As Mastermind bans Harry Potter, work your magic on Adam Boulton's quiz
Mastermind has banned contestants from picking the wizard as a specialism. Can you survive as a Potter pundit in the black chair?
Tuesday 30 January 2018 15:17, UK
Expelliarmus! The BBC has banned contestants on Mastermind from choosing Harry Potter as a specialist subject.
In part, it is to stop the long-running show becoming the Harry Potter quiz.
More than 200 contestants wanted to choose the boy wizard for their questions last year.
TV shows Fawlty Towers, Father Ted and Blackadder have also been ruled out.
As a contestant on Celebrity Mastermind a few years ago, this is one BBC decision of which I heartily approve.
I don't think knowledge of popular culture - especially limited episode shows like Father Ted - really tests masterminds.
When I was on the show I chose "The life and works of Anthony Burgess". My opponents went for Father Ted, Queen (the band), and Reeves And Mortimer.
I was coming last after the specialist round. I caught up to second place in the general knowledge, thank goodness.
Nevertheless, and while agreeing with the BBC, I am also a Harry Potter fan.
So here is a short quiz made up of questions the victims in the black chair won't have to face as a result of the ban.