The Resume

(September 11, 1972- )
Aired on the BBC (1972-97), Discovery Channel (2001) and BBC2 (2002- )
Hosted by Magnus Magnusson (1972-97), Clive Anderson (2001) and John Humphrys (2002- )
Premise: Four contests answer two rounds of questions, one in a specialized subject chosen by the contestant, one in general knowledge

Why Mastermind might be annoying:

Show creator Bill Wright said he was inspired by his experience being interrogated by the Gestapo during World War II.
Contestants had to answer difficult questions, but only won a glass bowl instead of cash.
Its big catchphrase was 'I've started, so I'll finish,' uttered by the host if time ran out in the middle of a question.
It aired a special edition in which all four contestants' special topic was Dr. Who.

Why Mastermind might not be annoying:

It was originally aired late at night because it was considered 'too highbrow,' but it became a surprise hit when it was moved to prime time as an emergency replacement show.
It had memorably ominous theme music.
It inspired numerous parodies by British comedians, such as a Monty Python spoof with Terry Gilliam as a contestant whose specialty is 'questions to which the answer is two.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 100 Greatest British TV Programmes - BFI [2000] (Ranked: 37)
• British TV Series
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 06]
• Game Shows
• Known By a Single Name
• Profiles 21001-21250 (Ranked: 21041)
• TV Series That Lasted Ten or More Seasons
• TV Series That Lasted Twenty or More Seasons
• TV Shows/Series

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 24 Votes: 95.83% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 56 Votes: 73.21% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 25 Votes: 72.00% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 22 Votes: 72.73% Annoying