield in 1910?

-Barbara Castle.

-Correct. Which Thomas Hardy novel

is subtitled "A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented"?

-Jude The Obscure.

-Tess Of The d'Urbervilles.

Marie-Antoinette was the wife of which French King?

Both were guillotined during the French Revolution.

-Louis XVI.

-Yes.

How is the DJ and record producer Norman Cook better known?

-Fatboy Slim.

-Correct.

Which town is the administrative centre and county town of Wiltshire?

-Trowbridge.

-Correct.

Fenwomen by Mary Chamberlain, published in 1973,

was the first book released by an imprint

designed to highlight the literary talents of women - what is its name?

-Orange.

-Might have been, mightn't it?

No, Virago Press.

There we go, that's it. Anyway, no passes, you have a total

of 25 points.

APPLAUSE

And now Ewan again, please.

And...

..you also start out with 12 points,

and 25 is now the score to beat.

Here we go, 2½ minutes of general knowledge.

Whose record as Britain's longest-reigning monarch did

Elizabeth II overtake on the 9th September 2015?

-Queen Victoria.

-Yes.

Who had the idea for a series of novels for which she became famous

on a crowded train journey from Manchester to London?

King's Cross Station features regularly in the books.

-Priestley.

-JK Rowling.

In mythology, what gift from the Greeks did the priest Laocoon

advise his people to reject because he had a gift of foresight?

-Fire.

-Wooden horse.

Holliday Grainger and Richard Madden play the principal characters

in the 2015 television adaptation of which DH Lawrence novel?

-Sons And Lovers.

-Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Which opera by Bizet was originally set in Mexico

and was first performed in London in 1887 with the title Leila,

after one of the principal characters?

-Carmen.

-The Pearl Fishers.

Which Canadian Province is the largest in area

of the country's ten provinces, and forms

the eastern shore-line of Hudson Bay?

-Manitoba.

-Quebec.

What name is given to the only body of the United Nations

in which every member of the organisation is represented and allowed to vote?

-General Council.

-General Assembly.

Which native tongue is the most widely spoken language in Sri Lanka?

-Tamil.

-Sinhala.

Which spirit is used instead of vodka to turn

a Bloody Mary into a Bloody Maria?

-Gin.

-Tequila.

What is the Celsius equivalent of the temperature 273.15 degrees

on the Kelvin scale?

-Zero.

-Yes.

The Preservation Of Favoured Races In The Struggle For Life

is the alternative title of a celebrated work

that was first published in 1859 - which work?

-The Origin Of Species.

-Yes. Whose starring roles include

the abusive alcoholic Raymond in Nil By Mouth

and the retired gangster Gary Dove in Sexy Beast?

-Ray Winstone.

-Yes. What is the common name

for the membrane that partially joins

together the toes of some animals,

especially aquatic birds such as ducks and geese?

-Webbing.

-Yes. Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire

and Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire are among the most

celebrated of the monasteries inhabited by monks of an Order

who are also known as the White Monks or Bernardines - which order?

-Cistercian.

-Correct.

Who became the only man to have won the Tour de France

and win Olympic Gold medals and World Titles on both track and road

when he won the time trial at the World Championships in Spain in 2014?

-Chris Froome.

-Bradley Wiggins.

Which weapon in use particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries

was a combination of a spear and battle-axe mounted on the end of a long pole?

-Pike.

-Halberd.

In which novel by Charles Dickens

are Louisa and Tom brought up by their father, Thomas Gradgrind,

to know nothing but the most factual and pragmatic information?

-Hard Times.

-Yes.

The Blockheads were a backing band for a rock singer

who had a top five hit with Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part Three -

what was his name?

-Ian Dury.

-Is correct.

No passes, Ewan. 20 points in total.

APPLAUSE

And now Alan again, please.

And you, as if you didn't know, Alan, start out with 13 points.

The score to beat is still 25 points.

2½ minutes, here we go.

The Articles of the Barons that were agreed upon in early June 1215

form the basis of a historic document sealed

on the 15th of that month - which document?

-Magna Carta.

-Yes.

Which Pink Floyd single features a chorus by pupils

from a school in Islington that was near the recording studio?

-Another Brick In The Wall.

-Yes. What old word meaning "nonsense"

is now chiefly used for a sweetmeat made

by boiling milk, sugar, butter and flavouring together?

-Poppycock.

-Fudge.

In Roman Catholicism, what name is given to the state

in which faithful souls undergo purification before entering heaven?

-Purgatory.

-Yes.

In George Orwell's Animal Farm, the ruthless pig Napoleon

is modelled on Stalin. Who does the more idealistic pig Snowball represent?

-Trotsky.

-Yes. Whose first major film role

was in Zulu? He played Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead,

the second in command of the forces defending Rorke's Drift.

-Michael Caine.

-Yes.

By what name did the 500cc Motorcycle World Championship

become known in 2002?

-Superbike.

-Moto GP.

In which television series did Stephen Lewis play

Nora Batty's eternally miserable lodger, Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway?

-Last Of The Summer Wine.

-Yes. Which capital city

was founded in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia

and lies on the Mapocho River at the foot of the high Andean peaks to the east?

-Quito.

-Santiago.

What name is given to the part of a plant stamen

that contains the pollen sacs?

-Anther.

-Yes.

What multiplying factor does the prefix "mega" denote

in the SI International System of Units?

-Million.

-Yes.

In 1999, who became Leader of the Liberal Democrats? He was only 39.

He lost his parliamentary seat at the 2015 General Election

and died the same year.

-Kennedy.

-Yes.

Which kingdom was united with Castile in 1479

by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella

to form the nucleus of modern-day Spain?

-Aragon.

-Yes.

What word for a place of refreshment in a factory or school

comes from the Italian for a cellar?

-Refectory.

-Canteen.

Which African country became the 54th member

of the British Commonwealth in November 2009?

It was administered by Belgium until 1962.

-Rwanda.

-Yes.

What became compulsory for new motorists in Britain

on the 1st of June 1935?

-Driving tests.

-Yes.

Which American football team has a squad of cheerleaders

known as "The Gold Rush?"

-The 49ers.

-Yes.

What is usually referred to as the fourth dimension

as opposed to the other three spatial dimensions?

-Time.

-Yes.

What term for the 1920s in America, popularised in the title

of a collection of short stories by F Scott Fitzgerald,

reflects the popular musical taste of the time and its associated lifestyle?

-Roaring twenties.

-Jazz age.

In which city is the Balti Triangle,

known for its large number of Asian restaurants in the areas

of Sparkhill, Balsall Heath and Moseley?

-Manchester.

-Birmingham.

In politics, the term "spad" is a shortened form

of the name of what occupation?

-Social...

-No, Special Adviser.

No passes, Alan, you have now scored

a total of 27 points.

APPLAUSE

And, finally, Jim again, please.

You start out with 15 points, which is the good news.

The bad news is that you've now got to beat 27 to win

if you are to become the Mastermind champion.

So, 2½ minutes, here we go.

In September 2015, what substance was discovered

on the surface of Mars that might indicate

the possibility of life existing there?

-Water.

-Yes.

What word for the form of dizziness that can affect people,

typically when exposed to the view from a high place,

comes from the Latin for "whirling round?"

-Vertigo.

-Yes.

Which whale is the largest creature known to have inhabited the Earth?

-Blue whale.

-Yes.

Which service area, just south of the junctions of the M1 with

the M45 and the M6, was the first to be opened

on the British motorway network in 1959?

-Plumpton.

-Watford Gap.

Which singer, who died in 1988,

has the words "The Best is Yet To Come" -

the title of the last song he performed publicly - etched on his tombstone?

-Ray Charles.

-Frank Sinatra.

In what 2015 animated film, that's a prequel

to the Despicable Me series of films,

do Stuart, Kevin and Bob seek out Scarlet Overkill,

who calls herself "the greatest supervillain of all time"?

-The Untouchables.

-Minions.

The radical social and religious groups the Levellers,

the Diggers and the Ranters emerged in England during which century?

-16th.

-17th.

What name is given to the rower who sits in the seat

closest to the stern of the boat and sets the tempo for the rest of the crew?

-Stroke.

-Yes.

The name of which Germanic tribe, who sacked Rome in 455 AD,

has come to be applied to any people who engage in wanton destruction?

-Vandals.

-Yes.

In January 2015, Joanna Frogatt won a Golden Globe

for playing Lady Mary's maid Anna Bates in which television series?

-Downton Abbey.

-Yes.

What name, that comes from the Greek for "to distinguish,"

is used for marks attached to letters

to indicate modified sounds, such as a grave or acute accent?

-Modifiers.

-Diacritic.

A mechanical firing mechanism invented around the middle

of the 15th century allowed soldiers to hold their gun

with both hands throughout aiming and firing - which mechanism?

-Matchlock.

-Yes.

What completes the lines from Tennyson's poem

The Charge of the Light Brigade -

"Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why,

"Theirs but to do and...?"

-Do or die.

-Yes.

Which religion's sacred text is traditionally believed

to have been translated from golden plates granted to the faith's founder

near his home in upstate New York?

-Mormons.

-Yes.

Joan of Arc referred to herself as "Jehanne La Pucelle" -

what is the meaning of "la Pucelle" in English?

-The maid.

-Yes.

Ghost Flight is the debut adult novel of a British adventurer,

writer and television presenter - who is he?

-David Walliams.

-Bear Grylls.

In which of the Baltic states are Tartu

and Parnu among the principal cities?

-Estonia.

-Yes.

Which chemical element has isotopes known as deuterium and tritium?

-It's water.

-Hydrogen.

What name for the meat obtained from deer

comes from the Old French for "hunting?"

-Venison.

-Yes.

Which wolf-like animal shares its name with a trickster figure

found in the mythology of many of the indigenous people of north America?

Could you repeat the question?

I'm afraid not, because we're out of time.

-Loki.

-No.

Coyote.

No passes, Jim. You have 27 points.

APPLAUSE

Well, I said this was going to be a tough battle -

I didn't realise quite how tough.

Let's have a look at all the scores. In sixth place,

with 13 points, Andrew Diamond.

Fifth place, 20 points, Ewan Paton.

Fourth place, 22 points, Christine Harrison.

Third place, 25 points, Richard Tring.

Joint first place - 27 points apiece and no passes, either,

Alan Heath and Jim Maginnis.

APPLAUSE

So, we have a tie-break, and that is the first time

it's happened in a grand final - certainly in the years that I've been doing the programme.

Now, what happens is this. I shall read the same five questions

to each of the contenders, and the one with the higher score will win,

and we are not against the clock this time.

So, let me ask Jim to leave the studio now, for obvious reasons,

and Alan, if you would please come to the chair,

and I shall give you your five questions and I will not

be telling you whether you've got the answers right or wrong -

that, we shall discover in a moment.

So, here we go.

The burbot is the only freshwater member of which fish family?

Like most other members of the family, they have well-developed chin barbels.

The chub.

In classical mythology, a beautiful statue came to life

in answer to the prayers of the sculptor Pygmalion -

what name has she been given in the post-classical era?

Maria.

Which novelist's 1992 book The Queen and I

sees the Royal Family exiled to a council estate in the Midlands

after a republican party wins the General Election?

Jacqueline Harris.

Which Welsh rock band released the album Futurology in 2014?

Manic Street Preachers.

Which artificial waterway was opened in 1894

and has locks at Eastham, Latchford, Irlam, Barton and Mode Wheel?

Manchester Ship Canal.

Thank you, those are your five questions.

APPLAUSE

And now let's get Jim back into the chair.

And exactly the same procedure with you, Jim. I ask you five questions,

and you're not against the clock. Here we go.

The burbot is the only freshwater member of which fish family?

Like most other members of the family, they have well-developed chin barbels?

Tope.

In classical mythology, a beautiful statue came to life

in answer to the prayers of the sculptor Pygmalion -

what name has she been given in the post-classical era?

Siren.

Which novelist's 1992 book The Queen and I

sees the Royal Family exiled to a council estate in the Midlands

after a republican party wins the General Election?

JK Rowling.

Which Welsh rock band released the album Futurology in 2014?

Stereophonics.

Which artificial waterway was opened in 1894

and has locks at Eastham, Latchford, Irlam, Barton and Mode Wheel?

Welland Canal.

-And those are your five questions.

-Thank you.

APPLAUSE

Well, at the end of that tie-break,

we do have a winner.

Jim has a total now of 27 points,

but with 29 points,

the Mastermind champion is Alan Heath.

APPLAUSE

Alan.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

So you're not only the 2016 Mastermind champion,

but you've also made a little bit of history

because it hasn't gone, the grand final, to a tie-break before.

-What was it like for you?

-It's pure hell.

Pure hell! That sums it up nicely,

but you're a worthy winner. Alan is our winner,

but the search will start again later this year

to find a new Mastermind, and if you think that could be you,

then do visit us online at...

..and of course you can follow us on Twitter at...

..and do join us next time for more Masterminds.

Thanks for watching. Good night.

APPLAUSE