The funny things pressure does to us.

[PaulB]

It's so easy sitting there watching Mastermind and groaning when a contestant gets a question wrong you knew the answer to but how different is it if you're the one in the chair? Well I just had a teensy example and the pressure must work on different people in different ways but it had a negative effect on me.

I registered my application to appear on the show a while ago and have always wondered how different it would be actually under the spotlight. Today, I was called by an assistant from the programme and given an over-the-phone test. Twelve questions and I was made to promise I would not reveal them so I'm standing by that, and I felt I fluffed too many to be called back. They don't give you the answers or tell you how many you got correct, only that if you passed, they'll arrange a studio test within three months. If you flunked it, they won't call you.

Well some of them were so obvious but there were two, one sports one a song, that had I been more relaxed, I'd have got them as I know the answers to both but I had to pass on one and gave the wrong name for the other one.

So I guess i'm not going to be called forward on that one, and in retrospect, maybe that's a good thing. A consultant surgeon friend of mine once appeared on there (he'd never told anyone in advance) and got three on his specialist subject and only another five on general knowledge. So maybe it's for the best to not have your nervousness revealed to the nation!

 

[vernon]

I once scored thirteen on the specialist knowledge section of Mastermind and beat the competitor on the TV. No revision either.

I didn't fare so well on the general knowledge.

 

[asterix]

I'd rather go on Pointless. At least I could get into the 200 club.

 

[Globalti]

So often you know the answer - the trick is in recalling it.

 

[Fnaar]

If there was a section called 'can you make a smutty pun out this sentence/situation', I'd be in with a shout.

 

[tyred]

I knew all the answers but didn't know any of the questions.

 

[Bollo]

Many years ago I went to a recording of Mastermind when Magnus Magnusson was still presenting. His on-screen persona was VERY different to the man when the cameras were off. He's my bet for the inspiration behind Viz's Roger Mellie

 

[Beebo]

If there was a section called 'can you make a smutty pun out this sentence/situation', I'd be in with a shout.

I think you meant, "you'd be a thumb in "

 

[postman]

I knew all the answers but didn't know any of the questions.

I knew the answers but not in the right order. (Thank you Eric Morecambe)

 

[spen666]

Many years ago I went to a recording of Mastermind when Magnus Magnusson was still presenting. His on-screen persona was VERY different to the man when the cameras were off. He's my bet for the inspiration behind Viz's Roger Mellie

Roger Mellie WAS NOT based on Magnus Magnusson.


Those of a sufficient vintage and from the North East of England know who Roger Mellie was based on.




On a seperate note, anyone from the North East remember Mike Neville on TV?

 

[ColinJ]

I suffered a total rabbit-in-headlights episode in a programming exam at university. I had been commended for my programming work leading up to that exam so I was more confident about that one than any of the other 8 exams that I had to sit. I quickly answered the first few questions but was then shocked to be confronted by a question which required me to actually write some software, rather than just spot problems in pre-written code, or discuss programming theory and practice. I hadn't expected to have to do that away from a computer terminal, and under exam conditions. I froze ...

I stared at the paper for nearly 2 hours without writing another word. There were other questions that I could easily have tackled but I fixated on the one that had stumped me. I think I ended up handing my unfinished paper in and walking out early, almost in tears.

Once I got back to my flat, I answered the question in under 20 minutes.

I don't handle stress at all well!

(I went to see the lecturer and explained what had happened. He used his discretion and gave me a pass grade.)

 

[rich p]

I reckon that I'd get full marks on my specialist subject: The Life and Times of me.

I'm not so sure you would at your age Rocky

 

[ASC1951]

I reckon that I'd get full marks on my specialist subject: The Life and Times of me.

Well, you would hope so. There again, I was once called as a witness in a contract dispute and couldn't even recognise Exhibit 17 as being in my own handwriting - until Exhibit 18 made it obvious that it was.

 

[green1]

Well, you would hope so. There again, I was once called as a witness in a contract dispute and couldn't even recognise Exhibit 17 as being in my own handwriting - until Exhibit 18 made it obvious that it was.

If you put my hand writing next to a 4 year olds doodle. I struggle to tell you which was which.

 

[swee'pea99]

I'm always amazed at anyone putting themselves up for Mastermind. At best you end up looking like a smug bastard - and everyone hates a smartarse - at worst you die the death of a dozen or two questions, with millions watching (including all your friends, relis, colleagues and etcs). What possessed you?