Video special: How to get in the Mastermind chair this season

If you fancy yourself as the next Mastermind, what’s holding you back? We got along to the auditions in Bradford to see how it’s done.

IF you know which river flows through the Grand Canyon, which king celebrated the first official Royal Golden Jubilee in 1809, which singer had chart-topping albums with Sing When You’re Winning and Swing When You’re Winning and can name the North American island that became Britain’s first overseas possession when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed it for England in 1583 (answers to the questions are below), then you could be in with a chance of winning a certain coveted Caithness Glass trophy this time next year. No money, but kudos and glory by the bucketload come with the Mastermind title.

Former winners, including London cab driver Fred Housego (Mastermind 1980) have gone on to become fixtures on the media quiz circuit, winning other titles such as Brain of Britain, and have even become radio presenters. There is also a Mastermind Club – unconnected to the BBC but run by former contenders. It publishes a magazine called Pass, holds events and is open to anyone who has appeared in the series, which has now been running for almost 40 years. Imagine what curry night conversations are like between the brainy and enthusiastic quizzers, comparing notes on the postal history of Southern Africa (yes, it really was a specialist subject), FA cup finals since 1970, Rome 100-1 BC and Father Ted.

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They won their laurels as Mastermind with subjects as disparate as French literature, antiques, Byzantine art, Flashman novels, Ancient mythology, professional boxing, the life and work of Catalan architect Gaudi, the films of Quentin Tarantino, Edith Piaf and Wandsworth. Although the programme, which runs from early autumn through to spring every year on BBC2, has attracted a disproportionate number of retired headteachers, teachers, civil servants and a smattering of former career diplomats, the production team insist that the contest is open to anyone with good general knowledge and an enthusiasm for subjects in which they could shine during the specialist round.

On Friday night, 36-year-old university lecturer Ian Bayley from Oxford took the trophy, having come second in 2009. He bounced back to claim the title this time in a closely fought contest in which his specialist subject was Paintings in the National Gallery – scoring a perfect round of 18 points with no passes. By the end of the general knowledge round, in which he contended last, he’d clocked up 37.

Even if the idea of coming off pathetically against that sort of spectacular performance isn’t terrifying, anticipation of the black leather chair, the unforgiving spotlight trained on your face, the daunting music (called Approaching Menace) and the pounding of blood in your ears possibly blotting out John Humphrys’s questions could just persuade you that you are not made of the right stuff. Bayley, by the way, was also reigning Brain of Britain when his Mastermind performances were recorded, and is also highly placed in the UK and World Quizzing rankings. But don’t let any of this put you off...

Anyone who fancies their general knowledge prowess, is passionate about a few individual subjects, has a few days free and is prepared to spend much of the next few months mugging up to face a grand inquisition or three should put their best foot forward and face an informal half-hour general knowledge audition in Bradford this week. The honour of Yorkshire is at stake.

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“Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be an expert or academic to appear on Mastermind,” the producers say, (No, but it helps) “...whether your subject is Florence + The Machine or Florence Nightingale, Michelangelo or Michael Jackson, maybe you should think of applying.”

After trawling the length and breadth of the country for 96 contestants willing to face the music in the 2011-12 contest, the team are hoping to find the last group to take part in filming of heats in July. The first three winners of the contest were women, yet they have generally been well under-represented among contestants and winners – although Nancy Dickmann triumphed in 2009.

A word to the wise: the kind of specialist subjects rejected in the past include the banana industry, cremation practice and law in Britain and orthopedic bone cement in hip replacement. It’s serious but it’s also supposed to keep viewers awake.

Mastermind open auditions will be held from 9.30am to 5pm on Thursday, April 21, at the Midland Hotel, Forster Square, Bradford. Booking is not necessary, but if you want to book a particular half-hour slot then call 0161 244 3732.

(Answers: the Colorado River, King George III, Robbie Williams and Newfoundland)

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