Bromsgrove’s Mastermind

Harry does Bromsgrove proud on iconic TV quiz

The black chair, spotlight and piercing gaze of John Humphrys combine to create one of TV’s most recognisable quiz scenarios.

But how many of us would have the quizzing credentials and confidence to tackle the timehonoured Mastermind challenge and show off our specialist and general knowledge in front of millions?

Twenty-seven-year-old Harry Heath, who works in procurement at National Grid and lives on his family’s farm in Bradley Green, has been there, done that, worn stand-out shirts and battled through two rounds to reach the final.

More on that once in a lifetime experience later, but as Harry told Completely Bromsgrove, this wasn’t his first attempt at TV quizzing.

“Back in 2014, when I was in my second year studying history, I was part of the Exeter University team that took part in University Challenge. Unfortunately, we didn’t get past the first round,” recalled Harry.

“It did mean that taking part in Mastermind wasn’t a completely foreign experience though it was different in that the recording was done under Covid restrictions with a limited amount of people on set.”

A successful first-time applicant for the programme, Harry tackled three specialist subjects during his Mastermind journey – Oscar-winning film screenwriter and director Taika Waititi of Jojo Rabbit fame, much-loved comedy series Father Ted and former US president Jimmy Carter.

Harry admitted that “revising” by watching films and classic comedy was an easier task than familiarising himself with Carter’s life and times, but felt that he needed to tackle a more highbrow subject for the final.

“It proved to be quite daunting as there was only a month between the semi-final and the final. That was the only time I did feel nervous as I realised my general knowledge round would have to be flawless.”

Quiz fans who tuned in to the hour-long final would have seen a short film of Harry with his mum Chris, dad Carole and brother Richard on the farm plus a scene-stealing flock of geese named after the G7 leaders and Harry opening a ‘good luck’ letter from Jimmy Carter.

The eventual Mastermind champion was 24-year-old PhD student Jonathan Gibson, the show’s youngest winner, and hopefully his and Harry’s appearance will inspire more young people to throw their hat into the ring.

As for Harry, he’d love to challenge Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty et al in Beat the Chasers and, if he can get a gaggle of like-minded friends together, take part in the fiendishly difficult Only Connect. Watch this space…