BBC Celebrity Mastermind leaves furious fans with same complaint minutes into episode
Viewers were left furious after spotting one glaring issue just minutes into the show.
BBC viewers were left unimpressed during Monday's episode of Celebrity Mastermind (February 2), with fans slamming the broadcaster just minutes into the show. The episode saw Maryam Moshiri, Chesney Hawkes, Desiree Burch and Danny Robins put through their paces by host Clive Myrie, but many watching at home quickly realised they had already seen it — days ago. The episode aired just 44 days ago, leaving viewers stunned that it was being repeated so soon. Taking to X, one viewer fumed: “Repeat less than a month old! Ffs”, while another asked: “Wasn’t this episode on a couple of weeks ago?”
Others were equally baffled, with one writing: “Why are you showing a Celebrity Mastermind episode that was only broadcast on 22nd December? When is normal Mastermind returning?” The complaints kept coming, as another angry fan posted: “What is going on #Mastermind this episode was on a few weeks ago! Shocking scheduling. Bring back the regular show.” A final viewer summed up the mood, adding: “You are kidding me. They can’t be repeating the same programme within a few weeks at the same time.”
Another branded the scheduling a “TV licence rip off…this is a repeat from very recently”. Another fumed: “Am I imagining it or was this one on very recently? And how come we’re not back to the main series?” while a third joked: “The only benefit of repeating #mastermind so quickly is at least I get more answers correct this time!”
The celebrity line-up saw Chesney Hawkes tackle The Beatles’ White Album, Danny Robins take on The Mandalorian, Maryam Moshiri answer questions on the Bridget Jones films, and Desiree Burch face a round dedicated to Viola Davis.
Chesney impressed early doors, reportedly smashing his specialist round with a flawless score on the 1968 double album.
However, despite his strong start, it was Danny who edged the win in a nail-biting finish, clinching victory on the very final question.
Tonight’s broadcast is understood to be a deliberate repeat, with BBC schedules currently in flux as coverage ramps up for the 2026 Winter Olympics and the start of the Six Nations.
During major sporting periods, high-performing Celebrity Mastermind episodes are often re-aired while new editions are paused.
The long-running quiz has been a TV institution since 1972, putting brains under pressure for decades. But the celebrity edition has increasingly come under fire for what viewers see as painfully soft questions.
As the latest episode rolled on, even those in the famous black chair appeared taken aback by how gentle the quiz had become.
At one point, Clive Myrie asked Maryam: “Woof woof and bow wow are representations of the sound made by what domestic pet?” She answered “dog” — looking almost as stunned as viewers at home.
That wasn’t the only moment to raise eyebrows. Other general knowledge questions included asking which farm animal beef comes from and which direction the letter “S” represents on a compass.
Even Maryam’s specialist round kicked off with a question many felt barely qualified as specialist at all — she was asked who played Bridget Jones in the film series — prompting fresh claims that Celebrity Mastermind has been dumbed down beyond recognition.
