BBC2's Mastermind is under fire for allegedly posing overly easy questions to celebrity contestants in its recent Christmas specials, leading to viewer complaints and channel switching. The show, known for its challenging questions, has been criticized for a perceived decline in difficulty, prompting online outrage.
But BBC2 ’s Mastermind was facing accusations on Saturday night that it has been dumbed down after posing ‘painfully easy’ questions to contestants. One of the general knowledge questions asked by presenter Clive Myrie in last week’s celebrity Christmas specials was: ‘Woof woof and bow wow are representations of the sound made by what domestic pet?’Another no-brainer was: ‘The term veg, as in fruit and veg, is an abbreviation for what type of food stuff?’ Other contestants were posed questions including ‘beef is a meat from what farm animals?’ and ‘which cardinal point on a compass is represented by the letter S?’ The show, which started in 1972 with presenter Magnus Magnusson, has become compulsive viewing over the years for millions of viewers tuning in to test their knowledge against questions such as ‘what is oil of vitriol better known as?’ Sulphuric acid is the correct answer.
The show’s creator, Bill Wright, is said to have drawn inspiration for the quiz from his experiences of being interrogated by the Gestapo during the Second World War. In last week’s celebrity Christmas special, BBC2’s Mastermind presenter Clive Myriein asked one contestant: ‘Woof woof and bow wow are representations of the sound made by what domestic pet?’ Clive Myrie, 61, returned to our screens to host the most recent celebrity special, which starred journalist Maryam Moshiri, 48, singer Chesney Hawkes, 54, comedian Desiree Burch, 46, and broadcaster Danny Robins, 49 But the soft questions fired at celebrity contestants including choirmaster Gareth Malone last week prompted an online backlash. Fans said they were so fed up that they changed channels within minutes of Monday evening’s show. BBC journalist and presenter Maryam Moshiri was the first to sit in the show’s black chair, answering questions on her specialist subject, Bridget Jones films.Moshiri gave the correct answer, Renee Zellweger. But one viewer complained: ‘Is that the standard of knowledge for celebrities on this show? Not worth my time – I’m switching off! Ask real hard-hitting questions next time!’Read More Celebrity Mastermind viewers fume 'I'm switching off!' as very first question leaves them LIVID A third added: ‘Watching Celebrity Mastermind on BBC is just sheer horror... It’s embarrassing to watch the programme.’Comedian Lucy Beaumont was asked the name of the world leader who during a 1963 visit to Berlin declared ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’, to which she replied: ‘Oh my gosh, was it Hitler?’ The correct answer is John F Kennedy. Actor Gamba Cole, whose specialist subject was the Rush Hour films, was stumped when asked which athletic event is run over 26 miles and 385 yards. The correct answer is a marathon. The criticism came as the BBC revealed its worst ever Christmas TV ratings. Its most watched show was the ten-minute King’s Christmas message, which pulled in 4.6 million viewers – almost two thirds fewer viewers than the final episode of Gavin And Stacey, its top show on Christmas Day 2024.
Mastermind BBC2 Quiz Show Celebrity Criticism
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