Brain of Britain
Encyclopedia
Brain of Britain is a BBC
radio general knowledge quiz, broadcast on BBC Radio 4
.
in 1953 before becoming a programme in its own right in 1967. It was chaired by Franklin Engelmann
until his death in 1972.
The show also features "Beat The Brains", in which a pair of questions submitted by a listener is read: the submitter wins a book token if the contestants fail to answer correctly one or both questions. At one point, the prize was a Brain of Britain quiz book, but was replaced by the book token when the book was out of print.
. Peter Snow
took over the role in 2007, also due to the illness of Robinson, dispensing with Robinson's trademark style of addressing contestants by their honorific and surname (eg 'Mr Blenkinsop'), preferring to use their given names. Robinson was reinstated for the autumn 2008 series, and formality returned to the proceedings; Davies hosted the show again in 2009, with the intention that Robinson would again return when his health permitted. Robinson formally retired from the show in 2010 (and died in August 2011) and Davies continues as host.
fulfilled the role, taking the name Mycroft (from Mycroft Holmes
, older and wiser brother of Sherlock
). After his death in April 2002, the new question setter was Kevin Ashman
, who has the distinction of winning both Brain of Britain and Mastermind. He chose to be known as Jorkins, a character in Dickens'
David Copperfield
. From the 2007 series a team of setters was engaged, as is the practice in most other quiz shows.
, but in a 'modernised' version by Waldo de los Ríos
. This choice was the subject of frequent complaints from classical music fans (with whom the show was popular) and presenter Robert Robinson described it on air as "Mozart plus sacrilege". The theme was changed to a more conventional version in the early nineties.
, also holds the record for the highest ever score on Mastermind
, became Brain of Britain question setter and one of the Eggheads
) in 1996. The record individual score in a final is 35, also by Kevin Ashman in 1996.
was a fan of the show, and invited one of the winners to appear on his talk show
. However, some World Series broadcasts had cuts in them to fit the show as well as a news bulletin into the time slot, resulting in some apparent rules irregularities (for example, a contestant would be asked a question and give a correct answer, and then the next question would go to another contestant without it being the first contestant's fifth consecutive correct answer).
'* - also won the 3-yearly competition to find the "Brain of Brains"
'** - also won the 9-yearly competition to find the "Top Brain"
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio general knowledge quiz, broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
History
It began as a slot in What Do You Know?What Do You Know?
What Do You Know? was a BBC Radio quiz show in the 1950s and 1960s, hosted by Franklin Engelmann, which later evolved into Brain of Britain. The main part of the show was the "Brain of Britain" quiz itself, originally called "Ask Me Another"...
in 1953 before becoming a programme in its own right in 1967. It was chaired by Franklin Engelmann
Franklin Engelmann
Franklin Engelmann was a radio personality popular in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, nicknamed "Jingle". He was best known for hosting Down Your Way , Gardeners' Question Time and the quiz show What Do You Know?, which later became Brain of Britain. In 1955 he was also the original host of Pick...
until his death in 1972.
Format
The format of the quiz is simple. A contestant is asked a question; if he answers it correctly within ten seconds he gets a point and is asked another. If he gets one wrong the question is offered to the other contestants via silent buzzer, and after that the questions move to the next contestant. If a contestant gets five questions correct in a row then he gets a bonus point and the questions move to the next contestant. The contestant with the most points at the end of the programme wins. In case of a tie, the tied contestant with the most bonus points (points for answering questions missed by opponents, plus points for answering five questions in a row correctly) wins.The show also features "Beat The Brains", in which a pair of questions submitted by a listener is read: the submitter wins a book token if the contestants fail to answer correctly one or both questions. At one point, the prize was a Brain of Britain quiz book, but was replaced by the book token when the book was out of print.
Host
Brain of Britain was hosted by Robert Robinson for most of its life, although during his illness the 2004 series was hosted by Russell DaviesRussell Davies
Robert Russell Davies , known as Russell Davies, is a British journalist and broadcaster. He presents a Sunday radio programme on BBC Radio 2 which spotlights popular song, as well as Brain of Britain on Radio 4.-Background:...
. Peter Snow
Peter Snow
Peter Snow, CBE is a British television and radio presenter. He is the grandson of First World War general Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow, and cousin of Jon Snow, the main presenter of Channel 4 News, nephew of schoolmaster and bishop George D'Oyly Snow, and the brother-in-law of historian-writer Margaret...
took over the role in 2007, also due to the illness of Robinson, dispensing with Robinson's trademark style of addressing contestants by their honorific and surname (eg 'Mr Blenkinsop'), preferring to use their given names. Robinson was reinstated for the autumn 2008 series, and formality returned to the proceedings; Davies hosted the show again in 2009, with the intention that Robinson would again return when his health permitted. Robinson formally retired from the show in 2010 (and died in August 2011) and Davies continues as host.
Question creation
Until 2007, all questions were set by one individual, who was present (but silent) during recordings. The host would consult the setter, traditionally known by a pseudonym, to adjudicate when an answer was imprecise. For many years Ian GilliesIan Gillies
Ian Gillies , known to many simply as Mycroft from BBC Radio 4's Brain of Britain, was an accomplished quiz player and question setter in the United Kingdom...
fulfilled the role, taking the name Mycroft (from Mycroft Holmes
Mycroft Holmes
Mycroft Holmes is a fictional character in the stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. He is the elder brother of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes.- Profile :...
, older and wiser brother of Sherlock
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
). After his death in April 2002, the new question setter was Kevin Ashman
Kevin Ashman
Kevin Ashman from Winchester, Hampshire in England is one of the world's most successful quiz players and since 2002 a professional quizzer, an Egghead since 2003...
, who has the distinction of winning both Brain of Britain and Mastermind. He chose to be known as Jorkins, a character in Dickens'
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
David Copperfield
David Copperfield (novel)
The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery , commonly referred to as David Copperfield, is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens, first published as a novel in 1850. Like most of his works, it originally appeared in serial...
. From the 2007 series a team of setters was engaged, as is the practice in most other quiz shows.
Theme music
For much of its life the theme music of Brain of Britain was the opening of the fourth movement of Mozart's Eine Kleine NachtmusikEine kleine Nachtmusik
The Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1787. The work is more commonly known by the title Eine kleine Nachtmusik. The German title means "a little serenade", though it is often rendered more literally but less accurately as "a little night music"...
, but in a 'modernised' version by Waldo de los Ríos
Waldo de los Rios
Waldo de los Ríos was an Argentine composer, conductor and arranger.De los Rios was born as Osvaldo Nicholas Ferrara in Buenos Aires into a musical family; his father was a musician and his mother a well known folk singer; he studied composition and arranging at the National Conservatory of Music...
. This choice was the subject of frequent complaints from classical music fans (with whom the show was popular) and presenter Robert Robinson described it on air as "Mozart plus sacrilege". The theme was changed to a more conventional version in the early nineties.
Championship
Every three years, the three most recent champions compete for the Brain of Brains title, most recently held in 2008. The three winners of Brain of Brains themselves compete for the title Top Brain, held every nine years, with Mark Bytheway the most recent winner in 2008.Record score
The record individual score on a programme is 38 by Kevin Ashman (who went on to become four times World Quizzing ChampionWorld Quizzing Championship
The World Quizzing Championship is an individual quiz contest organised by the International Quizzing Association...
, also holds the record for the highest ever score on Mastermind
Mastermind
-In psychology:* Genius* Mastermind , one of the 16 role variants that the Keirsey Temperament Sorter is based on* INTJ , a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator-In games:* Mastermind, classic board game...
, became Brain of Britain question setter and one of the Eggheads
Eggheads
Eggheads is a BBC quiz show created by 12 Yard Productions, first broadcast in 2003, and presented by Dermot Murnaghan. For the 2008 series, Jeremy Vine was brought in to present on nights when Murnaghan was hosting the spinoff series Are You an Egghead? This happened again from October 2009 while...
) in 1996. The record individual score in a final is 35, also by Kevin Ashman in 1996.
Broadcast
Brain of Britain was also broadcast on BBC World Service for many years; in fact, talk show host David LettermanDavid Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
was a fan of the show, and invited one of the winners to appear on his talk show
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
. However, some World Series broadcasts had cuts in them to fit the show as well as a news bulletin into the time slot, resulting in some apparent rules irregularities (for example, a contestant would be asked a question and give a correct answer, and then the next question would go to another contestant without it being the first contestant's fifth consecutive correct answer).
Series champions
| Year | Winner |
| 1954 | Martin Dakin |
| 1955 | Arthur Maddock |
| 1956 | Anthony Carr *,** (youngest ever winner, 18 years old at the time) |
| 1957 | Rosemary Watson |
| 1958 | David Keys |
| 1959 | Dr Reginald Webster |
| 1960 | Patrick Bowing |
| 1961 | Irene Thomas Irene Thomas Irene Thomas was a British radio personality, well known for her participation in quiz shows and panel games from the 1960s until her death.... * |
| 1962 | Henry Button |
| 1963 | Ian Barton |
| 1964 | Ian Gillies Ian Gillies Ian Gillies , known to many simply as Mycroft from BBC Radio 4's Brain of Britain, was an accomplished quiz player and question setter in the United Kingdom... *,** |
| 1965 | Bob Crampsey Bob Crampsey Robert "Bob" Crampsey was a Scottish association football historian, author and broadcaster, described as a "much loved Scottish cultural institution" by The Times... |
| 1966 | Richard Best |
| 1967 | Lt. Cmdr. Loring |
| 1968 | Ralph Raby |
| 1969 | T. D. Thomson |
| 1970 | Ian Matheson |
| 1971 | Fred Morgan |
| 1972 | A. Lawrence |
| 1973 | Glyn Court |
| 1974 | Roger Pritchard *,** |
| 1975 | Winifred Lawson |
| 1976 | Thomas Dyer |
| 1977 | Martin Gostelow |
| 1978 | James Nesbitt * |
| 1979 | Arthur Gerard |
| 1980 | Tim Paxton |
| 1981 | Peter Barlow *,** |
| 1982 | John Pusey |
| 1983 | Sue Marshall |
| 1984 | Peter Bates |
| 1985 | Richard Fife * |
| 1986 | Stephen Gore |
| 1987 | Ian Sutton |
| 1988 | Paul Monaghan |
| 1989 | Barbara Thompson |
| 1990 | Jim Eccleson |
| 1991 | Chris Wright |
| 1992 | Mike Billson * |
| 1993 | Geoffrey Cotton * |
| 1994 | Ian Wynn-Mackenzie |
| 1995 | Ian Kinloch |
| 1996 | Kevin Ashman Kevin Ashman Kevin Ashman from Winchester, Hampshire in England is one of the world's most successful quiz players and since 2002 a professional quizzer, an Egghead since 2003... *,** |
| 1997 | Daphne Fowler Daphne Fowler Daphne Fowler born January 1939 in Warwick, Warwickshire, England, is a British retired bank secretary and game show champion who currently resides in Weston-super-Mare. Since taking early retirement, she has taken part in many televised game shows... |
| 1998 | Guy Herbert |
| 1999 | Leslie Duncalf * |
| 2000 | Mike Smith-Rawnsley |
| 2001 | Tom Corfe |
| 2002 | David Jones |
| 2003 | David Stedman |
| 2004 | Alan Bennett * |
| 2005 | Christopher Hughes |
| 2006 | Pat Gibson Pat Gibson Pat Gibson is an Irish multiple quiz show winner and a panellist on Eggheads.He was born and educated in Ireland but has lived in the United Kingdom for many years, and has represented England in the European Quizzing Championships since 2005.- Early life and education :Pat was born in Galway in... |
| 2007 | Mark Bytheway Mark Bytheway Mark Bytheway was an England International Quiz player best known for becoming Quizzing World Champion in 2008 and winning the Top Brain competition of Brain of Britain.-Brain of Britain:... *,** |
| 2008 | Geoff Thomas |
| 2009 | Ian Bayley Ian Bayley Ian Bayley is a UK quiz player who, despite his youth when compared with other leading players , won several medals in quizzing, both in singles and as a member of a team. He is largely known as a strong team player winning the European Championships three times straight from 2007 to 2009 with... * |
| 2010 | Dr. Iwan Thomas |
'* - also won the 3-yearly competition to find the "Brain of Brains"
'** - also won the 9-yearly competition to find the "Top Brain"