The BBC's New Year's Celebrity Mastermind special has sparked a fierce backlash from viewers, with many branding the show a 'waste of the TV licence fee' and criticising its perceived 'dumbed down' questions.
Social Media Erupts Over 'Ignorant' Celebrities and Easy Questions
Disappointed fans took to social media platforms immediately after the broadcast to voice their frustration. A common complaint centred on the calibre of the celebrity contestants, which included comedian Josh Jones, 33, RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner Tia Kofi, 35, Waterloo Road actress Lauren Patel, 25, and Bargain Hunt auctioneer Izzie Balmer, 35. Several viewers admitted they had no idea who the participants were.
One viewer quipped on social media: 'Celebrity Mastermind… You’d need to be a mastermind to work out how they are celebrities.' Others echoed the sentiment, with comments like: 'You know you're getting old when you have never heard of any of the CELEBRITIES on Celebrity Mastermind.'
A Staple of British TV 'Dumbed Down'
However, the most scathing criticism was reserved for the quiz questions themselves. Since its launch in 1972, Mastermind has built a reputation for notoriously challenging questions that test both specialist and general knowledge. Fans argued the celebrity edition, a spin-off first launched in 2002, failed to meet this standard.
One angry viewer posted: 'Watching Celebrity Mastermind fills me with righteous anger at the sheer total dearth of any knowledge, general or otherwise, among the insects we worship as "celebrities".' Another added: 'Most come across as completely ignorant, even in their specialist subject, despite the incredibly dumbed-down questions, such as "What letter looks like a zero?" Embarrassing.'
A specific example cited was a question asking which island Allum Bay is located off the south of England, to which a contestant incorrectly answered 'Cornwall'.
A Winner Emerges Amidst the Controversy
Despite the furore, the show crowned a champion. Drag Race UK winner Tia Kofi triumphed, with her specialist subject being Christopher Eccleston's season of Doctor Who. Following the win, Kofi announced they would be donating their prize money to charity.
On Twitter/X, Kofi wrote: 'Ending 2025 with another win! As Celebrity Mastermind champion, I'm grateful to have donated the money to the incredible @NotAPhaseOrg, a wonderful trans-led charity who campaign and uplift the lives [of] trans people.'
The episode, which featured celebrities in the iconic black chair for the special broadcast, remains available for streaming on BBC iPlayer. The backlash highlights ongoing debates about the value of the licence fee and the balance between accessibility and intellectual rigour in long-running quiz formats.
