Who will be Mastermind Champion 1989? That is the question. Hoping to have all the answers are the 64 contenders in this year's series The University College of Swansea is where the first four competitors will be demonstrating their knowledge and nerve. Jerold James Gordon (classical composer) Opera Since 1918; Timothy Brain (police inspector). British Political History 1714-1815; Wayne Stainthorpe (steelworks crane driver) Family Anatidae: Swans, Geese, Ducks of Britain and Europe; Mary-Elizabeth Raw (veterinary surgeon) The Life and Reign of Charles I

with Magnus Magnusson from the University College of Swansea. This week four contenders from the South and West are in the hot seat. John Noel Banfield (retired MOD scientist) The Symphony Orchestra from 1700; Ron Wood (clergyman) Ancient Egypt, 3400-30 BC; Briony Mann (senior drawing office assistant) Classical Ballet in Europe, 1909-75; Michael Giddings (systems consultant) The Life and Work of Lord Rutherford

with Magnus Magnusson from the University of Salford. The search for the 1989 Mastermind champion moves to the north of England where four more hopefuls are in the spotlight. Myra Marsh (retired teacher) History of Manchester from 1750; Geoffrey Martyn (chartered surveyor) The Life and Films of Errol Flynn; Dave Perkins (tourism officer) Geography and History of Nepal from 1766; Linda Morris (librarian) History of the P and O Shipping Line.

with Magnus Magnusson from the University of Salford. Four people with a common aim - to be the 1989 Mastermind Champion. This week's heat is once again from the north of England. Bob Haigh (computer systems programmer) Mammals of the British Isles. Wayne Cassar (student) Irish Mythology. Rosemary Richards (factory machinist) Life and Reign of Henry VIII. Philip Wharmby (clerical officer) Foundation Novels of Isaac Asimov.

with Magnus Magnusson from the University of Glasgow. This week four Scottish contestants compete for a semi-final place. Michael Weir (civil servant) History of Golf at St Andrews from 1754; Graham Clayton (corrosion engineer) Naval Actions of the First World War; Myra Knight (housewife) City of Glasgow from 1700; John Crichton (primary head teacher) The Life and Work of A. S. Neill.

with Magnus Magnusson from University of Glasgow. John Fleming (social worker) Scottish Wars of Independence, 1292-1330; William Donnelly (smallholder) Life and Travels of Marco Polo; Sheila McMillan (housewife) Life and Reign of Henry VI; John Hudson (engineering storeman) City of Istanbul

with Magnus Magnusson from Redbridge Community School, Southampton. This week's contenders: Ian Verber (hospital doctor) The Life and Works of George Orwell; Hilary Potts (violin teacher) The Life and Works of Benjamin Britten; Duncan Holloway (company director) Alexander the Great; Edwin Barnes (theological college principal) The Life and Poetry of William Bames.

with Magnus Magnusson from Redbridge Community School, Southampton. Four southerners compete for a semi-final place as the search continues for the Mastermind champion. The hopefuls in the spotlight are: Philip Gartside (chartered accountant) The Sherlock Holmes Stories; Dawn Tozer (teacher) The Life and Works of Gwen John , 1876-1939; Mary Gibson (medical librarian) The Life of Mary Henrietta Kingsley, 1862-1900; Robert Wells (administration manager) The Life and and Works of Laurence Sterne.

with Magnus Magnusson from Queen Mary College, University of London. The spotlight is on four more contestants aspiring to be the 1989 champion. Peter Shirtcliffe (ship's cook) World Heavyweight Championship Fights from 1960; Richard Oates (schoolteacher) Boys' Public Schools of England; Julie Speedie (antiquarian book dealer) The Life and Works of Oscar Wilde; Padraig Kirby (chief accountant) The History of Ireland, 1600-1920.

with Magnus Magnusson from Queen Mary College, University of London. Four more contestants take up the challenge. Christopher Mann (author and publisher) The Life and Campaigns of Field Marshal Montgomery of Alamein; Barbara O'Meara (housewife) The Novels of Iris Murdoch; Malcolm Robertson (composer) The Music of Aaron Copland; Gill Doubleday (civil servant) The Works of John Bunyan.

with Magnus Magnusson from the Cheltenham Ladies' College Richard Harris (insurance official) History of Communism in Eastern Europe from 1935; Gill Reid (housewife) The Life and Times of Dorothy Wordsworth; Roger Woods (farmer) The Life and Work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel; Arthur Scruton (retired civil servant) The History of Cheltenham from Roman Times

with Magnus Magnusson from the Cheltenham Ladies' College Tom Bean (farmer) History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate 1649-60; Julie Tedds (knitwear designer) The Life and Work of Gene Kelly; Eric Gamble (retired schoolmaster) The French Revolution; Philip Salt (quality controller) The Life and Music of Jean Sibelius

with Magnus Magnusson from the Royal College of Music. Four more contestants compete for a place in the semi-final. Anne Miller (assistant library manager) Life and Works of Lewis Carroll, 1832-98; David McDonnell (police officer) History of Roman Britain AD 200-500; Richard Jones (policy research officer) History of the Conservative Party 1832-1914; Raymond Kahn (schoolmaster) The Savoy Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan

with Magnus Magnusson from the Royal College of Music David Carroll (electrician) Wars of the Roses; Charles Tod (retired bookseller) European Torpedo Boats and Destroyers to 1945; Robert Sutherland (systems analyst) Life and Works of F. M. Dostoevsky; Sally Branston (temporary secretary) History of Mexico, 1519-1910

with Magnus Magnusson from the Museum of Army Transport, Beverley. Halfway through the 17th series, Mastermind reaches its 300th edition. Ian Sutton (accountant) Wines of Europe; Jane Mansergh (museum curator) The English Detective Story from 1794; Anthony Simpson (company director) Development of Nuclear Power; Ralph Fenton (househusband) Life and Career ofW.G. Grace

with Magnus Magnusson from the Museum of Army Transport, Beverley. The four contenders for the last semi-final place are: Peter North (management consultant) British Butterflies; Peter Turton (retired civil servant) Astronomy of the Solar System; Averil MacLachlan (civil servant) The Life and Films of Woody Allen; Michael Powell (schoolteacher) The Third French Republic from 1870-1914

with Magnus Magnusson from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The first of the semi-finals with four formidable contenders hoping to receive a place in the final. Mary Elizabeth Raw (veterinary surgeon) Life of Albert, Prince Consort; Geoffrey Martyn (chartered surveyor) Life and Films of Walt Disney; Ian Verber (hospital doctor) Geography of the National Parks of England and Wales; Richard Oates (senior lecturer) History of Spain, 1556-1812

with Magnus Magnusson from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The second semi-final, and four more contenders are hoping to secure a place in the final. William Donnelly (smallholder) Life and Short Stories of H. G. Wells; Myra Knight (housewife) Duke and Duchess of Windsor; Bob Haigh (computer systems programmer) City of Norwich from earliest times; Dawn Tozer (teacher) Songs of Schubert

with Magnus Magnusson from the Speech Room, Harrow School. The third semi-final with fourmore hopeful contenders. Malcolm Robertson (composer) Life and works of Ralph Vaughan Williams; Anthony Simpson (company director) History of the House of Rothschild; Ron Wood (clergyman) Greek Mythology; Tom Bean (farmer) Life and Novels of Anthony Trollope

with Magnus Magnusson from the Speech Room. Harrow School. The fourth semi-final and four more contenders hoping to secure a place in the final. Roger Woods (farmer) The Cornish Mining Industry; Dick Jones (policy research officer) The Life and Works of Claude Debussy; Peter North(management consultant) The Second Punic War 218-201 BC; Robert Sutherland (systems analyst) The Life and Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

with Magnus Magnusson The last semi-final from the Speech Room, Harrow School. There is only one place left in the final, and it will be taken by one of the 'best of the runners-up'. Mary Gibson (medical librarian) The Life and Children's Classics of A. A. Milne; Wayne Stainthorpe (steelworks crane driver) Trees of Britain; Gill Doubleday (civil servant) The Life and Dramatic Works of Lorca; Michael Weir (civil servant) The Life and Music of Bob Dylan

For 17 years Boswell Taylor has supervised, co-ordinated and edited all the specialist questions for Mastermind yet he denies that he's the fount of all knowledge that some might believe. There are five people who'd like to know what he's set them for the final. They are only one step away from taking home the Caithness bowl, the coveted Mastermind Trophy. How are they preparing for their final? And how does Boswell find the questions?

The Final with Magnus Magnusson from the University of Warwick Who will be Mastermind Champion 1989? That question is answered tonight in what promises to be a fiercely fought final. Mastermind has travelled the length and breadth of the country, testing the nerve and knowledge of 64 contenders. Only the final five remain: Tom Bean (farmer) Life and Works of Edward Lear; Myra Knight (housewife) City of Glasgow from earliest times; Mary Elizabeth Raw (veterinary surgeon) Life and Reign of Charles I; GUI Doubleday (civil servant) Life and Works of John Bunyan; Dick Jones (policy research officer) History of the Conservative Party (1832-1940)