Mastermind: 1987
Season 15 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Mastermind Season 14.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 15 Progress Shield
Episode 1
Jan 4, 1987
Mastermind is back for its 15th series. The first four of 64 hopeful contenders set out tonight to see who can become Mastermind 1987. The season opens at the University of Aberdee
Episode 2
Jan 11, 1987
The University of Aberdeen is host as four more contenders from Scotland do friendly battle in the quest to find Mastermind's 1987 champion. John Sutherland (retired civil servant
Episode 3
Jan 18, 1987
Stockport Grammar School, this year celebrating the quincentenary of its foundation, is host to four contenders from the north of England competing for the title Mastermind 1987.
Episode 4
Jan 25, 1987
From Stockport Grammar School Tonight's four contenders are: Elsie Sadek (retired teacher) The history of Egypt, 1700-1952 Ian Potts (railway signalman) The science fiction works
Episode 5
Feb 1, 1987
The College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, is host to four contenders from the west of England. In the drama theatre they compete in the challenge for Mastermind 1987. Peter Bi
Episode 6
Feb 8, 1987
Tonight's four contenders all come from the south and west of England and compete in the drama theatre of the College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth. Mira Little (retired) The l
Episode 7
Feb 15, 1987
The Great Hall of Eltham Palace is the historic setting for this week's Mastermind. The Royal Army Educational Corps host four contenders from the south east of England who seek t
Episode 8
Feb 22, 1987
Four contenders from London and the south east seek a place in the semi-finals. They are the guests of the Royal Army Educational Corps at Eltham Palace. Denise Latimer-Sayer (ret
Episode 9
Mar 1, 1987
Tonight Mastermind celebrates its 250th edition. During the last 15 years nearly 1,000 contenders have sat in the famous black chair 5 to be asked around 36,000 questions. Four mo
Episode 10
Mar 15, 1987
The University of Kent at Canterbury is the host to this week's four contenders from London and the south of England. Dorothy Middleton (writer and lecturer) Exploration of Afric
Episode 11
Mar 22, 1987
Tonight's four contenders come from the Midlands and compete at the Assembly Rooms, Derby. Pauline Francescon (part-time visiting lecturer) The life and poetry of Andrew Marvell
Episode 12
Mar 29, 1987
The Assembly Rooms, Derby, is the location for tonight's Programme in which, for the first time on Mastermind, a husband and wife appear in direct competition. Malcolm Seymour (Br
Episode 13
Apr 5, 1987
Christ's Hospital, Horsham, is the setting for four contenders from London and the south-east seeking a place in the semi-finals of Mastermind. Gery Bramall (translator) Opera 178
Episode 14
Apr 12, 1987
Four contenders from London compete in the theatre of the Arts Centre at Christ's Hospital, Horsham. Heinz Spitz (schoolmaster) The first Austrian republic, 1918-1938 Anne Fowler
Episode 15
Apr 19, 1987
The Queen's Hall Arts Centre at Hexham in Northumberland is the location where four contenders from the north and east of England compete for a place in the semi-finals. John Tayl
Episode 16
Apr 26, 1987
Tonight sees the end of the first round of Mastermind 1987. The last place in the semi-finals is at stake as four contenders from the north and east of England compete at the Queen
Episode 17
May 3, 1987
Tonight Mastermind reaches the semi-final stage. Four of the early first-round winners compete in the imposing setting of the great transept of Lincoln Cathedral. Alistair Hanson
Episode 18
May 10, 1987
The great transept of Lincoln Cathedral is the imposing setting for the second semi-final of this year's Mastermind. Four more first-round winners compete for the second place in
Episode 19
May 17, 1987
The University of Leicester is host for the third of this year's semi-finals. Four first-round winners from Darlington, London and Oxford compete. Paul Henderson (Oxfam district
Episode 20
May 24, 1987
The last four outright winners in the first round of this year's competition are in contention for the fourth place in the final. The University of Leicester is the setting. Marg
Episode 21
May 31, 1987
The last semi-final is reserved for the four highest-scoring losers in the whole of the first-round programmes. The competition has been intense and the four who made it now compet
The Final Five
Jun 3, 1987
Magnus Magnusson introduces a closer look at the five contenders who have made it to the final of Mastermind 1987. Tonight's five will compete on Sunday for the coveted title: Ji
The Final
Jun 7, 1987
After nearly six months of intense competition, the five finalists out of the original 64 contenders now seek the coveted title of Mastermind 1987. The quarterdeck of the Britannia