Viewers of the BBC's Celebrity Mastermind were left incensed this week, bombarding the broadcaster with complaints after discovering they were watching a repeat episode that had aired just 42 days earlier.
Fans Spot Recent Repeat
The celebrity spin-off of the iconic quiz show, which sees famous faces brave the legendary black chair in pursuit of victory, aired an episode on Monday, February 2nd featuring contestants Maryam Moshiri, Chesney Hawkes, Desiree Burch and Danny Robins. However, eagle-eyed fans quickly realised they had seen the exact same installment before - and remarkably recently at that.
The episode had originally been broadcast on December 22nd, 2025, meaning a mere six weeks had passed between the two showings. This scheduling decision prompted an immediate backlash across social media platforms.
Social Media Backlash
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one frustrated viewer wrote: 'Wasn't this episode on a couple of weeks ago?' while another added: 'What is going on #Mastermind this episode was on a few weeks ago! Shocking scheduling. Bring back the regular show.'
A third viewer questioned: 'Am I imagining it or was this one on very recently? And how come we're not back to the main series?' with a fourth commenting: 'You are kidding me. They can't be repeating the same programme within a few weeks at the same time.'
Contestant Specialisms
The episode featured an intriguing lineup of specialist subjects. BBC newsreader Maryam Moshiri tackled questions about the Bridget Jones films, while singer Chesney Hawkes demonstrated impressive knowledge of The Beatles' White Album.
Comedian Desiree Burch took on the subject of actress Viola Davis, and writer Danny Robins answered questions about the television series The Mandalorian. Chesney Hawkes emerged as an early leader after achieving a perfect score in his specialist round, but ultimately it was Danny Robins who claimed victory with 19 points overall.
Previous Viewer Discontent
This scheduling controversy follows previous viewer discontent with the celebrity edition of the quiz show. In a recent episode that formed part of the BBC's 'Quizzy Mondays' lineup alongside Only Connect and University Challenge, fans described the installment as 'utterly painful' to watch.
That episode featured former England footballer Stuart Pearce, Britain's Got Talent winner Axel Blake, radio presenter Gemma Cairney and TV writer Phil Dunning. Particular criticism was directed at Axel Blake's performance, with viewers taking to social media to express their disappointment.
One viewer wrote: 'I deserve a refund of the license fee, s**t TV' while another commented: 'Seriously though, this is not acceptable, it is utterly painful to watch.' A third remarked: 'I've just turned over and I thought it was a comedy about thick people, until I realised again that it's Celebrity Mastermind.'
Winner's Perspective
Despite the criticism, former footballer Stuart Pearce emerged victorious from that particular episode with an impressive 18 points. Reflecting on his win, Pearce compared the experience to his sporting career, saying: 'It was very similar to football, you walk on the pitch, you've got to deliver, and it was just wow. It was just an incredible experience, I've got to say, fantastic.'
Celebrity Mastermind continues to air on Monday evenings on BBC Two and is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, though recent scheduling decisions have clearly tested the patience of its loyal audience.
