Yeah, I’m sorry for anyone whose day was ruined by me no being able to post until now. Normally I do my write up early in the morning before I go to work, but I overslept this morning.
Charles Boden kicked us off last night with the solo career
of Robbie Williams. It seems to me that we don’t see quite so much of the
talented Mr. Williams now, but it’s worth noting just how big a star he was back
in the day. Charles seemed pretty secure on the music but was caught out by the
odd question on the videos and other periphera. That’s the thing about a
Mastermind specialist round – if it could possibly be asked about something then
you have to know it or learn it. Nothing to be ashamed with on 6, but unlikely
to win.
Mark Kerr gave us a more traditional subject in the shape
of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. Goodness me but I loved those books
when I was in the primary school. However. . . that was half a century ago, and
frankly, I didn’t remember very much about them – other than Eustace’s surname
being Scrubb and gawd only knows why I remembered that. I thought Mark didn’t
do at all badly with the set, but again, although 7 is perfectly respectable,
it does leave you with a mountain to climb in the General Knowledge.
So we come to last night’s government health warning
subject. I had answered Charles’ first question correctly and no others. Then I
answered Mark’s first question and no others. Now I answered Matilda Makemson’s
first on the Fauna of Madagascar and didn’t manage any others. What a subject. I
don’t know how many species of creatures inhabit the place, but it’s a big old
island. You had to feel for Matilda. She had a couple of wrong ‘uns and it
certainly seemed to play on her mind as the round went on. Then to add insult
to injury she had to endure Clive announcing both of her passes with the coda ‘You
knew that, didn’t you?!” Fair play to Matilda, she didn’t say “Oh, sod off
Clive!” as some of us might have been tempted to, but just nodded with a smile.
Clive, mate, I know you’re trying to be kind, but please don’t. Matilda scored
four.
It isn’t often that there is anything that even approaches controversy
in Mastermind, but I was a little surprised in Roopam Carroll’s round on the
Matrix Films. Roopam was going great guns until she was asked for the name of
the award winning Australian costume designer credited on the first three
films. She answered “. . . Kim . . . sorry.” Now had she just said “Kim” then I
think Clive’s prompt of ‘more?’ would have been quite acceptable. However, for
me the sorry seemed to mean ‘I’m sorry I don’t remember’ and I was a little
surprised that he gave the prompt after. It’s a marginal call and I do not for
one moment blame Roopam or taking advantage and giving the right answer, and
fair play, she kicked in the best specialist round of the night with 9 and no
passes.
You know me by now. I like it when a contender can put
adversity behind them and whack in a good GK round, so I was very pleased to
see Matilda Makemson manage to do just that. She scored a double figure round
to finish with fourteen.
This looked even better as Charles in his round scored 8
which meant that he too finished with fourteen.
So we came to the business end of the competition. If you’re
only two off the lead at the turnaround then you have a chance. Mike whacked in
his own double figure round to at least give himself a chance. 17 meant that
Roopam would need 9 to win outright, however the fact that Mike didn’t incur any
passes made this look just a little more tricky.
Not that it appeared to affect Roopam. Without going quite
at express pace she quite easily broke the tape with time enough to add a
couple more correct answers to finish with her own 10 to finish with 19. My
daughter Phillippa doesn’t often watch the show with me, but she was there last
night, and she complained that Clive accepted Alto for Contralto. I’ll be honest,
I thought this was okay, but it didn’t matter because Roopam was already in the
winner’s enclosure.
Well done Roopam! Best of luck in your semi.
The Details
|
Charles Boden |
The Solo Career of Robbie
Williams |
6 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
|
Mike Kerr |
“The Chronicles of
Narnia” by C.S. Lewis |
7 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
|
Matilda Makemson |
The Fauna of
Madagascar |
4 |
2 |
10 |
1 |
14 |
3 |
|
Roopam Carroll |
The Matrix Films |
9 |
0 |
10 |
1 |
19 |
1 |
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