tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post870022562080457518..comments2024-03-12T12:54:32.926-07:00Comments on Life After Mastermind: Angels and DemonsLondiniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-83404625824003784392009-12-15T04:34:09.015-08:002009-12-15T04:34:09.015-08:00I suspect that the Mastermind researchers were thr...I suspect that the Mastermind researchers were thrilled that they had a youngish, black candidate for the programme. Their enthusiasm for "widening the demographic" (away from middle aged, middle class, white professional males) may have allowed them to turn a blind eye to what was probably a rather modest audition score. Mr Burton was probably the unwitting (and ultimately, embarrassing) beneficiary of the BBC's multicultural agenda.joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11923451190329968480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-16532261468438778382009-11-24T11:34:08.863-08:002009-11-24T11:34:08.863-08:00Hi Rachel,
I'm indebted to you for telling me ...Hi Rachel,<br />I'm indebted to you for telling me that Manchester Uni were banned after the Trotsky show. Suddenly the prank doesn't seem nearly so funny to me as it did. Its not really fair on the years of students unable to try for a place on the show after that.<br /><br />With regards to Michael Burton, I agree that I never thought him stupid, or dull, or ignorant, or whatever anyone else might say, just because he had a low score on Mastermind. Until you've sat in that chair you can't really know the way that your mind can start to play funny tricks on you when you're in it. I applauded his gallows humour at the start of the second round. <br /><br />As I said, I feel that there are a couple of inconsistencies in what he is reported to have said in the article. And to be honest, I think he probably comes worse out of his appearence for having said all of this. I can't help really rather liking the guy, however, although I don't really know why.Londiniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-48626012913981950102009-11-23T19:18:14.473-08:002009-11-23T19:18:14.473-08:00I'm glad that you blogged about this as I migh...I'm glad that you blogged about this as I might have missed it otherwise (I tend to avoid the Daily Mail like the plague and so had to read this article with a hefty dose of distrust) but if it's true and he did indeed intend to do badly then I think it's unfair both to the production and research teams who doubtless put a lot of work in to making an excellent show and also to another contestant who might have loved the opportunity to go on the show and compete properly which his 'joke' performance had wasted. I think it's far more likely that he's embarrassed of his performance and is trying to cover it up, I can't help but think that making claims like these is much more embarrassing than just saying that the pressure got to him. After watching the show I didn't come away thinking he was a 'dunce' as some papers unfairly dubbed him, just that he had been nervous, under pressure and had had a tricky round. The kind of thing that could happen to anyone. I agree that it's unlikely he was promised he could return on the next series in fact, if he did set out to make a mockery of the show (which I still can't quite believe) then I don't believe he should be allowed back in case he decides to play another 'joke, which, hilarious as it may be might stop another player from taking part, I'm sure there must be rules about this, Manchester uni was banned from putting forward any UC teams for years after the Marx prank and that was due to the actions of four different students.Rach Cherryadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08885926056816186727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-25544688300025436982009-11-23T10:46:39.779-08:002009-11-23T10:46:39.779-08:00Hi ,
Thanks for leaving a comment. Yes, I understa...Hi ,<br />Thanks for leaving a comment. Yes, I understand what you're saying, and of course its possible that this is exactly what he did. I must admit, I tend to agree that its seems unlikely that they'll have him back after this article, but its one I'd love to watch if he did.Londiniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871325359167581176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401280171563686515.post-50904279323383145952009-11-23T09:52:52.061-08:002009-11-23T09:52:52.061-08:00Reading between the lines (as you have to do with ...Reading between the lines (as you have to do with the Daily Mail), I get the impression that what he's actually claiming (rather than what Paul Revoir is <i>claiming</i> he's claiming) is that he messed up on the general knowledge round and THEN decided to go for seven, since he plainly had no chance of winning. And I rather doubt that this apparent promise from the BBC that he can come back in a future series actually amounts to anything at all beyond that he's not actually barred.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com