Fans of the BBC quiz show Mastermind have criticised host Clive Myrie for what they describe as 'ruining the show' after he delivered an aggressive introductory monologue to contestants. During Monday night's episode, Myrie, a former war reporter, addressed the four contenders with a stern expression, saying: 'So, you think you’re hard do you? You want a piece of me? Is that why you’re here?' The speech, which some viewers branded 'smack talk', prompted complaints on social media platform X, with one user writing: 'Mastermind...get Clive Myrie off this show. He is ruining it.'
The host's intense introduction drew criticism for departing from the show's traditional tone. Mastermind, originally conceived by BBC producer Bill Wright based on his nightmares as a prisoner of war, is known for its high-pressure atmosphere, including a dark chair and bright light. However, viewers argued that Myrie's goading was inappropriate. Another post read: 'This is below you!' despite the show's history of intimidating questioning.
This is not the first time Myrie has faced backlash from Mastermind fans. Last month, viewers accused him of 'stitching up' contestant Alex Thomas, who chose the history of the West Indies men's cricket team as his specialist subject. Fans noted that Thomas's questions appeared longer than those of other contestants, leading to complaints of unfairness. One viewer posted: 'Just how long were those questions! Very unfair.'
Myrie took over as Mastermind host in 2021 from John Humphrys, receiving initial praise from critics for his 'classy' debut. However, his recent hosting style has divided opinion. The BBC has not commented on the latest complaints. Myrie, who also presents BBC news bulletins, earns £310,000 for that role plus an undisclosed fee for Mastermind. In October, he apologised for failing to declare at least £65,000 from corporate speaking events.
