Mastermind is back with the first of this year's 64 contenders, who tonight set out to see who can become 'Mastermind 1988'. The season opens at the University of Exeter when the first four of the contenders from the west and south of England meet in the Great Hall to decide who wins the first place in the semi-finals. Julian Loring (school bursar) - The life and career of Admiral of the Fleet, the Earl of St Vincent Mildred Pugsley (retired nurse teacher) - The British Thoroughbred Mike Rice (freelance journalist) - The history of the Duchy of Burgundy 1363-1477 Chris Hudson (clergyman) - The life and times of Dunstan 909-988

The University of Exeter is host as four more contenders do battle to find Mastermind's 1988 champion John Ingram (unemployed sales administrator) The life and works of Tolstoy Stan Knight (retired aircraft engineer) The coinage of Roman Britain David Lapham (prison officer) The Imperial Japanese Navy 1865-1945 Henry Boettinger (consultant and author) The life and work of Alexander Graham Bell

The University of Liverpool is host to four contenders from the north west of England who compete for a place in the semi-finals. Philip Wilson (computer system administrator) The life and career of Kathleen Ferrier Hilary Carlisle (general practitioner) The life and regency novels of Georgette Heyer David Kenrick (business consultant) The life and times of Neville Chamberlain Philip Gray (planning manager) The history of the Arabs, AD 200-750

with Magnus Magnusson at the University of Liverpool Alan Roberts (trainee licensee) Orchestral music 1830-1950 Alastair Finch (general practitioner) The films of Cary Grant Anne Hegerty (freelance journalist) The life and works of Lorenz Hart Steve Hall (civil servant) The life and works of Saki

St George 's School for Girls, Edinburgh, this year celebrating its centenary, is host to four contenders competing for the title Mastermind 1988 Sandy Macpherson (chartered surveyor) The life and works of Eric Linklater Edward Cadden (civil servant) British civil aircraft since 1919 Kenneth Gray (retired schoolmaster) Pianists and piano music 1800-1930 Bill Taggart (clothing manufacturer) The history of British canals 1759-1948

with Magnus Magnusson from St George's School for Girls, Edinburgh Ewen Macpherson (retired lecturer) The history of the Highland Railway 1854-1923 Vicki Graham (administrator) French impressionist painters 1865-85 Tony Kelly (silversmith) The history of gold and silversmithing Adam Bunting (teacher) The wines of France

The Great Hall of Hatfield Polytechnic is the setting for this week's Mastermind which involves four contenders from London and the south east. Roy Bailey (film producer) The life and times of John Hampden 1594-1643 Mary Hunt (retired nursing auxiliary) Silent films of the 1920s Helen Poole (housewife and freelance writer) The history of Hertfordshire 1360-1660 Christopher Gifford (bank officer) The life and times of Woodrow Wilson 1856-1924

Four contenders from London and the South East seek a place in the semi-finals of Mastermind 1988. They are the guests of Hatfield Polytechnic in Hertfordshire. John Rook (lecturer) European history 1815-1914 Susanna Martelli (wine bar manager) The novels and short stories of J. D. Salinger Howard Pizzey (finance officer) pop music 1955-79 Alan Foss (actor) The life and works of P. G. Wodehouse

Four contenders compete in the historic surroundings of the keep of Colchester Castle. Tom Billson (county cricket scorer) The life and career of Woody Herman Pamela Mobsby (sheep farmer) The life and works of Victoria Sackville-West Piers Hartland-Swann (banker) The novels of Charles Dickens Judi Burnell (Research trust administrator) The history of Poland 1600-1939

Colchester Castle is again the setting for four contenders from London and the South East, who compete in the impressive museum in the keep of the castle. David Beamish (House of Lords clerk) The life of Nancy Astor Sarah Batchelor (assistant librarian) The life and music of Kurt Weill Barry McCartney (middle-school teacher) The British home front in the Second World War Michael Taylor (lecturer) The life and times of Queen Alexandra 1844-1925

Bedford School is host to four contenders seeking the title of Mastermind 1988. Keith Harrison (schoolteacher) The life, times and novels of Benjamin Disraeli Eileen Eaves (retired schoolteacher) The life and career of Sarah Siddons Hadrian Jeffs (former civil servant) The history of the airship from 1846 Michael Grosvenor Myer (writer and critic) British traditional folksong

Four contenders from the Midlands and east of England are competing in the Great Hall of Bedford School. Jasmin Schelts (registered child minder) History of English costume 1789-1945; Bryan Pope (retired schoolteacher) Portuguese explorations and discoveries 1415-1815; Paul Hammet Lebrun (general practitioner) History of mathematics; Tom King (freelance writer) The lives and films of Laurel and Hardy

Tonight's programme comes from the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop in Hampshire. Set among the impressive exhibits of this new museum, four contenders from the south of England compete for a place in the semi-finals. Wendy Forrester (journalist) The life and works of C.S; Lewis Kevin Perkins (contracts liaison officer) The life and reign of Ivan the Terrible; Alison Baker (concert pianist) The life and works of Franz Liszt; Derek Wallace (senior research scientist) The life and reign of James VI of Scotland

The Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop in Hampshire is the setting for tonight's competition between four contenders from the south of England. David Simms (professional tennis coach) The history of lawn tennis; Margaret Fleming (inspector of taxes) The novels of Virginia Woolf; Colin Moffat (computer systems analyst) The history of Finland, 1809-1917; Stuart Greenman (researcher and lecturer) The life and times of Beau Brummell , 1778-1840

with Magnus Magnusson at the Great Hall of the University of Leeds Geoffrey Hutton (retired bank manager) The American Civil War; Christine Moorcroft (advisory teacher) The life and work of Vincent Van Gogh; Martin Wyatt (statistician) The life and stories of Edgar Allan Poe; Graham Preston (accountant and book-keeper) The history of South Africa, 1910-61

Mastermind reaches the end of the first stage in this year's series, with four contenders competing for the last place in the semi-finals. The location is the Great Hall of the University of Leeds. Brian John (civil servant) The life and works of W.B. Yeats; Judith Dutton (dealer in maritime books) The life and times of Socrates 469-399BC; Mark Turner (barrister) The life and works of William Walton; Michael Palfrey (schoolteacher) Fantastic literature from Washington Irving to Tolkien

Tonight Mastermind reaches the semi-finals. The venue is St Andrew's College of Education, Bearsden, Glasgow. Henry Boettinger (consultant and author) The life and work of Thomas Edison; Kenneth Gray (retired schoolmaster) The life and works of Rachmaninov; Steve Hall (civil servant) The life and works of Mark Twain; Roy Bailey (film producer) The Poldark novels of Winston Graham

St Andrew's College of Education, Bearsden, Glasgow is the location for the second semi-final of this year's series. Mike Rice (freelance journalist) The Life and Novels of Barbara Pym; Alan Foss (actor) The Life and Works of Frank Richards; Philip Gray (planning manager) The History of Roman Britain AD43-367; Adam Bunting (schoolteacher) The Life and Works of Matthew Arnold

Middlesex Polytechnic at Trent Park in North London is the setting for this third semi-final. Kevin Perkins (contracts liaison officer) The Novels of Agatha Christie; Tom King (freelance writer) The History of Gardens and Gardeners in Britain (1500-1939); Margaret Fleming (tax inspector) The Smiley Novels of John le Carre; Keith Harrison (schoolteacher) The History of the Roman Empire AD 180-337

This is the last semi-final for the outright first-round winners. It comes from the New Hall of Middlesex Polytechnic at Trent Park. Mark Turner (barrister) The Life and Times of Edward II (1284-1327); Geoffrey Hutton (retired bank manager) The Russo-Japanese War (1904-5); Pamela Mobsby (sheep farmer) Long Distance Rides and Riding; David Beamish (House of Lords clerk) The British Royal Family (1714-1910)

Tonight's semi-final is for the four best-scoring losers in the series. They compete at Middlesex Polytechnic for the last place in the final. Eileen Eaves (retired schoolteacher) The Life and Career of David Garrick; Barry McCartney (middle school teacher) The Life and Times of Edward, Prince of Wales until the Abdication; Wendy Forrester (journalist) Shakespeare's Comedies; David Kenrick (business consultant) Operetta and Musical Comedy since 1858

Magnus Magnusson introduces a closer look at the five contenders who have made it to the final of Mastermind 1988. He also talks to past Mastermind champions and members of the Mastermind club, an exclusive club for all those who have undergone the ordeal of the black chair. The final five who will compete on Sunday night for the coveted title are: Roy Bailey Film producer from Great Shefford in Berkshire; Philip Gray Planning manager from Prescott on Merseyside; Margaret Fleming, Inspector of taxes from Brighton; David Beamish, House of Lords clerk from London; And the winner of last week's Semi-final.

After months of intense competition, the five finalists out of the original 64 contenders now compete for the coveted title of Mastermind 1988. The MacRobert Arts Centre at the University of Stirling is the setting, and one contender will receive the specially engraved Caithness glass trophy from Paul Fox , Managing Director of BBC Television. The finalists are: Barry McCartney (middle school teacher) The Mutiny on the Bounty and the History of Pitcairn to 1970; Roy Bailey (film producer) The English Civil War, 1642-49; Margaret Fleming (inspector of taxes) The Life and Novels of Virginia Woolf; David Beamish (House of Lords clerk) The Life and Times of Nancy Astor 1879-1964; Philip Gray (planning manager) The History of the Arabs AD200-750