BBC Mastermind viewers took to social media on Monday evening to complain that the general knowledge questions in the latest episode were far too easy, with some branding the change 'awful' and speculating that a new question setter had been brought in.
The episode, hosted by Clive Myrie, featured four contestants: Farrah, who chose British and Irish cheeses as her specialist subject; Elsie, who answered questions on the Roman general Sulla; Emily, quizzed on the TV series Jonathan Creek; and Adam, tested on the 19th-century composer Johannes Brahms.
Viewers Complain About 'Easy' General Knowledge Questions
After the specialist rounds, each contestant faced two and a half minutes of general knowledge questions. It was during these rounds that viewers noticed what they perceived as a drop in difficulty. One viewer posted: 'Super easy questions!!!!' Another agreed: 'The first few questions never used to be this easy.' A third echoed: 'Quite easy general knowledge questions.'
One viewer specifically blamed a change in question setting: 'I think someone new is setting the general knowledge questions. Some absolutely awful ones this week.'
Reaction to the Change
The complaints mark a shift in viewer sentiment, as Mastermind has traditionally been known for its challenging quiz format. The show, which first aired in 1972, has seen various changes over the years, but the difficulty of questions has remained a point of pride for many fans.
Clive Myrie has hosted the show since 2021, taking over from John Humphrys. The programme continues to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. As of Monday night, the BBC had not commented on the viewer complaints.
