Mastermind: 1980
Season 9 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 8.
- 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 9 Progress Shield
Episode 1
Aug 31, 1980
Tonight Magnus is 'starting' so please stay with him until he has 'finished', the exciting search for this year's champion. Manchester Polytechnic are the hosts for this first heat
Episode 2
Sep 7, 1980
Heat 2 from Manchester Polytechnic Adrian H. Cowell (botanist): Life and times of Prince Rupert of the Rhine John Keogh (local government officer): The house of Godwin, 1016-1066
Episode 3
Sep 14, 1980
Nottingham University is the location for this third Mastermind heat. The four contenders are: Michael Crisp (accountant): Fictional naval heroes Elizabeth Shaw (schoolteacher):
Episode 4
Sep 21, 1980
Four more contenders for the Mastermind title meet tonight in competition at Nottingham University. Amongst them is a law student who is an ex-tv Top of the Former! The contenders
Episode 5
Sep 28, 1980
The Royal Naval Engineering College in Plymouth, which is celebrating 100 years of existence, is the venue for this fifth heat. The contenders are: Sheila Denyer (laundry worker):
Episode 6
Oct 5, 1980
Four contenders from Wales meet tonight at the Royal Naval Engineering College in Plymouth. They are: Erica Austin (barrister/housewife):The descendants of Queen Victoria Bill Be
Episode 7
Oct 12, 1980
The ancient city of Newcastle upon Tyne is celebrating its 900th anniversary, and tonight the City Council are hosts to the following Mastermind contenders: Alan Caig (local gover
Episode 8
Oct 19, 1980
Northern Ireland now takes up the challenge of Mastermind. Its four contenders are meeting tonight at the Civic Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne. They are: John Campbell (travel agen
Episode 9
Oct 26, 1980
The venue for tonight's heat is Girton College, Cambridge. The contenders are: Amanda Cooper (teacher): The career of Bishop Colenso of Natal (1853-1883) Arthur Douch (retired ma
Episode 10
Nov 2, 1980
Tonight's contenders come from Surrey, Dorset, Canterbury and Cambridge. They are: Sylvia Britton (bookshop manageress): Life and work of Vincent Van Gogh Richard Ellender (file
Episode 11
Nov 9, 1980
Question: Where in Britain is the Granite or Silver City? Answer: Aberdeen of course; and the city's university is the location for the first of the Scottish heats. Contenders are:
Episode 12
Nov 16, 1980
This second Scottish heat completes the first round and leads to the semi-finals. Donald James Goldie (student): Arthurian legend in England Helen Harper (housewife): The Peninsu
Episode 13
Nov 23, 1980
Mastermind visits a school for the first time - Christ's Hospital, Sussex, is host for the first of the semi-finals. John Campbell (travel agent) - Novels of Arthur C. Clarke Dav
Episode 14
Nov 30, 1980
Semi-final: this match comes from Christ's Hospital Arts Centre, Sussex. The four contenders competing for a place in the Final are Fred Housego (licensed taxi driver): Collegiat
Episode 15
Dec 7, 1980
The setting for this Semi-final match is the MacRobert Arts Centre, at the University of Stirling. It includes an Englishman specialising in a Scottish Queen and a Scot specialisi
Episode 16
Dec 14, 1980
The MacRobert Arts Centre at the University of Stirling is the setting for this special Semi-final match between the four ' best losers' from the heats. Tonight's winner will fill
Final
Dec 21, 1980
The historic Porter Tun Room in the City of London is the setting for the culmination of the 1980 series. Of the 48 starters, the four finalists competing for the beautifully engra