Celebrity Mastermind Australia Explained

Genre:Game show
Creator:Bill Wright
Presenter:Jennifer Byrne (2020)
Marc Fennell (2021 – present)
Country:Australia
Language:English
Num Series:2
Num Episodes:10
Runtime:60 minutes
Channel:SBS
Last Aired:present

Celebrity Mastermind is an Australian television quiz show aired on the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). A spin-off of Mastermind, the series is produced by BBC Studios and is based on the original British game show of the same name created by Bill Wright. The show features an intimidating setting with challenging questions on specialised subjects of the contestant's choice, followed by "slow burn" question and a general knowledge round.

The program was first announced in November 2019, with Jennifer Byrne hosting the first season of the show.[1] [2] Fennell took over as host of the show from the second season, which began in August 2021.[3]

Format

Episodes consist of three rounds, lining up with the grand final of the original Australian version. In the first round, each contender will have two minutes to answer as many questions as possible about their chosen specialist subject.

The second round, Slow Burn, unique to the Australian version. In Slow Burn, each contestant is assigned a category; they are then presented ten clues, one at a time. The contestant can only make one guess, and the earlier they answer, the more points they earn; ten points if they answer after the first clue, less one for each clue they hear afterwards before answering. Zero points are earned if the answer is wrong.[4] In the third round, contestants face 90 seconds of general knowledge questions.[5]

Episodes

Series 1 (2020)

EpisodeAirdateContestants
115 February 2020Nazeem HussainAlex LeeAdam SpencerMarc Fennell
222 February 2020Courtney ActSam SimmonsJessica RoweAdam Liaw
37 March 2020Tom BallardMerrick WattsElaine CrombieLucy Zelic
414 March 2020Joel CreaseyMark HumphriesMyf WarhurstNikki Osborne
F21 March 2020Adam SpencerAdam LiawTom BallardMark Humphries

Series 2 (2021)

EpisodeAirdateContestants
128 August 2021James MathisonHansJohn WoodPatricia Karvelas
24 September 2021Zoë Coombs MarrMark OliveIan 'Dicko' DicksonRichard Reid
311 September 2021Murray CookDilruk JayasinhaPettifleur BerengerBen Lee
418 September 2021Shane GouldTanya HennessyPrinnie StevensPhil Burton
F25 September 2021HansRichard ReidMurray CookPhil Burton

Notes and References

  1. News: Knox. David. 20 November 2019. Celebrity Mastermind coming to SBS. TV Tonight. 3 April 2022.
  2. News: McManus. Bridget. 15 February 2020. Mastermind is back, with added celebrities. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. News: 3 August 2021. Returning: Celebrity Mastermind. TV Tonight. 3 April 2022.
  4. News: Knox. David. 20 September 2019. Mastermind finals week. TV Tonight. 1 January 2022.
  5. News: Cubis. Shane. 22 February 2021. 'Mastermind' for smarties. SBS Guide. 1 January 2022.