BBC viewers have launched a furious backlash against the broadcaster's 2025 Celebrity Mastermind Christmas special, branding the episode 'embarrassing' and accusing producers of 'dumbing down' the iconic quiz.
Festive Special Features 'Shockingly Simple' Questions
The long-running series, which has tested contestants since 1972, aired a festive edition last week featuring newsreader Maryam Moshiri, singer Chesney Hawkes, comedian Desiree Burch, and podcaster Danny Robins. However, the difficulty level of the questions left both the panel and the audience at home stunned.
Host Clive Myrie posed several queries that viewers deemed absurdly basic. In one general knowledge round, Moshiri was asked: "Woof woof and bow wow are representations of the sound made by what domestic pet?" She correctly identified the answer as a dog, but appeared visibly taken aback by the simplicity.
Other questions included identifying beef as coming from cows and that the letter 'S' on a compass stands for South. Even Moshiri's specialist subject round on the Bridget Jones film series began with the straightforward query of who played the lead role.
Social Media Erupts with Viewer Fury
Disappointed fans immediately flooded social media platforms to voice their anger and disappointment. Many compared the modern show unfavourably to its historically challenging format.
One viewer raged: “What a joke.. Mastermind is dumbed down to this level. Now go back and watch The Krypton Factor, or Mastermind from the 70’s and 80’s to see how tough these shows used to be.”
Another complained: “It’s embarrassing to watch the programme. BBC really needs to dump this programme as the Mastermind title is just not appropriate sadly.” A third sarcastically commented on the Bridget Jones question: “Tricky one to start with, who played Bridget Jones?”
Not an Isolated Incident for BBC Quizzes
This controversy is not confined to Mastermind. The BBC's notoriously difficult University Challenge also faced similar criticism over its own 2025 Christmas special. The show, hosted by Amol Rajan and featuring alumni including Maryam Moshiri and Alistair McGowan, was accused of asking far simpler questions than those posed to university students.
One loyal fan lamented on social media: "When nothing is sacred, even University Challenge is dumbed down." However, the easier festive format did find some supporters, with other viewers expressing relief that they could answer more questions correctly from their sofas.
This backlash comes in a year where Mastermind itself saw a notable champion. John Robinson, a teacher who previously won £500,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 2019, triumphed in the 2025 series final, scoring 30 points.
The ongoing viewer reaction highlights a delicate balance for broadcasters: creating accessible, festive entertainment while maintaining the intellectual integrity of beloved and long-standing quiz institutions.
