1996

Magnus Magnusson returns with the 24th series of the television quiz, which tonight comes from the Drapers' Hall in the City of London.

Four more contestants are in the black chair, answeringquestions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. Tonight's special subjects are the English Civil War, Walt Disney, Richard Wagner, and the National TrustRegency house Polesden Lacey in Surrey.

This week's four contestants are all parish priests who take turns in the black chair, answering questions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. Tonight's special subjects are theologian Charles Williams , musician Benny Goodman , Lady Julian of Norwich and British trees.

Four more contenders take turns in the famous black chair, answering questions put to them by regular quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlight tonight are Eleanor Macnair, a retired civil servant from Bath; Russell Turner, a mature student from Norwich; Doreen Van-Cauter, an academic tutor from St Albans; and Joseph West, a helicopter consultant from Suffolk. The contestants' specialist subjects are the Gospels, the Chartist Movement, Canadian writer Elizabeth Smart, and Germany's wartime prisoners' camp Colditz. Tonight's quiz comes from Norwich Cathedral.

Tonight's quiz comes from the Heritage Centre and Silk Museum in Macclesfield, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlight tonight are Isabelle Heward, Roger Grimshaw, Christine Moorcroft, and Elsie Sadek. Their specialist subjects are the life and filmsof Cary Grant , ArthurConan Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes stories, perfume, and the Ottoman Empire.

This week's Mastermind comes from the Heritage Centre and Silk Museum in Macclesfield, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlight tonight are Stephen Pearson , John Gamons Williams, Dorothy Walker , and Miriam Collard. Their specialist subjects are the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, Anglo-Saxon and Viking place names, the life and novels of Aldous Huxley , and the life of Owain Glyndŵr.

This week's Mastermind comes from the Drapers' Hall in the City of London, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlight tonight are Boris Starling, Viv Acious, Graham Cooke and Amanda Hill. Their specialist subjects are the life of Herge and his Tintin books, the life and dramatic works of Aphra Behn, Lawrence of Arabia, and the life and works of John Henry Newman.

This week's Mastermind comes from the Drapers' Hall in theCityof London, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson.

This week's Mastermind comes from Perth City Hall, Tayside, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlighttonight are Ruth Burkhill , Patricia Hastings Hardy. Matthew Potter and Gavin Brown. Their specialist subjects are beekeeping, the I ife and poetry of Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, the career of Napoleon Bonaparte , and the life and works of George Orwell.

This week's Mastermind comes from Perth City Hall, Tayside, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by quizmaster Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlight tonight are Robert Devlin, Dr Malcolm Walker-Kinnear, Roger Smith and Lesley Konopielko. Their specialist subjects include world heavyweight championship boxing, the seafaring novels of Patrick O'Brian, mountaineering in Scotland, and the life and career of John F Kennedy.

This week's Mastermind comes from the Heritage Centre and Silk Museum, Macclesfield, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlight tonight are Les Pye, Constance Moore, Jonathan Norton and Margaret Thomas. Their specialist subjects are Manchester United to 1968, Orkney archaeology, Evelyn Waugh's novels, and famous British poisoners.

This week's Mastermind comes from the Heritage Centre and Silk Museum, Macclesfield, where four more contestants answer questions put to them by Magnus Magnusson. In the spotlight tonight are Ian Bradley, Julie Tedds, Stuart Lyon and Gwen Kingsley. Their specialist subjects are British traditional jazz, Ellis Peters's Cadfael novels, British Army campaign medals, and the life and works of Lewis Carroll.

The first semi-final of the Mastermind series comes from Blackpool Tower Circus. In the spotlight are Richard Heller from London, Ross Stafford from Harrow, Alan Whitaker from Penzance and Matthew Potter from Limerick. Their specialised subjects are British political history 1918-40, the ghost stories of MR James, the Wars of the Roses, and Irish political history 1870-91. Magnus Magnusson asks the questions.

The second semi-final of the Mastermind series comes from Blackpool Tower Circus. In the spotlight are Church of England parish priest Richard Sturch, from Kidlington in Oxfordshire; mature student Russell Turner, from Hethersett in Norwich; senior library assistant Robert Devlin, from Belfast; and political risk consultant Boris Starling, from London. Their specialised subjects are Emperor Frederick III, anarchism 1840-1939, 19th-century Irish history and Dick Francis and his novels. Magnus Magnusson asks the questions.

The third semi-final of this year's Mastermind series comes from the Opera House theatre, Jersey. In the spotlight are Isabelle Heward, Stephen Pearson, Gwen Kingsley and Margaret Thomas. Their specialised subjects are dancer and Hollywood star Gene Kelly, the life and music of composer William Walton, sculptor Donatello, and Albert the Prince Consort. Magnus Magnusson asks the questions.

The last semi-final of this year's series, from the Opera House theatre, Jersey. In the spotlight are Joe West, Malcolm Walker-Kinnear, Elsie Sadek and Miriam Collard. Their specialised subjects are the life of Captain William Bligh, the explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton, the life and reign of Charles II, and EW Hornung and his Raffles stories. Magnus Magnusson asks the questions.

From the Theatre Royal, Bristol Old Vic. In the spotlight are Church of England parish priest Richard Sturch from Islip, Oxfordshire; Gwen Kingsley, a genealogist from Kingswinford, West Midlands; Richard Heller, an author and journalist from London; and Elsie Sadek, a retired teacher from Blackpool. Their specialised subjects are the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, the life and work of Florence Nightingale, the life and career of Sir Garfield Sobers, and the life and music of Mendelssohn. Magnus Magnusson asks the questions, and actress Jane Lapotaire will present the winner's trophy.