Viewers of the BBC's long-running quiz show Mastermind have launched a scathing attack on the broadcaster, accusing it of 'scraping the bottom of the barrel' after an episode featuring remarkably low scores. The Monday, December 16 instalment, hosted by Clive Myrie, saw contestant David claim victory with a winning total of just 15 points, leaving fans at home deeply unimpressed.
Viewer Outrage Over Plummeting Standards
The reaction on social media platform X was swift and severe. One disgruntled viewer posted: 'Fifteen points to win #Mastermind. Absolutely shocking.' Another echoed the sentiment, writing: '15 point wins it? How is that Mastermind. Talk about a programme being downgraded to the bottom of the barrel.' The criticism highlighted a growing perception that the calibre of contestants has fallen sharply, with comparisons even drawn to the celebrity version of the show.
Further comments underscored the disappointment. '15pts wins it... wow!' remarked one user, while another nostalgically recalled: 'I remember watching as a kid and 30 was the “par” score.' The consensus among many was summed up by a viewer who stated: 'They seem to be struggling to find people who are up to par on the general knowledge lately.'
A Breakdown of the Disappointing Scores
The episode's final standings laid bare the struggle. The champion, David, secured his semi-final place with 15 points across his specialist subject and general knowledge rounds. He was closely followed by Helen and Carter, who tied for second place with 13 points each.
Helen's specialist subject was British butterflies, on which she scored seven, adding six in general knowledge. Carter managed eight on his topic, the TV series Twin Peaks, followed by five on general knowledge. Bringing up the rear was Melissa, who finished with a combined total of 11 points. She scored five on the Bridgerton novels and six in the general knowledge round.
Not an Isolated Incident for the Quiz Show
This low-scoring affair is not a one-off for the iconic BBC Two programme. In a recent episode, communications officer Ffion Rowlands selected Homer's Iliad as her specialist subject but managed only three points, leading to further viewer bewilderment. 'Imagine going on Mastermind and failing on your specialist subject. Maybe chose something you actually know!' one person wrote.
Earlier in December, following an episode where the winning score was 19, fans again complained of declining standards. 'The standard of #mastermind has fallen off a cliff...Winning scores under 20 are a joke,' one comment read. Another viewer quipped: 'I feel like a flipping genius in comparison!'
The repeated incidents have sparked a debate about whether the problem lies with the difficulty of questions, the length of time given, or the selection process for contestants. For now, the show continues to air on BBC Two on Mondays and is available for streaming on iPlayer, but it faces mounting pressure to address the concerns of its loyal audience.
