BBC viewers have delivered a scathing verdict, switching off in their thousands and branding the latest episode of Celebrity Mastermind as potentially the worst half-hour of television they have ever seen.
Airing on January 12, the episode featured JLS star JB Gill, comedian Susie McCabe, TV host Richie Anderson, and adventurer Lucy Shepherd. However, a combination of contentious specialist subject choices and a notable on-air gaffe quickly sparked a social media firestorm.
Viewers took immediate issue with the celebrities' selected topics. Comedian Susie McCabe's decision to answer questions on former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her specialist subject proved highly divisive. Simultaneously, JB Gill's focus on the Bad Boys film franchise left some fans questioning the show's direction.
Disgruntled licence fee payers flocked to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to voice their outrage. One viewer posted: "A round on Thatcher (spits) and Richie Anderson as a 'celebrity'... This could be the worst 30 mins in TV history!" Another added, "Cannot bear to watch any more of #CelebMastermind... a round on Margaret Thatcher? Seriously?"
‘Abrupt Spice’ Blunder Adds to Viewer Fury
The controversy deepened when contestant Richie Anderson stumbled on a seemingly simple question about the Spice Girls. Asked for Mel B's iconic nickname, Anderson incorrectly answered "Abrupt Spice" instead of the correct "Scary Spice."
This blunder left viewers in a state of disbelief and became a focal point for criticism. One astonished fan tweeted, "Abrupt Spice? Good grief!" while another remarked, "This is a prank, right? Somebody's taking the p***!" Others tried to find humour in the situation, with one user declaring the mistake had "made my day."
Further criticism was levelled at the calibre of celebrity, with a fourth viewer complaining, "The worst part of this 'celebrity' Mastermind is that Richie Anderson is the only one I recognise." The episode was widely described as "painful viewing" and "cringeworthy" by those who endured it.
Backlash Leads to Widespread Channel Switching
The cumulative effect of these moments led to a significant number of viewers simply turning off their televisions. Reports indicate that many abandoned the show within minutes of it starting, unable to stomach what they perceived as a new low in prime-time broadcasting.
The episode of Celebrity Mastermind, which aired on Monday, January 12, 2026, remains available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer, allowing those who missed the initial furore to judge the controversial half-hour for themselves.
