Mastermind - Specialist Subject - The Work of Gerry Anderson

[Derek Eaton]

In July 2009, David Buckle took part in BBC's 'Mastermind' His specialist subject was 'The Work of Gerry Anderson'. The recording was the 16th show filmed and the BBC are transmitting the series starting at the end of August 2009

If they transmit the programmes in the order filmed then it should be on in December. There is no guarantee that it will not be shown before or after.

[Virgil Tracy]

I know when it comes on, lets see what each others scores are

What do you think?

[air terrainean]

Last time Mastermind featured someone who claimed to be an expert on the Anderson shows, he got some very obvious questions wrong, which seemed to indicate he wasn't really a fan of the productions, but someone who'd been given the subject to learn for the programme. Wonder if this new contender will be any better ?

[Mr Jim]

Did they ask what FAB stood for? Classic question that.

[Silent Bob]

You also have to take into account nerves in front of an audience and cameras. Just because he got obvious questions wrong, doesn't mean he's not a fan.

[air terrainean]

Just because he got obvious questions wrong, doesn't mean he's not a fan.

They were really obvious questions though - and he got more obscure ones right, which seems to suggest he wasn't nervous, but answering questions from a crib sheet. I'm not sure, but I believe some of the 'experts' on Mastermind are given subjects to study, rather than drawing on existing knowledge. It certainly seems that way from some of the programmes I've seen.

[Silent Bob]

I suppose in these days of rigged programmes and phone lines on television, it is possible they are 'seeding' Mastermind with a variety of specialist subjects.
If so, its another nail in the coffin of quality television :confused:

[DavidBuckle]

Hello

I am the contestant in the show. The transmission date that they have given me is 29th January 2010 - but this may be subject to change.

In 'Mastermind' you get to select your own Specialist Subject and I chose one that I am really interested in. We also get to introduce our subject and I hope that I come across as suitably enthusiastic in the short film.

I don't think that I got any obvious question wrong. I certainly didn't get every one right though. The chair experience is a daunting one and the work of GA is a very broad subject to cover.

Still, I think I did ok though. You must judge for yourselves.

David

PS There was no 'crib' sheet

[TonyB]

Hi David, welcome to the forum.

Be interesting to see the program when it is shown.

[roose1982]

Hello

I am the contestant in the show. The transmission date that they have given me is 29th January 2010 - but this may be subject to change.

In 'Mastermind' you get to select your own Specialist Subject and I chose one that I am really interested in. We also get to introduce our subject and I hope that I come across as suitably enthusiastic in the short film.

I don't think that I got any obvious question wrong. I certainly didn't get every one right though. The chair experience is a daunting one and the work of GA is a very broad subject to cover.

Still, I think I did ok though. You must judge for yourselves.

David

PS There was no 'crib' sheet

Hi David,

Looking forward to seeing the show - not something i usually watch, but this will certainly be interesting!

Welcome to the forum,

Ross :)

[air terrainean]

Hello

I am the contestant in the show. The transmission date that they have given me is 29th January 2010 - but this may be subject to change.

In 'Mastermind' you get to select your own Specialist Subject and I chose one that I am really interested in. We also get to introduce our subject and I hope that I come across as suitably enthusiastic in the short film.

I don't think that I got any obvious question wrong. I certainly didn't get every one right though. The chair experience is a daunting one and the work of GA is a very broad subject to cover.

Still, I think I did ok though. You must judge for yourselves.

David

PS There was no 'crib' sheet

Good to hear that David - does restore one's faith in the programme that you are genuinely interested in the subject. Will look forward to seeing how you do, and how closely anyone here can match your score !

[Derek Eaton]

I have added this on the Fanderson Forum calendar. If you click on this event on the day you can get yourself an email reminder - but I am sure we will be talking about it anyway!

[Achilles Messenger]

I can't wait to see it David and I'll be trying to answer all the questions myself - I bet it's really daunting in front of an audience though! We'll all definitely have to come back and post our scores. Nice to have something to distract us from the post christmas blues!

Regards

[Derek Eaton]

Nice to have something to distract us from the post christmas blues!

Regards

Did you mean the post Christmas 'blues' rays. Our new players break Christmas day?

[Picasso61]

Add me to the list who will be viewing your performance on Mastermind, David. BTW welcome to the forum.

[DavidBuckle]

Many thanks for the interest shown and the welcoming comments.

It has been a long held ambition of mine to be on MM and to be able to have GA as a specialist subject. Well, gee Mr Tracy.

They show a 40 second introduction to the SS by way of a filmed talk by the contestant. I spoke for about 20 minutes and they have edited it down to 40 seconds. There was so much to say.....

However, once in the chair......

Wait and see.

I wish I was a spaceman.

David

[Virgil Tracy]

Can't wait to see it, But we'll have to I guess:(
Still can't wait to see it:D As soon as the show has ended I'll be right here, telling you lot my score:D

[glo thorogood]

Hi all,
About the idea of getting the answers to questions wrong in front of an audience...
I think I hold the record, many of you know I'm a solid fan of Thunderbirds but when the chips were down, I could hardly remember my own name let alone the answers! The never to be forgotten night at one of the Griffin Hotel conventions in the early ninties was pure embarrassment! But it wa a laugh!
Glo

[Achilles Messenger]

Hello

I am the contestant in the show. The transmission date that they have given me is 29th January 2010 - but this may be subject to change.

STAND BY FOR ACTION!...... I have checked the Radio Times website this morning and this will indeed be broadcast on 29th January at 8:00pm, on BBC2.

Let's all come back and post our scores! :):D

Looking forward to see if David manages to beat 41 points! Good luck!

[Derek Eaton]

A reminder to all that this will be broadcast this Friday on BBC2 at 8.00 pm and then on the BBC iPlayer not long after.

[j3pfilms]

Excellent performance David! Some of those questions were tough, considering you're under A LOT of pressure!

[Picasso61]

Very well done David.:)
BTW I scored 10 points including that one about George Murcell's replacement on Supercar!:p

I felt sorry for that poor man who only scored 4 points on his specialised subject and 1 point on general knowledge. How embarrassing.

[Virgil Tracy]

1st I must say well done to David (Won't say how he did as not everybody may have seen it yet)

Well My score for the Gerry Anderson round was 5 (I was to slow getting the Thunderbirds one right:mad::o)

And my score for the whole show was 7, still I'm happy,

And again well done to David

[Virgil Tracy]

Very well done David.
BTW I scored 10 points including that one about George Murcell's replacement on Supercar!

I felt sorry for that poor man who only scored 4 points on his specialised subject and 1 point on general knowledge. How embarrassing.
Well done Picasso61, you beat me:p

[Picasso61]

Well done Picasso61, you beat me:PThanks Virgil. The pressure was certainly on David.

[Virgil Tracy]

For any body who mist it or to watch it again (to get a better score:P), here's the link
http://bbc.co.uk/i/qhl2q/

It should be up there for about 7 days , so Friday 5th February:D

[miger]

Well done m8! --i only got 10 too!

[Achilles Messenger]

Well done m8! --i only got 10 too!

I must admit to being pleased with the 13 I got, but it wasn't the same 13 David got.

A Twizzle and Lavendar Castle question I had no idea how to answer!

But congratulations to David.:)

[Picasso61]

A Twizzle and Lavendar Castle question I had no idea how to answer!
I had no idea on these answers either, Achilles Messenger.

[Picasso61]

Very well done David.:)
BTW I scored 10 points including that one about George Murcell's replacement on Supercar!:p

I felt sorry for that poor man who only scored 4 points on his specialised subject and 1 point on general knowledge. How embarrassing.I just tried answering David's general knowledge questions and I only scored 5 points.:o

[DavidBuckle]

Many thanks for all your kind words etc. Most people seem to think I did well and didn't let the side down, so to speak. I did ask in advance if they could keep to just the animated/supermarionated etc. etc. series and they seem to have done that, which was welcome.

Even so, we were talking about nearly 50 years of GA material to draw from. 'Thunderbirds' is really my thing so I was a bit taken aback to have only one question on it. I have never seen 'Twizzle' or 'Lavender Castle' so I had to read up on them. Everything else, I did have some working knowledge of. The 3 questions I got wrong threw me a bit as I was on a bit of a roll until the Supercar question (which I really didn't know). I thought 'Interceptor' would be good enough, but there you go. They were probably generous with 'The Housekeeper' and not 'Mrs Appleby', so it's swings and roundabouts.

My wife told me off on Friday after the transmission for looking a bit glum, and she was right. My excuse was the pressure and trying to concentrate - so apologies for that.

In the Semi-final (broadcast May 14th - if anyone is interested) I had to switch to P G Wodehouse - another passion.

Stand by for action. Thank you all for your support.

David

[roose1982]

Well done David - excellent performance. I just caught this on iplayer. A lot of those were really tricky - i'd like to consider myself to be an expert on the subject of GA, but after listening to some of those questions, i can see there is A LOT i dont know.

Then agin, It would be interesting to see whether Mr Anderson himself could answer all of those questions! lol.

I guess the semi-final has already been recorded? Either way, i wish you best of luck!

regards
Ross

[Scarlett]

Firstly well done David for not only getting a respectable score but also for winning the round. I managed 6 on both GA and your general knowledge (Which were harder than the other contestants questions).
What about a MM round at the convention in October for anyone who thinks they can do as well :) ?
As you said 50 years is a lot of material to draw on.
I'm off to swat up on P.G Wodehouse :p

[Tarkas]

Many thanks for all your kind words etc. Most people seem to think I did well and didn't let the side down, so to speak.
I quite agree. Very well done. I didn't bother counting how many I got right -- nothing like as many as you, but then, I've never seen any of the pre-Supercar series, nor Lavender Castle. I salvaged a little pride by knowing that the NCS Angels flew Falcons (not "White Falcons", though, but they gave you the point for knowing that Sylvia voiced the housekeeper in Joe 90, so I feel justified in claiming that one:))

I did ask in advance if they could keep to just the animated/supermarionated etc. etc. series and they seem to have done that, which was welcome.Could you have asked to do "The Animated Works of Gerry Anderson"? I've seen some Mastermind categories in the past that were fairly narrow -- "The Times Crossword, 1920-39" and the like.

My wife told me off on Friday after the transmission for looking a bit glum, and she was right. My excuse was the pressure and trying to concentrate - so apologies for that.I didn't think you looked glum, just concentrating -- and who wouldn't in that chair?

Once again, well done.

[DavidBuckle]

Due to curious rescheduling by the BBC my semi final is now on Friday 23rd April - so the 'Radio times' website says

David

[john61]

My TV guide says the specialist subjects for this Friday are The history of the British army 1660 - 1914 and Burt Bacharach.
Nothing about PG Woodhuse.
They must be giving you your own episode.