Quizzer wins Mastermind six years after Millionaire success

Yahoo

20-05-2025

Mastermind has crowned its latest champion, just six years after he won a fortune on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
Quizzer John Robinson was on Millionaire in 2019 and walked away with £500,000. He went on to appear on the new series of the BBC's Mastermind, where he impressed host Clive Myrie as well as viewers and clinched the title of 2025 Mastermind Champion.
He revealed that after cleaning up on Jeremy Clarkson's programme he had decided he was after Mastermind's Glass Bowl, saying it had been "time to go for something that money can't buy".
Mastermind's grand final — which aired on BBC Two on Monday, 19 May — saw six contestants taking a turn in the chair as they battled through tough questions on subjects such as Led Zeppelin, the stage plays of Tom Stoppard and penguins.
Discussing his decision to give Mastermind a go, English teacher Robinson said: "I've been lucky enough to be on a few different quiz shows before.
"The pinnacle is probably winning £500,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, so I decided it's probably time to go for something that money can't buy, which is trying to win that Mastermind Glass Bowl."
"I constantly tell the students that I teach that if you put effort into your revision, you will get reward at the end of it so hopefully the kids can then look at me and be inspired by the hard work that I've put in as well," he added.
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Robinson put in an impressive performance, scoring 12 marks in his specialist subject (the Empire State building).
The contestant, who wore a shirt emblazoned with an image of the skyscraper, faced questions on everything from the lobby ceiling mural to the type of bomber plane which hit the building in the 1940s.
He then did well in the general knowledge round too and finished the night on 30, beating fellow hopeful Claire Reynolds, who had 29 points.
Host Myrie said winning the 52nd series of the show was "an amazing achievement".
Pointing at the Glass Bowl trophy, he said: "You won half a million pounds on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, money can't buy that."
"It certainly can't," Robinson agreed. "A lot more pressure in this chair as well, compared to that chair."
Myrie wrapped up the series by praising all of the contestants for their effort. "Your courage has been immense in braving the black chair," he said.
Mastermind's full series is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.