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Mastermind Cymru - that chair is on its way to Wales
Mastermind's famous black leather chair is one of the most recognisable and famous icons in television history and it is on its way to Wales for the launch of 大象传媒
Wales's Mastermind
Cymru - Mastermind in Welsh, which will be broadcast later this year on S4C.
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The search for contestants to compete for the title has begun, with the series due to be recorded in a couple of months' time.
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"Mastermind is a television classic and the format of the programme is the same today as it was when it began more than 30 years ago," said Keith
Jones, 大象传媒 Wales Head of Welsh Language Programmes.
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"Mastermind Cymru will use the same set-up and I'm
sure that many people will be ready to take up the challenge of sitting
in that chair to face questions under the spotlight."
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Iona Jones, Chief Executive of S4C, said: "Mastermind Cymru will be an entertaining addition to S4C's range of programmes, giving competitors from all corners of Wales the opportunity to go head to head, answering questions on an array of subjects."
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Current Mastermind presenter John Humphrys said: "Mastermind is obviously a programme that crosses language barriers and cultures and because the Welsh are a very clever lot they'll obviously have no shortage of victims for the black chair."
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Following in his and Magnus Magnusson's footsteps is Mastermind Cymru's Betsan
Powys.
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The Newyddion and Panorama presenter says she will have her own Welsh language catchphrase to match "I've started so I'll finish" - but she is keeping it secret for now.
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"That's the first question everyone asks," said Betsan. "Yes, we have been discussing what I will say - but everyone will have to wait until the series is broadcast.
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"I'm sure that having a female presenter will
make a difference to the programme. I'm bound to be a bit different
from presenters like Magnus Magnusson and John Humphrys.
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"But the
presenter's principal job never changes - to concentrate on the
contestants and to help them give of their best.
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"Hopefully,
with a woman presenting, we'll attract more women to have
a go in the hot seat. 听
"Lots of people from Wales have competed in Mastermind over the years, so I'm hopeful that people from a wide variety of backgrounds will apply to compete in Mastermind Cymru.
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"You can select all sorts of things for your specialist
subject, not just academic subjects." 听
What would Betsan choose for her specialist subject? "Perhaps I would go for the works of the author John Irving - I've read all his books.
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"But, to be honest, as a mother, the only thing
I'm specialising in at the moment is changing nappies and reading
Sali Mali stories." 听
Caroline Roberts, Executive Producer of Mastermind, said: "Mastermind is more popular now than it's ever been.
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"We are shortly to commence the 2006 transmission on
大象传媒 TWO and both the recent Junior
Mastermind and Celebrity Mastermind series on 大象传媒 ONE have been re-commissioned.
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"Mastermind was also a big hit when it was
produced in India; so it will be really interesting to see the range
of contestants and depth of their specialist subjects in this new
specially created Welsh language version of the show."
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Mastermind is noted for attracting contestants of every age, background and interest to answer questions against the clock.
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The first round features questions on the contestant's
specialist subject before a second round of general knowledge questions.
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Mastermind Cymru contestants (who must be aged 16 or
over) will be asked to: 听
-
Nominate three specialist subjects
- Take part in a short audition
- Be available for the recordings in June
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For more information and an application form, visit
bbc.co.uk/mastermindcymru or phone 08709
090 555. 听
Mastermind Facts
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-
Magnus Magnusson presented the first Mastermind programme in 1972
- One of the most famous winners was Fred Housego, the
London taxi-driver who won the Mastermind title in 1980
- After 57,000 questions, Mastermind left the 大象传媒 in
1997 but returned in 2003 with John Humphrys at the reins
- The format
of Mastermind is virtually unchanged since 1972
- Each round lasts
two minutes
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MJW
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