BBC presenter Clive Myrie returned to the hot seat on Monday with a new episode of Celebrity Mastermind. The star-studded spin-off featured four famous faces: former England footballer Stuart Pearce, Britain's Got Talent winner Axel Blake, BBC Radio 1's Gemma Cairney, and TV writer Phil Dunning. However, as the episode aired, viewers voiced their discontent and switched off the programme.
The backlash erupted after Axel Blake scored only two points in his specialist subject, the history of Marvel Comics, despite being a comedian. One viewer wrote on X/Twitter: 'I deserve a refund on the license fee, s**t tv.' Another added: 'Seriously though, this is not acceptable. It is utterly painful to watch.' Others questioned his comedic ability, with one tweeting: 'I hope he is better at comedy.'
Despite the criticism, Stuart Pearce took an early lead in his specialist topic of UK punk rock, scoring nine points. He later aced the general knowledge round, finishing with 18 points and winning the coveted trophy for his chosen charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Pearce likened the experience to football, saying: 'It was very similar to football, you walk on the pitch, you've got to deliver, and it was just wow.'
Gemma Cairney ended with 13 points, while Phil Dunning secured second place with 16 points, specialising in Paul O'Grady. Axel Blake, after scoring only two points in the general knowledge round, finished with a total of four points. Viewers expressed frustration, with one remarking: 'I've just turned over and I thought it was a comedy about thick people, until I realised again that it's Celebrity Mastermind.'
