International Mastermind

International Mastermind
Format	Game show
Created by	Bill Wright
Presented by	Magnus Magnusson
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC1
Original run	1979 – 1983
Chronology
Related shows	Mastermind

International Mastermind was an international spin-off of the BBC Mastermind quiz show.

History

The 1979 competition was a one-off series hosted by Magnus Magnusson involving the winners of Mastermind from around the world, including UK Mastermind champions David Hunt and Rosemary James, or winners of quiz shows similar in format to Mastermind. The competition was won by the Irishman John Mulcahy.

As International Mastermind was a success it became an annual event. In 1980 it was hosted by Magnússon again, but after that it was decided that the winning nation hosted the next series.

In 1981 the programme was hosted by Huw Evans, who hosted the Australian version of the show, and filmed in the Sydney Opera House. The 1982 edition was made in New Zealand and hosted by Peter Sinclair, who was the questionmaster on the New Zealand version of Mastermind and also the New Zealand version of University Challenge.

Following the first British victory, the 1983 series was hosted again by Huw Evans and was filmed in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford. It was won by Christopher Hughes, better known today as an Egghead, but as this was the final series, he believes he is the reigning International Mastermind and has sometimes introduced himself in each episode of Eggheads as "...still International Mastermind champion...".

Champions

Year	Winner	Country	Specialist Subject
1979	John Mulcahy	Ireland	Irish History (1916-22)
1980	Rachel "Ray" Stewart	Australia	Life and times of Julius Caesar
1981	David Harvey	New Zealand	The Lord of the Rings trilogy
1982	Leslie Grout	Great Britain	Windsor Castle
1983	Christopher Hughes	Great Britain	British Steam Locomotives