A Mastermind contestant sparked backlash with a controversial specialist subject that fans insisted ‘shouldn’t be allowed’ – but who’s in the wrong?

The latest instalment of the BBC show, which aired on Monday night, welcomed four new players to the studio in a bid to win a space in the semi-finals.

Civil servant Eddie Crawford answered questions on 12th-century monarch Henry II, consultancy director Kate Bleazard’s topic was Agatha Christi’s Miss Marple novels, financial crime investigator Nathan Hamer picked Wales Rugby Union Test matches from 2000, and retired teacher Gary Austin answered questions on TV show Friday Night Dinner.

Eddie managed to bag six points, while Kate got nine, Nathan seven and Gary an impressive 12.

When they got to the general knowledge round, Gary, who was last to take on the questions, was told he had to beat Eddie’s 21 points to get to the next round.

By the end of the round, Gary answered 22 questions correctly, meaning that he had won the show.

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Mastermind contestants, from left, Eddie Crawford, Kate Bleazard, Nathan Hamer and Gary Austin

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Retired teacher Gary Austin answered questions on TV show Friday Night Dinner

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Question master Clive Myrie has been the host of the long-running BBC quiz show since 2021

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But his success angered some viewers of the show, which is hosted by Clive Myrie, as they thought that Gary’s topic was easier than the others.

Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to complain. One fumed: ‘I got almost as many right as him – Friday Night Dinner is a great show, but hardly Mastermind material.’

Another chimed in: ‘Can we please up the bar for acceptable specialist subjects?’

A third added: ‘That’s not a specialist subject, that’s a passing interest.’

‘#Mastermind shouldn’t allow TV programs as specialist subjects! You watched a few episodes of a program? Great. That’s not the as studying world history, science, literature. Moan over haha,’ a fourth chimed in.

Mastermind has been on our screens since 1972. The show originally aired on BBC One until 1997, before transferring to BBC Radio 4 the following year, where it stayed until 2000.

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Mastermind fans blast host Clive Myrie for ‘ruining the show’ with ‘smack talk’ to contestants

Then, in 2001, it was broadcast on Discovery Channel for one year.

It has aired on BBC Two since 2003.

Mastermind has been presented by Clive Myrie since 2021. He took over from John Humphrys, who hosted the show between 2003 and 2021.

Previous presenteters include Clive Anderson, Peter Snow and Magnus Magnusson.

When taking over the role from Humphrys, Myrie said of his new job: ‘It’s an icon of British TV, and it’s being entrusted into my hands.

‘It’s a big, big, big job and obviously I’m following the footsteps of John Humphrys, who has been brilliant for so many years, so yes, there’s a level of trepidation.

‘But there’s also excitement, it’s a new venture and the show is something I grew up watching so for me to be part of that now is fantastic.’

Mastermind airs on BBC Two and is available to stream on iPlayer.