This new and exciting brain game invites contenders to take the stand and defend their claim to the title of Mastermind of the United Kingdom.

They have two minutes in which to establish their knowledge of a chosen subject with a further two minutes to consolidate their position by answering questions right across the board.

Tonight's programme comes from The University of Liverpool

This new brain game invites contenders to take the stand and defend their claim to the title of Mastermind of the United Kingdom

They have two minutes in which to establish their knowledge of a chosen subject with a further two minutes to consolidate their position by answering questions right across the board.

Tonight's programme comes from The University of Liverpool

Contenders Mary Grummitt, Dr Michael Dewar, Vera Gallagher, Patrick Maher

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

This new brain game invites contenders to take the stand and defend their claim to the title of Mastermind of the United Kingdom

Tonight's programme comes from the University of Glasgow

Contenders Joyce Ligertwood, David Wate, Robert Crampsey, Julius Green Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Tonight's contenders come from the West of Scotland and the programme was recorded at Glasgow University.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

This new brain game invites contenders to take the stand and defend their claim to the title of Mastermind of the United Kingdom

Tonight's contenders represent the North East of England, and the programme comes from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Tonight's contenders are drawn from the London area, and the programme comes from the University of Essex, Colchester.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Tonight's contenders represent the South East of England, and the programme comes from the University of Essex, Colchester.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

This new brain game invites contenders to take the stand and defend their claim to the title of Mastermind of the United Kingdom

Tonight's contenders represent Wales, and the programme comes from the Llandaff College of Technology, Cardiff.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Tonight's contenders represent the South-West of England, and the programme comes from Llandaff College of Technology.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

This new brain game invites contenders to take the stand and defend their claim to the title of Mastermind of the UK

They have two minutes in which to establish their knowledge of a chosen subject, with a further period to consolidate their position by answering questions right across the board.

Tonight's contenders represent the Midlands, and the programme comes from the University of Birmingham.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

This new brain game invites contenders to take the stand and defend their claim to the title of Mastermind of the United Kingdom

They have two minutes in which to establish their knowledge of a chosen subject, with a further period to consolidate their position by answering questions right across the board.

Tonight's contenders are drawn from the London area, and the programme comes from the University of Birmingham.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Eleven aspiring Masterminds have won through to the Semi-Finals. In this round the contenders have to prove their ability in a second specialist subject, as well as a further exacting round of general knowledge questions.

Tonight's programme comes from Edinburgh.

Rev Dr Michael Dewar (Northern Ireland), Nancy Wilkinson (Cambridge), Nicholas Lane (London), Robert Crampsey (Glasgow)

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

In this round the contenders have to prove their ability in a second specialist subject, as well as a further exacting round of general knowledge questions.

Tonight's programme comes from Edinburgh.

James MacGregor (Kelso), Joan Taylor (Newcastle upon Tyne), David Drake-Brockman (Lymington), Ivan Limmer (Burnley)

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Tonight's programme comes from London.

James Bruce (London), Beryl Leatham Thomas (Oswestry), Frederick Nicholls (Haverfordwest)

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Only three contenders remain to take up the challenge to become Mastermind of the United Kingdom.

The Brain Game that requires the co-ordination of specialist and general knowledge, with the ability to answer quickly and concisely.

Interrogator Magnus Magnusson

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

Quick reactions, depth of knowledge, fast recall and concise answers. All these are required in this tense and exciting Brain Game which comes tonight from the University of Lancaster.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

When the questions begin, there is no time to ponder or elaborate. Contestants in this Brain Game know the answers immediately - or not at all. Tension mounts again at the University of Lancaster in this second round contest to find the Mastermind of 1973.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

Greek mythology, words, classical music, 19th-century English literature... four aspiring Master-minds answer questions on these and general knowledge questions in the third round of this contest from the University of Bristol.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

Quick reactions, depth of knowledge, fast recall and concise answers.

The University of Bristol is the setting for tonight's episode of the Brain Game where four contestants answer questions on: Harps, harp music and harpists; Liszt-his life and works; European mountaineering to 1914; Rudyard Kipling-his life and works.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

Scottish geography and literature, opera and Britain's railways - four new contestants meet in tonight's round from Glasgow University.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

In tonight's brain game, from the University of Glasgow: an information scientist answers questions on Frederick the Great; a student on the history of music, 1680-1850; a civil servant on Shakespeare's plays; a teacher on Romano-British archaeology.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

Tonight's round of the brain game comes from Sussex University, Brighton. Douglas Gibson, a British Airways station officer, answers questions on modern weapons; crossword puzzle compiler Charles Key answers on the city of Paris; editor and writer Phyllis Hartnell on the history of the theatre; and student Stephen Wildman on painting, 1880-1914.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from Sussex University, Brighton

Magnus Magnusson introduces the ninth heat which comes from the University of Keele. Reginald Drew answers on the Royal Navy, Sally Copeland on classical mythology, Christopher Monro on English literature and Marjorie Elliott on symphony orchestras.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from Keele University, Staffs.

Tonight's contestants answer on British geography, Gilbert and Sullivan, the Third Reich and the 19th-century novel.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from the University of Reading

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from Reading University

In tonight's heat, the last before the quarter finals, Daniel Appleby answers questions on West Africa, Mrs Marilyn Halberstam answers on 19th-20th century crime, Andrew Hardman on the history of Greece and City States to the death of Alexander and Paul Ponder on British birds.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

Sixteen area Masterminds have won through to the second round of the competition.

Four matches will be played and the challengers in tonight's programme are Archie Orton from East Midlands, Rosemary Bown from Northern Ireland, Rev Peter Strange from North East, and John Coleby from Wales.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

The challengers in tonight's second round are Paul Ponder from South East, Dr Reginald Webster from North West, Eleanor MacNair and Dr Archie Campbell from Scottish teams.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

Sixteen area masterminds have won through to the second round of the competition.

Four matches will be played and the challengers in tonight's programme are Charles Key and Richard Snailham from London, Jeffrey Boss from South West and Margery Elliott from West Midlands.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

The four best runners-up from the national heats are given a second chance in this match to obtain a place in the final.

They are John Colman from North West, Michael York from North East, Patricia Owen from London and Daniel Appleby from South East.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson

The Final for the title of 'Mastermind of the United Kingdom'

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from University of York

Are you sitting comfortably in your chair, or do you think you should be in the chair of the 'Mastermind'?

Well over 2,500 viewers thought they should be and, of those, 48 have won through the initial interviews and auditions. Tonight four of them are out to prove their worth, both in the field of specialist and general knowledge questions.

The rules of the contest are as last year, and designed to exploit the contestants' ability for concise answering, quick recall and depth of knowledge.

They are:

Dr M.L. Harris, doctor

R.S. Johnson, university lecturer

Miss S.H. Reynolds, student

S.R. Turnbull, schoolteacher

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from University of York

Four more contestants use their specialist and general knowledge, together with their ability of quick recall and concise answering to win a place in the next round of Mastermind. They are:

CORFE, lecturer N. P. FORDE, actor

P. M. KILTY, schoolmaster

N. C. SUCKLING, retired university lecturer

A chance for you at home to compare your score with the experts in this third match of the series, from Westfield College, University of London.

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from Westfield College, University of London

Another chance for you at home to match your general, and perhaps specialist, knowledge against that of our four contenders, who this week are:

F. D. BRYAN-BROWN , schoolmaster MRS O. EVANS , housewife H MORLEY-FLETCHER , auctioneer

M. PAUL , film writer/director

The University of Stirling in Scotland is the venue for another heat of Mastermind, a competition requiring both specialist and general knowledge, and, as time is of the essence, a razor-sharp mind.

A further four contestants take up the challenge for the title of ' Mastermind of the United Kingdom.' They are: DR G. MICKENZIE , general practitioner

A. MILNE , civil servant

D. PURVES, schoolteacher I. SMYTH , teacher

The group of contestants representing Northern Ireland meet at Stirling University tonight for the sixth heat.

They are: Andrew Hemphill, schoolteacher; Mary Lawrence, housewife; David McKee, physicist; Malcolm Ostermeyer, research worker

Tonight's programme comes from Warwick University, and the group representing the Midlands are: PETER MORRIS , schoolteacher MARGERY NICHOLLS , part-time schoolteacher

REV PHILIP OLIVER , clergyman DAVID WILLIAMS , lecturer

Tonight sees a return to Warwick University where once again a group of Midlanders will be challenging for this year's title of Mastermind. Contestants are: DEREK ALLEN , publisher

MRS CHRISTINA BENNETT , housewife

IAN CLARK , solicitor

REV ROBIN PROTHEROE , lecturer

Swansea University provides the venue for this week's Mastermind. Contestants are:

RUPERT CAPPER , pension specialist MRS ELIZABETH HORROCKS , housewife, DAVID HUMPHRY , assistant export manager JOHN WHITTON , librarian

The four contestants tonight are from the South West of England: MARTIN GOSTELOW , photographer

MRS JENNY GRAVES , landscape architect

REV JOHN STARK, Anglican priest MRS HILARY WILSON , teacher

Tonight's programme comes from the University of East Anglia at Norwich and the contestants representing the South East are:

KEITH HASKELL, diplomatic service MISS OONAGH LAHR , assistant lecturer

MISS CAROLYN PEARCE , civil servant SIDNEY ROSS , university lecturer

The group of contestants representing the East of England meet tonight at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. They are:

KEITH CROSSWELL , clerk MARTIN DAKIN, retired schoolmaster

MRS MADELINE JAN , teacher IAN NOBLE, ph D, student

The first of the Semi-Final matches comes from the University of Surrey at Guildford

SUSAN REYNOLDS (North West)

FREDERICK BRYAN-BROWN (London) MARGERY NICHOLLS (West Midlands)

PETER KILTY (North East)

The second Semi-final match comes from the University of Surrey at Guildford and the contestants are: MARTIN DAKIN (East) ANDREW HEMPHILL (Scotland) CAROLYN PEARCE (South East) BRIAN WRIGHT (London)

he third Semi-final match comes from the University of Surrey at Guildford and the contestants are: IAN CLARK (East Midlands) ELIZABETH HORROCKS (Wales) DOUGAL PURVES (Scotland) JOHN STARK (South West)

The four best runners-up from the heats meet tonight in this special semi-final match. One of the four will go forward into the final. RUPERT CAPPER (Wales)

MARTIN GOSTELOW (South West) NORMAN SUCKLING (North East)

STEPHEN TURNBULL (North West)

The climax of Mastermind 1974 is at Manchester University where four finalists meet to decide the title. In the last two series the ladies have taken the honours. Will they succeed yet again?

Approximately four minutes of quick-fire specialist and general knowledge questioning confronts four doughty contenders for this year's Mastermind title.

Memory, clarity, concentration, tactics, and nerve are all required in this formidable challenge to the intellect.

Tonight's contenders are: DENNIS BIRD, Civil Servant

JACQUELINE PEARSON , postgraduate student

MICHAEL MUNN , lorry driver

MARTIN CABOURN SMITH , Chartered Accountant

This second heat brings together contestants who between them have a wide variety of talent.

As they grapple with the answers to questions both specialist and general knowledge, they will require all their mental faculties to be ticking over in top gear in this quest for the title Mastermind 1975. Tonight's contenders are:

DOROTHY F. BUSHELL , unemployed RICHARD J. EVERETT , schoolmaster MARGARET ASKEW , journalist ARTHUR GERARD, retired

Nottingham University provides the setting for tonight's ' Battle of the Polymaths.'

The occupations represented are as diverse as the specialist subjects that have been chosen.

Tonight's contenders are: CLIFFORD WARNER, Local Government Officer

JENNIFER SMALLMAN, librarian REV JOHN GIBSON , priest JOHN HART , schoolmaster

An American at Oxford University, a Miner, a Chartered Surveyor and a Systems Analyst make up the group who are in contention tonight for the Mastermind title. They are:

RICHARD CARDEN, Systems Analyst JACK TOMLINSON, Miner

VICTOR SIDE, Chartered Surveyor STEVEN SCHNEEBAUM, Student

Introduced by Magnus Magnusson from Sheffield University Tonight's contenders are: MARTIN MCCLELLAND, sheetmetal worker

GEORGE BULL, solicitor

PAULINE FOWLING, teacher

KENNETH BURTON, railway clerk

From which town will tonight's winner emerge?

This group of would-be 'Master-minds' come from Northwich, Southport, Liverpaol and Wallasey. Tonight's contenders are:

CECIL CRILL, retired Naval Officer JEAN HANDLEY, teacher RONALD MCGOWAN, Inspector of Taxes

NOEL FAGAN, unemployed

Bath University provides the forum tonight for four more hopeful ' Masterminds.'

Tonight's contenders are:

FRANCIS HOWE, schoolmaster IVOR JEFFERY-MACHIN, Anglican priest

GLYN COURT, teacher

JAMES COATES, retired bank official

So far the preceding seven heats of Mastermind have been won by the men.

Will the lone woman in tonight's group from Wales win through to the Semi-finals?

Tonight's contenders are:

RICHARD DALE, schoolmaster GENA DAVIES, unemployed VISCOUNT DAVID TENBY, Member of House of Lords

ANTONY CARR, university lecturer

The venue for tonight's heat is the Open University at Milton Keynes.

Tonight's contenders are:

PHILIP SKOTTOWE, Barrister GEORGE EARNSHAW, Lecturer JENNY JOHNSON, Histopathologist DAVID BURNS, Local Government Officer

In the space of 30 minutes over 150 specialist and general knowledge questions will be offered to tonight's four contenders. How many of them will you get right? Tonight's contenders are: ROBERT WORGER, teacher SUSAN WALKER, university language assistant

ALEC STEPHEN, teacher NEIL CROCKFORD, risk management consultant

This 11th heat comes from Scotland's ancient seat of learning, St Andrew 's University.

Tonight's contestants are:

KATHERINE WATT, retired teacher

JAMES MURRAY, retired headmaster FRANCIS LAMBERT, lecturer IAN SMYTH , schoolteacher

From St Andrews University, Scotland, contestants from Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland, and Scotland battle for a place in the semi-final round.

Tonight's contestants are: ALAN BLACKBURN, student ARNOLD O'HARA, teacher

TIMOTHY PAXTON, schoolmaster

GEORGE JOHNSTON, schoolmaster

Manchester University provides the venue for this semi-final, the first of four, one of which is reserved for the four best runners-up.

Tonight's semi-finalists and their special subjects are:

STEVEN SCHNEEBAUM, law student, United States Constitution JOHN HART, schoolmaster, Rome and Romans: 1st Century BC MARTIN MCCLELLAND, sheet-metal worker, British Military Campaigns: 1700-1815

DAVID BURNS, Local Government officer, Life and Reign of Richard III

The winner of this match will go forward into the final.

Tonight's Semi-finalists are from Bournemouth, Wallasey, Bangor (Wales), and Glasgow. They are:

IVOR JEFFERY-MACHIN, Anglican Priest, Dutch 17th-century painting

NOEL FAGAN, former sales manager, The two World Wars, 1914-18 and 1939-45 ANTONY CARR, university lecturer, Hundred Years' War

FRANCIS LAMBERT, university lecturer, Brazil since Independence - 1822

This third Semi-final comes from Southampton University. MARTIN CABOURN SMITH, chartered accountant, British Naval History of the First World War

NEIL CROCKFORD, risk management consultant, Isle of Wight

GEORGE JOHNSTON, schoolmaster, Life and Works of Liszt ARTHUR GERARD, retired civil servant, British Cathedrals

This Semi-final is devoted to the four best runners-up from the initial 12 heats, and it is the last chance for a woman to make it to the Final. But there are three of them lined up against a lone male. So the odds should be in their favour. The contestants and their special subjects are:

MARGARET ASKEW , journalist. The Life and Career of Stonewall Jackson

JACQUELINE PEARSON. university lecturer. The Life and Works of Christopher Marlowe

GENA DAVIES, unemployed, Gemology ALAN BLACKBURN, law student, History of Northern Ireland from 1921

Four worthy contestants line up for this the final hurdle to the championship title of Mastermind 1975. They are:

JOHN HART, schoolmaster, Athens in 5th Century BC

FRANCIS LAMBERT, lecturer, Cuban History, 19th century onwards

GEORGE JOHNSTON, schoolmaster, French Literature 1600-1900

BEST RUNNER-UP

This tense, dramatic and highly-rated quiz competition embarks on its fifth series to discover the ' Mastermind ' for 1976.

The contenders for the title are faced with a formidable challenge to their intellect, requiring them to be complete masters of their chosen subject and have a wide general knowledge.

Contenders:

ROBERT ORR, student, Russo-German War, 1941-1945;

ALWYN JAMES, freelance editor, Life and Works of Dylan Thomas;

MARY KEAN , housewife, Switzerland

MICHAEL DYCHE, RAF navigator, Captain Cook

Contenders from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen strive for a place in the Mastermind semi-finals.

To succeed they require the knowledge of the specialist, a wide range of general knowledge and the ability to think and act quickly under the pressure of time.

Edinburgh University again provides the venue for tonight's contest.

Contenders:

ROBIN WALDEN, export manager Life and works of Michelangelo

GAY SINCLAIR-GIEBEN, schoolmistress Scottish Wars of Independence 1306-1320

ALAN BRUFORD, archivist The Hebrides to 1914

MARTIN NICHOLS, retired neurosurgeon,

Naval history 1793-1815

Tonight, contenders for the Mastermind title are from Brighton, Bury St Edmunds, London and Cambridge.

The venue for this mind marathon is the University of Hull.

Contenders:

David Morris, government scientist - Books of the Apocrypha

Susan Grant, doctor's secretary - Brighton and its inhabitants from 1750

Lance Howard, solicitor - Venice

Henry Button, research student - Cambridge Colleges

Two teachers, a warehouseman and a housewife make up tonight's group of aspirant ' Master-minds'. Whoever is to succeed requires supreme concentration, thorough subject specialisation and a wide general knowledge. A formidable task, but an exciting challenge. Contenders:

JOHN TAYLOR, warehouseman - Northumbrian Kings of the sixth and seventh centuries

MARGARET GARRATT, housewife, Dietetics JOHN BYERS , schoolmaster, Life and work of Evelyn Waugh NICHOLAS SPRUYTENBURG , teacher, Life and times of Edward II

Tonight's heat comes from Bangor University in Wales. Contestants are:

SIMON ST QUINTIN, bus conductor/driver - History and geography of Ethiopia JANET SAVAGE, medical social worker - Life and works of John Keats LEO TWYMAN, translator, the Anglo-Saxon period to circa 655 HENRY PANTIN, geologist, Gliding and its history

The half-way stage has now been reached in this preliminary round. Contestants in the sixth heat are: JOHN MAYNARD, Security adviser, Life and times of Richard III JUNE MAGGS, Librarian, The County of Gwent

THOMAS GODFREY, Lecturer, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

GEORGE SHELDRICK, Local Government Officer, Life and works of Rembrandt

Tonight's heat comes from the University of Leicester, where we welcome four contestants from Northern Ireland. Depth of knowledge, concentration, and nerves of steel will help one of them to find a place in the Semi-final round.

Contestants are:

Robert Dunbar, Teacher - Life and work of Samuel Becket

Lisa Duffin, Librarian - 17th-century Mathematicians

Oliver Ferguson, Teacher - Geography of South East Asia

Rodney Smith, Teacher - 20th-century British Politics

One of tonight's contestants m the eighth heat will win a place in the semi-final round. -

From Leicester University

TEDDY VON KOENTGSTAEDTE, teacher - Life and works of Hans Christian Andersen

SANDYA NARAYANSWAMI, student - Genetics DAVID WILSON, lorry driver -The life and works of James Joyce JOHN SYKES, lexicographer - Mathematics

London University provides the venue for this ninth heat.

The contestants are:

DENIS VANDERVELDE, freelance management consultant - World Postal History

ANN-MARY HILLS, housewife - Life of Horatio Nelson

JOHN PALMER-BARNES, baker - Life and works of Sir Barnes Wallis

ALAN ILIFFE, psychologist - Novels of Anthony Trollope

Tonight's heat takes place at the University of London and the contestants are

VERNON LEEM-BRlGGEN, commissionaire -

The war in Burma (1943-45)

ANNE' GOLDSTEIN, freelance writer - English Civil War (1642-1648)

DAVID DELVIN, medical journalist - Operas

ASHLEY BRAMALL, barrister - British Politics since 1918

A wide area of interests are Covered in the specialist subjects by tonight's contestants, whose professions are as varied as the subjects. Tonight's heat comes from the University of Exeter. Contestants: DAVID FLOWER, applied mathematician - The USA

AMANDA HILL, postal officer - The descendants of Queen Victoria ROBERT SMITH, London taxi-driver - Viking Atlantic voyages

JOHN LANGFORD, careers officer - Oliver Cromwell

Tonight's contest comes from Exeter University and completes the first round heats. Contestants: STEWART THOMPSON, Naval Officer - The Rebellion of 1745 DIANA PUGH, housewife - Life and works of Percy Bysshe Shelley TIMOTHY WALLACE-MURPHY, salesman - Medical History 1700-1850

ROGER PRITCHARD, civil servant - Life of the Duke of Wellington

Durham University is the venue for the beginning of this semi-final round with four of the 12-heat winners trying for a place in the Final.

They are

ALAN ILIFFE, psychologist - English theatre 1950-75

SUSAN GRANT, doctor's secretary -The wines of France

NICHOLAS SPRUYTFNBURG, teacher - The life of Cardinal Wolsey HENRY PANTIN, geologist - Life and works of Berlioz

with Magnus Magnusson at the University of Durham. Contestants:

ALAN BRUFORD, archivist - Life and works of Handel MARY KEAN, housewife - Life and works of Tolstoy

JOHN SYKES, lexicographer - Physics

AMANDA HILL, postal officer - British Saints

Tonight's contestants meet at the University of Bristol. They are: GEORGE SHELDRICK, local government officer - French medieval history 987-1328 LISA DUFFIN, librarian - Life cycle/habits of the honeybee ROGER PRITCHARD, civil servant - British warships from 1914 to the present day

DAVID DELVIN, medical journalist - Field and track athletics (amateur) 1855-1960

The University of Bristol is the scene for the last of the Semi-finals. A chance for the four best heat-losers to gain the fourth and final place in this year's Mastermind Final. They are GAY SINCLAIR-GIEBEN, schoolmistress - The fictional novels of C. P. Snow

DAVID FLOWER, applied mathematician - Physics

JANET SAVAGE, medical social worker - The Gunpowder Plot DAVID WILSON, lorry driver - Life and works of Ibsen

The Final

NICHOLAS SPRUYTENBURG, teacher - Life and times of Edward II

ROGER PRITCHARD, civil servant - Life of the Duke of Wellington AMANDA HILL, postal officer - Descendants of Queen Victoria Best runner-up

In this 'Jubilee' year, the Mastermind series celebrates its centenary with the 100th programme coinciding with this year's Final.

To reach the Final, 48 contenders, selected from the many thousands of applicants throughout the United Kingdom, line up for the first-round heats of this intellectual marathon.

The arena for tonight's confrontation is Reading University. The contenders are:

HUGH MERRICK author and translator - The Alps

MARTIN LEADBETTER, fingerprint expert - Instruments of the Symphony Orchestra

SUE JENKINS, student teacher - Children's literature

IAN SEWELL, printer - Old Testament

Are you in the Mastermind class? To find out, match your scores against those of the experts.

Tonight's group all hail from Northern Ireland and in this second heat in the series they meet in contest at Reading University. The contenders are

GRAHAM ANDREWS, clerical officer - Science Fiction

ARTHUR GREEN, civil servant - Life and Works of John Buchan ELIZABETH FULTON, schoolteacher - Life and Works of Vincent van Gogh

PATRICK HAMPSHIRE, wine merchant - Life and Works of P. G. Wodehouse

The history of London is one of the specialist subjects of tonight's heat, which appropriately enough comes from the City University, in London. The contenders are:

TIMOTHY BEAUMONT, freelance journalist on the Life and Works of Dorothy L. Sayers DENNIS BYERS, export clerk - Ancient Egypt from 2700 BC to 2339 BC

CATHERINE SLATER, housewife - History of London from Roman times

SIMON FOSTER, teacher - Drama in Athens 500-388 BC

Memory, recall, speed, concentration. These are just some of the qualities required of a contestant entering Mastermind.

Four such Masterminds appear tonight in this fourth heat which comes from the City University in London. The contenders are:

ANDREW WOOD, sales assistant - Life and Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti

GEOFFREY REYNOLDS, image intensifier tester - Life of Sir Francis Drake

HAZEL margin, project engineer - Lady Members of the House of Commons

SIR DAVID HUNT, retired ambassador - British Campaigns in North Africa -World War II

There are two groups from Scotland competing for the Mastermind title. The first of these matches comes from Strathclyde University, in Glasgow. The contenders are:

RAYMOND VICKERS, research student - Spanish Anarchist Movement 1908-1975

JONATHAN DALRYMPLE-SMITH, air taxi pilot - History of the Royal Navy 1794-1805

MARIANNE SIMPSON, school secretary - The ' Berry ' novels of Dornford Yates

JOHN WIDDOWSON, headmaster - The Operas of Benjamin Britten

There are 12 heats in the first round of Mastermind and tonight's match from Scotland brings us to the half-way stage.

Strathclyde University in Glasgow provides the setting for tonight's programme.

The contenders are:

ANTHONY KERR, author and translator - The Common Market

WILLIAM CHALMERS, solicitor - The Life and Works of George Orwell

JAMES ROBERTSON, lecturer - The City of Rome

MARTHA IRVINE, court clerk - History of Costume 1600 to present day

Tonight Wales presents its group of aspirant masterminds, and for the occasion Cardiff University is the location.

The contenders are:

ANGELA ALVES, housewife - Life of Henry

VI JOHN LLOYD, barrister - History of Singapore 1819-1969

STUART LAIRD, consultant anaesthetist - World War II in Europe

THOMAS DAWKES, librarian - Life and Works of J. R. R. Tolkien

Taunton, Oxford, Bristol and Jersey are the home towns of tonight's Mastermind competitors. They meet together at Cardiff University for the eighth heat. The contenders are:

RICHARD THOMPSON, retired banker - The Mahrattas and their Wars 1657-1848

JOHN MCKEAN, licensee - The Zulu War - 1879

PETER TABB, newspaper executive - The Life of General Robert E. Lee LORNA VERSO, housewife - Life of Mary Queen of Scots

Tonight Mastermind moves to the Midlands with Keele University providing the venue for competitors from Nuneaton, Nottingham, Bromsgrove and Norwich. The contenders are:

JOHN F. WEST, college lecturer - The Vikings

MICHAEL GAINSFORD, civil engineer - Life and Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams

DAVID HOUGH, retired analytical chemist - Life and Travels of David Livingstone

RUTH BUTLER, librarian - The Life of the Emperor Tiberius

Competitors from Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Burslem take up the Mastermind challenge at Keele University to win a place in the semi-final round. The contenders are:

Kate Irving, chartered accountant -The Life and Career of Otto von Bismarck Michael Gearx, pharmacist - History of Church of England since 1530

Charles Potts, probation officer - Life and Works of Ernest Hemingway

Alan Rush, researcher - Myths and Legends of King Arthur 1100-1485

The first round heats are almost at an end and for this penultimate heat Mastermind comes from

Bradford University. The contenders are SHEILA RAMSDEN, hospital domestic worker - Life and Works of Rupert Brooke MORRIS WILLIIAMS, research student - The History of the Zulus 1816-1879 CHRISTOPHER EAMES, teacher - The Stuart Kings and Queens of England 1603-1714 ROBERT LEY, customs and excise officer - Salvation Army History

Bradford University is the location for this final match of the first round heats. With this result, 12 heat winners will be known.

These, together with the four best heat runners-up, move forward into the semi-final round.

Contenders: SUE CLARK, teacher - King Richard III

IAN LISTER, computer engineer - The Life of Captain William Bligh BOB HESKETH, taxi driver - Shakespeare's English Kings

PETER RICHARDSON, production manager - Life and Work of George Stephenson

First semi-final from the University of Surrey. Contenders: ARTHUR GREEN, civil servant - The Novels of Anthony Powell

GEOFFREY REYNOLDS, image intensifier tester - The Byzantine Empire in the Age of Justinian I

ANGELA ALVES, housewife - W. E. Gladstone

CHARLES POTTS, probation officer - Life and Works of Giuseppe Verdi

Four more heat-winning competitors take up the challenge to gain a place in this year's Mastermind Final.

This is the second of the four Semi-final matches which comes tonight from the University of Surrey.

The four contenders are :

SUE JENKINS, student teacher - France in the 17th century TIMOTHY, BEAUMONT freelance journalist - The History of the Liberal Party since 1877

John MCKEAN, licensee - Venomous reptiles

PETER RICHARDSON, production manager -Tolkien's fiction

The third Semi-final from the University of Salford and tonight's contenders are:

MARIANNE SIMPSON, secretary - The operas of Gilbert and Sullivan WILLIAM CHALMERS, solicitor - British politics 1900-1918

CHRISTOPHER EAMES, teacher -

Political history of China since 1911 MICHAEL GAINSFORD, civil engineer - Indian tribes of North America 1550-1C00

The last competition in the Semi-final round, which gives a chance to the four best losers from the earlier heats to compete for the last place in the Final. Tonight, at the University of Salford, the contenders are:

TOM DAWKES, librarian - The history of linguistics, 19th and 20th centuries

SIR DAVID HUNT, retired ambassador - The Allied Armies in Italy, World War II

ANDREW WOOD, graduate - The Glorious Revolution

JONATHAN DALRYMPLE-SMITH, air-taxi pilot - English poetry of World War I

This year's Final celebrates the programme's 100th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, comes from the Old Library of the Guild-hall in the City of London. The finalists are:

GEOFFREY REYNOLDS, image intensifier tester - Life of Francis Drake

SUE JENKINS, student teacher - Children's literature

CHRISTOPHER EAMES, teacher - The Stuart Kings and Queens between 1603-1714

BEST RUNNER-UP

The 'black chair' stands ready in the centre of the Mastermind arena awaiting the presence of the 48 aspirants to the title 'Mastermind 1978', chosen from the many thousands of viewers who applied to take part in this year's series.

The Open University at Milton Keynes is the venue for the first of these opening heats and the contenders are:

Jean Robinson, nurse - life and works of W. S. Gilbert

Aubrey Lawrence, assistant librarian - Britain between AD 350 and 600

Jonathan Allum, civil servant - 20th-century British philosophy

Raymond Fell, Detective Sergeant, New Scotland Yard - notable British poisoners

In this second heat the challenge of Mastermind is faced by four contenders from Northern Ireland. The contenders are; ROY ALCORN, teacher, Hollywood films, 1929-1959

MICHAEL BLOCH, student barrister, life and work of Philip Guedalla JOHN KNIPE , retired civil servant, history of Abbey Theatre, Dublin DAVID MCKIBBIN , teacher, history of professional boxing

Cranfield technical university provides an ideal setting for one of tonight's specialised subjects - History of Aviation.

Cranfield has its own airfield and has long-standing associations with the RAF.

The contenders are:

FELICITY MORRISEY, musician, life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven KEITH BOGLE, librarian, Greek mythology

ROBERT GLEESON, bookseller, Westminster Abbey

KEITH BLAKE, Fire Brigade Administrator, history of aviation

Tonight an American Attorney takes up the brief on behalf of Thomas Jefferson , one-time President of the USA, which is just one of the interesting specialised subjects in tonight's Mastermird heat. The contenders are:

CHRISTINE SHAW, teacher, English history 1603-1660

MICHAEL DIXON, Post Office manager, Life and works of Sergei Prokofiev JOHN GEORGE, Herald, The Papal Conclaves 1799-1878 ANDREW REISH, attorney, Thomas Jefferson

In this visit to Newcastle University, Liverpool, Kirkby, Sheffield and Manchester provide the ' brain power' in this fifth heat of Mastermind.

The contenders are

ROSEMARY BIRKILL, part-time medical practitioner, History of psychiatry NEIL WRIGHT, medical laboratory assistant, The life of Gaius Julius Caesar FRANK LYNCH, teacher, Classical music 1660-1960 ANTHONY MARTIN, librarian, The reign of the Emperor Augustus

Tonight's Northern group of contestants hail from South Wirral, York, Bolton and Sheffield: ROSEMARY JAMES, teacher, Mythology of Greeks and Romans

RAY WARD, graduate, Manned space flight FREDERICK HOUGH, HM Inspector of Factories, The religion of Ancient Egypt JOLYON COOMBS, stage manager, Roman History 146 BC - 44 BC

Contestants from Edinburgh, Inverness, Dumbarton and Falkirk gather at the oldest University in Scotland - St Andrews. There to face a barrage of questions designed to test their specialised and general knowledge, and their ability to concentrate under pressure.

The contenders are

ELIZABETH WHITE, housewife, The Novels of the Bronte Sisters

NEIL SPENCER, Local Government officer, Celtic Culture before AD 1200 JOHN STRATHEARN, teacher, The Clyde Passenger Steamer , 1812-1962

NEIL MACGILLIVRAY, scientific assistant, Israel and the European Zionist Movement from 1858

Nerve, concentration, recall are just some of the attributes required of the contestants taking part in this second Scottish heat from St Andrews University. The contenders are

CYNTHIA MUNRO, freelance translator, Life and works of Hieronymus Bosch DOUGLAS BLACK, medical student, Napoleon's '100 Days', 1815

DAVID LEES, schoolmaster (retired), The life of Hannibal IAIN COPLAND, teacher, History of Edinburgh

Tonight sees the inauguration of a new chair at Bath University, the 'Black Chair' of specialised and general knowledge awaiting contestants from Oxford, Mitcheldean, Swindon and France Lynch, near Stroud, to prove their worth in this ninth heat of Mastermind.

Kathryn Jones, student - Richard III

Donald Walters, rector - R.S. Surtees and fox-hunting

Patrick Brough, solicitor- Life and reign of Nicholas II

Michael Glover, author - Wellington in the Peninsula

Contestants from Cheltenham, Chipping Campden, Glastonbury and Swansea take up the challenge of Mastermind at Bath University. The contestants are

MARGARET SOUTHON, midwife, Alexander the Great

SEUMUS STEWART, bookseller, Life and works of Robert Burns

JULIAN FETTERLEIN , tax consultant, Life and works of Oscar Wilde

COLIN HUNT, freelance translator, The works of John Cowper Powys

Astley Farm, near Leeds, provides Mastermind with its first-ever farmer competitor. A doctor, graduate and lecturer make up the rest of the group, who will be in contention for a place in the semi-finals. Tonight's venue is Hull University.

The contenders are -

Anne Falloon, graduate: Life of Lord Byron

Christopher Booth, farmer: World War II

Nicholas Gold, doctor: Life of Admiral Horatio Hornblower

Bill Bent, lecturer: Battles in England 1066-1715

This is the final competition of the first-round heats, and apart from tonight's winner, the four best losers over the 12 heats will become known, moving forward to take their place in the special runners-up semi-final. Contenders: OLGA KEVELOS, licensee, Genghis Khan

PAUL BOLITHO, librarian History of British Methodism ANTHONY TOOHER, teacher, Life and works of Sir Edward Elgar

MICHAEL WALKER, civil engineering technician, Alaska and the Yukon Territory

The crucial stage is now reached with the first of the semi-final matches taking place at Leeds University. The contenders are

COLIN HUNT, freelance translator, German literature, 1900-1950 CHRISTINE SHAW, teacher, Life and works of Rudyard Kipling NEIL WRIGHT, medical lab scientist, Astronomy

and the Winner of Heat 12

There are four places available in the final of Mastermind for the contestants who win through the semi-final round.

One place has already been taken and in tonight's visit to Leeds University the second place will be filled after a keenly fought contest between

ROBERT GLEESON, bookseller, London city churches

MICHAEL GLOVER, author, Sir Robert Wilson

DAVID LEES, schoolmaster (retired), Classical mythology RAY WARD, graduate, Librarianship

Liverpool University, venue of the first-ever Mastermind in 1972, plays host to four would-be finalists in this third semi-final match. The contenders are BILL BENT, lecturer, The geography of England AUBREY LAWRENCE, librarian, History of Rhodes up to AD 1522 DAVID MCKIBBIN, teacher, History of World War I

JOHN STRATHEARN, teacher, Military operations of the 1745 Rebellion

The traditional Mastermind match for the best losers from the first round takes place tonight at Liverpool University, in this fourth and last of the semi-finals. The contenders come from Merseyside, Bolton, Manchester and York - a truly Northern occasion.

The contenders are:

Jolyon Coombs, stage manager - Commedia dell'Arte

Rosemary James, teacher - Life and works of Frederick Rolfe

Frank Lynch, teacher - European history, 1900-1945

Anthony Martin, librarian - Greek mythology

The Mastermind title and trophy are now within the reach of four worthy contenders, who meet tonight in competition at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. ROBERT GLEESON, bookseller, Westminster Abbey

NEIL WRIGHT, medical laboratory scientist, Julius Caesar DAVID MCKIBBIN, teacher, History of professional boxing BEST RUNNER-UP

What do you know of the French Foreign Legion, Mammals, the Diaghilev Ballet, and 20th-century Science Fiction?

To find out join with a fireman, a zoo keeper, a barmaid and a lecturer who will be attempting to answer questions on these subjects plus a huge range of general knowledge questions.

These four contenders are the first in the field in this new Mastermind series which tonight begins at York University. The contenders are: Paul Elliott (fireman), The French Foreign Legion to 1970

Richard Green (zoo keeper), The Mammals

Diane Harris (barmaid), The Diaghilev Ballet

Albert Preston (lecturer), 20th-century Science Fiction

A political writer, a technical translator, a local government officer and an hotelier take up the challenge tonight of this 1979

Mastermind competition. The subjects upon which they will concentrate are British History, the Life and Works of Solzhenitsyn, the Broadway Musical and the Life and Works of Chopin.

This second heat in the series comes from York University. The contenders are:

Tony Broadbent (political writer), British History, 1870-1945

Paul Granville Jackson (technical translator), Life and Works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn

James Martin (local government officer), The Broadway Musical, 1945-1970 Roy Scott (hotelier), Life and Works of Chopin

The Royal Military Academy of. Sandhurst is host to tonight's programme. An appropriate venue. as many of the questions required for our military subjects emanate from the experts who are stationed here.

Mastermind is also a most popular programme among the forces, particularly with the army stationed in Germany.

The contenders are: Sarah Catling

(veterinary haematologist), History of the English Derby Aylwin Fletcher (tutor and GCE examiner), Life and Works of Max Beerbohm Keith Pierce (police sergeant), History of Hastings and St Leonards

Sir Peter Hayman (ex-diplomatist), Marshals of Napoleon I

Many and varied are the specialised subjects tackled by Mastermind contestants.

The contenders are:

Ronald Graham-Carter (university administrator): Winston Churchill

Peter Owen (chartered surveyor): Life and Works of Arthur Ransome Jean Wilson (part-time teacher): English Literature 1550-1900 Paul Wood (local government officer): The Reign of George III

The first of the two Scottish groups taking part turns out to be something of a mini International, with THOMAS BLAHA working in Aberdeen, but who is from Cleveland, USA; LAI-NGAU PAUSON living in Glasgow, but originating from Seattle, Washington; STEPHEN SENN living in Fife, but a Swiss national by birth; and JOE WEST, a pilot stationed on Shetland, hailing from Bournemouth.

The venue. for this interesting match is Dundee University

Thomas Blaha (teacher): US Government and Politics Lai-ngau Pauson (editor): History of Printing to 1860 Stephen Senn (lecturer): The History and Geography of Dartmoor

Joe West (helicopter pilot): World War I

In this second visit to Dundee University, the four aspiring Scottish Masterminds are from Edinburgh, Forfar, Dumbarton and Crieff. The contenders are: Iain Campbell (student): Byzantine History AD 610-867 Elizabeth Compton (farmer): Elizabeth of Austria 1837-1898 James Davis (teacher): European History 1945-1979

Max Todd (teacher): World War I

This, the Welsh contribution to this year's Mastermind, takes place in mid-Wales at Aberystwyth University.

The contenders are:

Catherine Mason (teacher): Louis XIV of France

Ralph Handscomb (driver): The 'James Bond' novels of Ian Fleming

Barry Jones (fitter): The Modern Summer Olympics

Philip Jenkins (research assistant): The Development of Christianity CAD 30-150

Tonight, the contestants hail from Oswestry, Northampton, Coventry and Redditch, and seek, in this eighth heat, to gain a place in the next semi-final round.

They are:

Robert Ingle (political agent): The Life of Benjamin Disraeli

Deborah Hill-Trevor (farmer's wife): English Life and Times 1780-1815

John McLeod (local government officer): The Career of Oliver Cromwell

Gerald Sparrow (teacher): Geology

The chief shoe manufacturing centre of England provides the location for tonight's heat, which takes place in Nene College, Northampton. The contenders are: William Rayner (oilfield technician): Emperor Charles V

Caroline Hurlstone (housewife): Plays of Tom Stoppard John Old (teacher): The Moomin Saga of Tove Jansson John Shepherd (air traffic controller): Island of Sark

In this tenth heat four more people seek to obtain a place in the semi-final round.

The contenders are:

John Weller (bricklayer): British Birds

Christopher Budd (Army officer): The Waterloo Campaign Robert Wall (engineer): North Atlantic Ocean Liners

Adam Gielgud (NHS ancillary): History of Poland 1900-1945

Tonight sees the start of an All Ireland' contribution to Mastermind with contenders from Rathdrum, Rathmines, Dun Laog haire, Stillorgan, Londonderry,

Whitehead, Belfast and Carnckfergus...

The first group are from the Irish Republic and for this, and the Northern Ireland group, the historic Trinity College in Dublin is providing the setting. The contenders are:

Mary Grogan (librarian): Ballet in Britain 1900-1960 Con Cashman (farmer): Agriculture

Beatrice Syms (art teacher): The 'Dragon' books of Anne McCaffrey

John Egan (transport supervisor): The Life and Works of James Joyce

Tonight's Northern Ireland match completes the 12 heats of the first round.

The winner moves on to join the other 11 semi-finalists, which leaves four places to be filled by the best runners-up.

The contenders are:

Edward Kennedy (retired naval rating): West Malaysia

Martin Bradley (mature student): The Films of Steve McQueen

James Nesbitt (civil servant): European History 1914-1945

Jane Morton (local government officer): France since 1814

The 'Bute Hall' in Glasgow University is the setting for the start of the semi-final round, and in this section the contenders are required to offer a new specialist subject.

The first four contenders are: Iain Campbell (student): The Works of Evelyn Waugh

Sir Peter Hayman (ex-diplomatist): The Life of King George V Robert Wall (engineer): The Spanish Civil War

Joe West (helicopter pilot): The Life of Horatio Nelson

This crucial match, which comes from the Bute Hall in Glasgow University, will establish which of tonight's four contenders will move forward to the final round. The contenders are:

Richard Green (zoo keeper): History of the Isle of Man

John McLeod (local government officer): Sir Arthur Sullivan and his Contemporary Composers John Old (teacher): The Texan Revolution 1835-1836 Peter Owen (chartered surveyor): Life and Works of Beatrix Potter

On this occasion, Mastermind visits Northern Ireland for the first time. The New University of Ulster in Coleraine are the hosts to this third semi-final group of contenders seeking to win through to the Final. They are:

Tony Broadbent (political writer): English Poetry

Martin Bradley (mature student): Life and Work of Billie Holiday

John Egan (transport supervisor): Life of Leon Trotsky

Philip Jenkins (research assistant): Vikings in Scotland and Ireland 800-1150

This, the Best of the Runners-up semi-final, is being staged at the New University of Ulster in Coleraine, and by sheer coincidence includes an Englishman, an Irish-woman, a Scot and a Welshman.

Tonight's winner will fill the last place in the Final line-up. The contenders are:

Barry Jones (fitter) - British Prime Ministers

John Shepherd (air traffic controller) - Life and Works of George Borrow Beatrice Syms (art teacher) - Life and Works of Jane Austen

James Davis (teacher) - The Mountains of Scotland

'The Painted Hall' of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, provides the historic setting for this year's Mastermind Final. The finalists are: Joe West (helicopter pilot): Royal Navy History 1794-1805

John McLeod (local government officer): Career of Oliver Cromwell Philip Jenkins (research assistant): History of Wales AD 400-1100 Best Runner-up

Tonight Magnus is 'starting' so please stay with him until he has 'finished', the exciting search for this year's champion. Manchester Polytechnic are the hosts for this first heat of the series, and waiting to take up the challenge are: Pauline Fisher (teacher): Lives of the Hesse and Battenberg families, 1837-1937

Edward Saunders (architect): Life and works of Sir Christopher Wren

Heather Weaver (housekeeper): Life and works of Chekhov Cyril White (colour chemist): Life of Sir Richard Arkwright

Heat 2 from Manchester Polytechnic

Adrian H. Cowell (botanist): Life and times of Prince Rupert of the Rhine

John Keogh (local government officer): The house of Godwin, 1016-1066 Jacquelyn Tonge (teacher): The French novel, 1800-1870

Robert Turpin (mature student): Life and works of Jung

Nottingham University is the location for this third Mastermind heat. The four contenders are: Michael Crisp (accountant): Fictional naval heroes

Elizabeth Shaw (schoolteacher): Reign of Elizabeth I of England Jack Smith (radar systems engineer): History of radiophysics and radar up to 1945

Ian Stevens (office worker): The English theatre since 1950

Four more contenders for the Mastermind title meet tonight in competition at Nottingham University. Amongst them is a law student who is an ex-tv Top of the Former!

The contenders are:

Christopher Cooke (bank official): Life of General Gordon of Khartoum

Alexis King (law student): Life and works of James Joyce

Samuel Mortimer (civil servant): The History of Stonehenge Roger Sandell (teacher): Life and works of H. P. Lovecraft

The Royal Naval Engineering College in Plymouth, which is celebrating 100 years of existence, is the venue for this fifth heat. The contenders are:

Sheila Denyer (laundry worker): The Bible

Josephine Lawrey (housewife): Italian Painting, Masaccio to Michelangelo Ken Smith (buyer): Kings and Queens of England, 1066-1485

Ingram Wilcox (civil servant): The Crusades, 1095-1192

Four contenders from Wales meet tonight at the Royal Naval Engineering College in Plymouth. They are:

Erica Austin (barrister/housewife):The descendants of Queen Victoria Bill Beaumont (civil servant): The English Inland Waterways David Greensmith (solicitor): Life and works of Isambard Kingdom Brunei

Anthony Hurman (civil servant): Political history of the developed world since 1945

The ancient city of Newcastle upon Tyne is celebrating its 900th anniversary, and tonight the City Council are hosts to the following Mastermind contenders:

Alan Caig (local government arts officer): Life and works of Rudyard Kipling Olwyn Linton (state enrolled nurse): Life and times of Queen Elizabeth I of England

John Webley (dental surgeon): Life and works of Dorothy Parker Don Young (teacher): Life of Henry VIII of England

Northern Ireland now takes up the challenge of Mastermind. Its four contenders are meeting tonight at the Civic Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne. They are:

John Campbell (travel agent): 19th-century inventions

Harry Irwin (representative): British cartoons and cartoonists 1930-1980

Margaret McNulty (undergraduate): Kings and Queens of Britain 1485-present day

Tony Veitch (civil servant): Life and works of A. E. Housman

The venue for tonight's heat is Girton College, Cambridge. The contenders are:

Amanda Cooper (teacher): The career of Bishop Colenso of Natal (1853-1883)

Arthur Douch (retired major): The history of Rome, 753-390 BC

Fred Housego (licensed taxi driver): Henry II of England

Nigel Viney (publisher): The life of Sir Winston Churchill

Tonight's contenders come from Surrey, Dorset, Canterbury and Cambridge. They are: Sylvia Britton (bookshop manageress): Life and work of Vincent Van Gogh Richard Ellender (file clerk): House of Cerdic, 519-1124 Geoffrey Hitchcock (external relations adviser): Life and times of Marshal Tito Christopher Pelly (teacher): Life and works of Oscar Wilde

Question: Where in Britain is the Granite or Silver City? Answer: Aberdeen of course; and the city's university is the location for the first of the Scottish heats. Contenders are:

Richard Coast-Smith (general medical practitioner): Royal Naval 74-gun ships Duncan Forrest (computer programmer): Henry II of England

Derek Murray (minister): 18th-century Scottish ecclesiastical history

Sheila Salmond (teacher): Greek mythology

This second Scottish heat completes the first round and leads to the semi-finals.

Donald James Goldie (student): Arthurian legend in England Helen Harper (housewife): The Peninsular War

Thomas McBrearty (teacher): Life and works of George Orwell Susan Smith (civil servant): The life of Adolf Hitler

Mastermind visits a school for the first time - Christ's Hospital, Sussex, is host for the first of the semi-finals.

John Campbell (travel agent) - Novels of Arthur C. Clarke

David Greensmith (solicitor) - Life and works of Charlie Parker

Alexis King (articled clerk) - The history of cricket

Ingram Wilcox (civil servant) - Mammals

Semi-final: this match comes from Christ's Hospital Arts Centre, Sussex.

The four contenders competing for a place in the Final are

Fred Housego (licensed taxi driver): Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster

Christopher Pelly (teacher): Life and works of Vladimir Nabokov

Edward Saunders (architect): Life of John Clare

Elizabeth Shaw (teacher): Life of the Duke of Wellington

The setting for this Semi-final match is the MacRobert Arts Centre, at the University of Stirling.

It includes an Englishman specialising in a Scottish Queen and a Scot specialising in an English King!

The contenders are: Duncan Forrest (computer programmer): William the Conqueror

John Keogh (postgraduate student): Life and times of King Alfred Thomas McBrearty (teacher): Astronomy

Don Young (teacher): Life of Mary Queen of Scots

The MacRobert Arts Centre at the University of Stirling is the setting for this special Semi-final match between the four ' best losers' from the heats.

Tonight's winner will fill the last place in the Final line up.

Christopher Cooke (bank official): The life of Richard III

Samuel Mortimer (civil servant): Napoleon's campaign in Russia Roger Sandell (teacher): The British Army, 1914-1918 Jacquelyn Tonge (teacher): Novels of Nevil Shute

The historic Porter Tun Room in the City of London is the setting for the culmination of the 1980 series. Of the 48 starters, the four finalists competing for the beautifully engraved Caithness glass trophy and the title of Mastermind 1980 are:

Fred Housego (licensed taxi-driver): The Tower of London

John Keogh (postgraduate student): The House of Godwin 1016-1066 Samuel Mortimer (civil servant): The life and works of Joseph Haydn Ingram Wilcox (civil servant): The Crusades 1095-1192

Tonight Mastermind's tenth season opens and, between now and Christmas, 48 contestants will pit their wits against each other in the quest to win television's premier quiz battle.

Magnus will be 'starting', and he hopes that you will stay with him until he has 'finished' the search for the successor to London taxi-driver Fred Housego as Mastermind 1981.

The first heat comes from the RAF College at Cranwell and the contestants are: Peter Arbuthnot (commodity broker): Indus Valley Civilisation (2500-1700 bc)

Phillida Grantham (youth worker): Wines of Europe

Leslie Grout (schoolmaster): St George's Chapel, Windsor, since 1475

Peter Wilcockson (art gallery manager): Life and Work of Picasso to 1940

Heat 2 in the search for Mastermind 81 from the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell Captain Patrick Lawrence (retired soldier): The Indian Mutiny (1857) Tim Parry (trainee hospital administrator): British political history since 1905 Madeline Simpson (local government officer): The novels of Margaret Drabble Nicholas Woodward (district inspector of taxes): Life and career of Admiral Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840)

Four more contenders for the Mastermind 81 title meet in this third heat of the competition at the University College of North Wales in Bangor.

Janet Barker (housewife): History of fashion 1920-70

Albert Holmes (retired export manager): Life and music of Robert Schumann

Milan Pavasovic (postman): European history

Tim Stirk (housemaster): Roman Britain AD 43-410

The University College of North Wales at Bangor is host to the contenders in the fourth heat.

Ian Barton (university lecturer): Roman emperors of the first and second centuries AD

Anthony Dart (chartered engineer): Strangers and Brothers, novels of C. P. Snow

Liam Fogarty (graduate): Life and works of Gustave Courbet Roger Morris (industrial glove manufacturer): Great Western Railway in the 19th century.

The fifth heat of Mastermind 1981 comes from the Great Hall at the University of Bradford and features contestants from the Midlands.

John Mellor (HGV driver): The Battle of Waterloo

Peter Shilston (freelance sports-writer): Gangster age in the USA 1919-1939

Kate Williams (teacher): Life and times of Bess of Hardwick

John Rose (educationist): Life and works of Chaucer

Four contestants from the North of England take up the challenge in the sixth heat of Mastermind 1981 at the University of Bradford. Hutton Barton (probation officer): Battle-cruisers and battleships 1906-1966

Mary Ann Ebert (civil servant): French wars of religion 1550-1588 Marion Mayers (housewife): James Graham , 1st Marquis of Montrose

John Watt (lecturer in computing): History of Kenya from 1895

Four contestants from the South East of England meet at Middlesex Polytechnic in this seventh heat of Mastermind 1981. James Bitton (retired civil servant): The Second Boer War

Maureen Blakesley (schoolteacher): The Royal Shakespeare Company James Craven (cook-general): Life of Marie Antoinette

Craig Scott (advertising executive): History of 19th-century Leeds

The search for Mastermind 1981 reaches the half-way point - as contestants from the South and East meet at Middlesex Polytechnic.

Thomas Dyer (financial consultant): Works of William Shakespeare Iris Henson (research student): Life and Career of Sarah Siddons Gerard Murray (teacher): Reign of King Gustavus Adolphus John Withrington (bank employee): The French Revolution

Four contestants from the South of England are assembled on the Quarter Deck at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Katherine Davies (department store buyer-manager): Life of Queen Mary, Consort of George V

John Hill (retired colonial administrator) Thuggee in India Connaire Kensit (polytechnic lecturer): History of China from 1850 John Pretty (miller): Air War in Europe 1939-45

The Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth is host for this tenth heat of Mastermind 1981. On the Quarter Deck are contestants from the West of England.

Godfrey Abbott(ordnance surveyor): History and architecture of Bath Peter Barlow (solicitor): Novels of Kingsley Amis Judith Carter (nursing sister): Works of Dorothy L. Sayers Brenda Read (computer systems designer): Novels of Graham Greene

Scots and Irish contenders for the Mastermind 1981 title meet tonight at Scotland's oldest university, in the Younger Graduation Hall of the University of St Andrews.

Arthur Arnold (schoolmaster): 17th-century British history Richard Beatty (biologist): Poetry of W. H. Auden John Crawford (solicitor): Peloponnesian war Bernard McGinley (graduate business student): Politics and letters in Augustan England

The first-round heats of Mastermind 1981 are completed tonight at the University of St Andrews as contestants from Scotland and Northern Ireland challenge for the last place in the semi-finals. Derrick McClure (university lecturer): Pre-conquest history of Mexico Rosemary Meechan (teacher): Life of Robert the Bruce James Murray (teacher): Life and career of General de Gaulle David Stevenson (employee relations manager): Battle of the Somme

Winners from the first round return to face each other in the debating chamber of the Oxford Union Society in this, the first of the semi-finals.

Janet Barker (housewife): The films of Alfred Hitchcock James Craven (cook-general): Life of Eva Peron 1919-1952 John Hill (retired colonial administrator) Geography of Fiji Nicholas Woodward (tax inspector): Test cricket 1877-1930

Another finalist in Mastermind 1981 is chosen tonight as four more winners from the first round pit their wits against each other in the Debating Chamber of the Oxford Union Society.

Godfrey Abbott (ordnance surveyor): Railways of Wales

Leslie Grout (schoolmaster): Burial grounds of London

Iris Henson (research student): Life and works of Gilbert and Sullivan John Watt (lecturer in computing): 'Flashman' novels of G. Mac Donald Fraser

The third semi-final from St Aidan's College, Durham University

Ian Barton (university lecturer): Classical Greek and Roman architecture

Richard Beatty (biologist): Life and works of Oscar Wilde John Mellor (HGV driver): Life of Henry V

James Murray (teacher): Life and works of Renoir Director

St Aidan's College, Durham University is the setting for this special Semi-final when five' runners-up ' compete for a place in the final.

James Bitton (retired civil servant): History of Brighton

Anthony Dart (chartered engineer): Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle

Mary Ann Ebert (civil servant): Women in the New Testament

Albert Holmes (retired export manager): 18th-century European painting

from The Metropolitan Police Cadet School at Hendon.

Ian Barton (university lecturer): Roman emperors of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD

Leslie Grout (schoolmaster): St George's Chapel, Windsor

Nicholas Woodward (tax inspector): Life and career of Admiral Sir Sidney Smith

James Bitton (civil servant): Second Boer War.

Tonight Mastermind enters its second decade and during the coming weeks 48 new contestants will be competing to win television's most prestigious quiz title.

They come from every part of Britain, their ages range from 22 to 65 and their occupations include a naval officer, a tube train driver, a doctor, a brewery clerk, a bank manager and a vet.

The first four contenders pit their wits against each other at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Geraldine Gregg-Smith, Education welfare officer - Novels of Evelyn Waugh

Christopher Price, Civil servant - Novels of the Bronte Sisters

Kathryn Tyson, Civil servant - Shakespeare's tragic heroes

Diggory Seacome, Schoolmaster - Percussion playing from 1700

The Royal Agricultural College in the Cotswolds market town of Cirencester is the venue for the second heat of Mastermind 1983.

Anne Adams (part-time teacher): Bayeux Tapestry

Nicholas Rennison (bookshop assistant): 'The Music of Time' novels of Anthony Powell

Edward Towne (schoolmaster): Reign of Edward III

Simon Willbourn (pilot): The American manned space programme

Four contestants from Scotland and Northern Ireland face Magnus in a place he knows well-the school in which he was educated - .the Edinburgh Academy.

Patrick Doherty (schoolmaster): Films of John Wayne

Euan Fairbairn (naval officer): Career of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower

Frederick Pegg (teacher): American Presidents from F. D. Roosevelt

Kalph Roney (writer): Richard Hannay's novels of John Buchan

'Education is the mother of wisdom and virtue' is the translation of the classical Greek motto of the Edinburgh Academy, where tonight four more contestants pit their wits against each other in the quest to become Mastermind 1983.

George Beggs (retired customs official): American Civil War

Brian Cooklin (schoolteacher): Women in Thomas Hardy 's novels Alan Shearer (veterinary surgeon): Zulu War 1879

John Wheeler (schoolteacher): British birds

Three women contestants challenge one man in the fifth heat of Mastermind 1983 at Loughborough University of Technology.

Peter Major (schoolteacher): Life and works of Richard Wagner Linda Paxton (housewife): Children of Queen Victoria Mary Schofield (housewife): British Social and Economic History 1760-1860

Sian Thomas (solicitor): Life and works of Colette Director

Loughborough University of Technology is tonight's host.

Robert Douglas (retired sub-post-master): British History, 1714-1815 Madeline Evans (library assistant): Life of Edward IV

Susan Scholefield (civil servant): Homer's Iliad and Odyssey Robert Woodcock (driver's mate): European History, 1870-1945

with Magnus Magnusson from the Froebel Institute College, Roehampton, south west London. Barbara Barrett (sales assistant): The ' Rougon-Macquart' novels of Emile Zola

Kenneth Hedley (brewery clerk): Life and works of Sir Edward Elgar

Nell Marshall (schoolteacher): Life of Tipu Sultan

Robert Moggridgc (schoolteacher): The cathedrals of England

Froebel Institute College bears the name of the German educator and philosopher Freiderich Froebel, the father of the kindergarten movement. Tonight another four contenders for the Mastermind 1983 title meet at the college in Roehampton.

Paul Campion (department store executive): Life and recordings of Caruso

Christopher Hughes: (London Underground train driver) British steam locomotives (1900-1968)

Karen Stringer (university secretary): Life of T. E. Lawrence

Alex Yeats (charity worker): Slavery and the slave trade

Tonight from one of Britain's newest universities, Loughborough University of Technology.

Hilary Aslett (schoolteacher): History of New South Wales 1788-1850

Paul Brighton (research student): Life of W. E. Gladstone

Tom Chitty (bank manager): Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Isabelle Heward (schoolteacher): British and American cinema since 1927

Two men and two women confront each other at Loughborough University of Technology in this tenth heat of Mastermind 1983. Pauline Buffham (housewife): Life of George III Gwen Kingsley (crystal works tour guide): Life and times of Cosimo de Medici 1389-1464

Alan Mole (civil servant): German history 1870-1945

Ralph Richardson (headmaster): Monumental brasses 1300-1700

Christchurch College, Canterbury, is the setting as four more contenders do battle for a semi-final plam in Mastermind 1983.

CVertne de Vito (schoolteacher): Works of Christopher Isherwood

John Edmond (computer systems project manager): Life of Margaret of Anjou

Patricia Erridge (civil servant): Opera

Robert Peters (minister of religion): Life and Times of Archbishop William Temple

Last of the 12 heats. Magnus Magusson introduces competitors whose subjects are: the life of Baden-Powell, the life of Richard III, the history of Albania, and the life and music of Vivaldi

First semi-final, with the lone female contender going for the novels of Jane Austen, the others opting for the Cairngorm Mountains, Lord Liverpool, and the English Civil War

Another finalist in Mastermind 1983 is chosen tonight as four more winners from the first round pit their wits against each other at Winchester College.

Christopher Hughes (London Underground train driver) - The 'Flashman' novels of George MacDonald Fraser

Frederick Pegg (schoolteacher) - The life and career of Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, 1887-1976

Nicholas Rennison (bookshop assistant) - Scott's expeditions to the Antarctic

Sian Thomas (solicitor) - The Thirty Years War, 1618-1648

Four winners from the first round programmes meet at Sheffield Polytechnic and compete for a place in the Final of Mastermind 1983.

John Edmond (computer systems project manager): The history of Italy, 1815-1929

Gwen Kingsley (crystal works tour guide): The life, times and death of Tutankhamun

Margaret Peat (school science technician): The life of Alexander the Great

Robert Woodcock (driver's mate): British political history from 1945

Sheffield Polytechnic is host as the four ' highest scoring losers' in the first round compete for the last place in next week's final of Mastermind 1983. Paul Campion (department store executive): Life of Kathleen Ferrier

Peter Major (schoolteacher): The Roman Empire, AD 284-337 Ralph Roney (writer): Classic cars, 1930-1950

Alex Yeats (charity worker): The history of South Africa and South West Africa (Namibia) since 1948

Forty-eight contenders started in January and tonight four are in at the 'finish' of the 1983 series. Middle Temple Hall in London is the setting for the final as two men and two women do battle for the title of Mastermind 1983.

The winner will receive the engraved Caithness Glass trophy from the Chairman of the BBC, George Howard, and an invitation to represent the United Kingdom in Mastermind International later this year.

Contestants:

Christopher Hughes (London underground train driver): British steam locomotives 1900-68

Margaret Peat (school science technician): Life of Richard III

Kathryn Tyson (civil servant): Shakespeare's tragic heroes

Alex Yates (charity worker): Slavery and the slave trade

Mastermind's 12th season opens at the University of Dundee when four contenders from Scotland and Northern Ireland meet in the first heat of the 1984 competition.

Mary Burton (computing supervisor) The Scots Quair Trilogy of Lewis Grassic Gibbon

Stephen Bowers (unemployed) French History 1715-1799

Norman Izzett (assistant rector) Ancient Athens

Gordon McAlister (unemployed) The Bolsheviks 1914-1920

The University of Dundee is host as four more contenders are quizzed in the quest to find Mastermind's 12th champion.

Robert Foulkes (schoolteacher) Life and Work of Antoine Lavoisier Maisie Lunan (retired) Life and Works of J. M. Barrie

John McGrath (principal teacher) Second Punic War 219-202 BC George Snowden (solicitor) The operas of Gilbert and Sullivan Director

The Aircraft Hall of the RAF Museum at Hendon is the setting as four more contestants do battle for the title 'Mastermind 1984'.

Mary Dicken (school teacher) Reign of James I

John Hutchings (probation officer) Novels of George Orwell

Bill James (agricultural tractor driver) Aircraft of World War II

Tim Tatton-Brown (archaeologist) Life and Works of Beethoven Director

with Magnus Magnusson at the RAF Museum in Hendon Jill Goodwin (insurance clerk) Lives of Charles II and James II Terence Kane (golf club manager) Life and works of Lewis Carroll

Fr Stephen Ortiger (Benedictine monk) Jeeves/Wooster stories of P. G. Wodehouse

Nicholas Slocombe (executive officer) American railroads since 1945

Two men and two women confront each other at University College, Cardiff, in the fifth heat of Mastermind 1984.

Angela Burke (computer operator) History of costume since 1400

Jane Gardner (chartered librarian) Epic novels of R. F. Delderfield

Byron Jones (construction manager) Life and works of Duke Ellington

Derek Pheby (medical practitioner) Life and works of John Keats

University College, Cardiff, is host as three women and one man pit their wits against each other in the quest to become Mastermind 1984.

Diana Hadley (landscape gardener) Life and work of Sir Edwin Lutyens Margaret Harris (deputy head teacher) Life and work of Cecil Rhodes John Warner (retired) Anglo-Australian test matches 1920-1938 Primrose Wood (physiotherapist) Lord Peter Wimsey novels of Dorothy L. Sayers

Avery Hill College at Eltham in south east London welcomes four more aspirants for the title of Mastermind 1984. Maureen Butler (technical sales rep) Lymond saga books of Dorothy Dunnett

Anthony Hern (freelance journalist) Novels of G. K. Chesterton

Rachel Leonard (housewife) Life and novels of Thomas Hardy Richard Thackrah (lecturer) History of the police 1829-1900

The Great Hall at Avery Hill College in London is the setting as four contestants challenge for a place in the semi-finals of Mastermind 1984. Joseph Angel (physician) Austrian Habsburgs, 1740-1792

Michael Davison (publisher's editor) Coastline of Great Britain Richard Joby (lecturer) Great Eastern Railway, 1862-1922

Margot Stewart (company director) Life of Duke of Windsor

Worcester College of Higher Education is host for the ninth heat of Mastermind 1984.

Christopher Carter (parish priest) British birds

Nick Morrell (unemployed) Life and works of Noel Coward

Malcolm Parnell (publicity manager) Voyages of Captain Cook Anne Senior (part-time teacher) Novels of Barbara Pym

Four more contenders for the 1984 Mastermind title do battle at Worcester College of Higher Education. Godfrey Chesshire (community worker) The Medici and the City of Florence, 1200-1537

Edward Hamer (fingerprint expert) World War I

Christopher Strudwick (college lecturer) Life and works of John Betjeman

Kate Vernon-Parry (anaesthetist) The Swallows and Amazons books of Arthur Ransome

Mastermind pays its first visit to the Isle of Man and helps to celebrate the 150th anniversary of King William's College at Castletown.

Neville Cohen (lecturer) The Lake District

David Hatton (chemical plant manager) Life of Nelson Colin Graham (bus driver) Roman history 133 BC-AD 14 Ella Thompson (housewife) Life and missionary voyages of St Paul

King William's College at Castletown on the Isle of Man is the host for the last heat in the first round of Mastermind 1984.

Colin Driver (telephone engineer) History of the Church of England 1815-1900

Katharine Heaney (local government official) De Richleau's novels of Dennis Wheatley

Valerie Ann Smith (part-time tutor) Life and works of George Eliot

George Thornton (civil servant) Life and works of Mozart Director

The semi-final stage of this year's competition opens tonight at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. Four winners of the first round heats compete for a place in the final of Mastermind 1984.

Robert Foulkes (schoolteacher) Mars novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs Richard Joby (lecturer) Life and career of Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Malcolm Parnell (publicity manager) Novels of Evelyn Waugh

Primrose Wood (physiotherapist) Life of Sir Francis Drake Director

The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia is the setting, as four more winners of first-round heats challenge for a place in the final of Mastermind 1984.

Jill Goodwin (insurance clerk) French revolution 1788-1794

John Hutchings (probation officer) History of Britain's canals

Norman Izzett (assistant rector) Greek tragic poets

Byron Jones (construction manager) MGM musicals 1939-1962

Four winners of first-round heats do battle for a place in the final of Mastermind 1984 at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham. Neville Cohen (lecturer) Life of Isaac Newton Katharine Heaney

(local government officer) Life of Queen Victoria

Rachel Leonard (mother and housewife) Life and works of Jane Austen Kate Vernon-Parry (anaesthetist) Life and works of Beatrix Potter