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| Mastermind limits use of Harry Potter and Fawlty Towers | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of applications for Mastermind are being turned down because too many people are choosing the same specialist subject. | Hundreds of applications for Mastermind are being turned down because too many people are choosing the same specialist subject. |
| Mastermind received 262 applications to answer questions about the Harry Potter series last year. | Mastermind received 262 applications to answer questions about the Harry Potter series last year. |
| It is the most popular topic, alongside Fawlty Towers, Blackadder and Father Ted. | It is the most popular topic, alongside Fawlty Towers, Blackadder and Father Ted. |
| But only one contestant can tackle a subject during each series. | But only one contestant can tackle a subject during each series. |
| Other subjects, such as 'pork', have been ruled out because of a lack of possible questions, said Mark Helsby, who has produced more than five series of the shows. | Other subjects, such as 'pork', have been ruled out because of a lack of possible questions, said Mark Helsby, who has produced more than five series of the shows. |
| Last year, 32 people wanted to answer questions on Fawlty Towers. Blackadder was chosen by 19 people, and Father Ted by 22. | Last year, 32 people wanted to answer questions on Fawlty Towers. Blackadder was chosen by 19 people, and Father Ted by 22. |
| Mr Helsby told the Radio Times: "Some subjects are very broad and need to be tightened up; or they might be too tight and need to be opened out to make them a fair contest compared to the other people they're competing against." | Mr Helsby told the Radio Times: "Some subjects are very broad and need to be tightened up; or they might be too tight and need to be opened out to make them a fair contest compared to the other people they're competing against." |
| He added that the show's makers try not to dismiss topics out of hand. | He added that the show's makers try not to dismiss topics out of hand. |
| "One applicant wanted to do 'meat' and narrowed it down to 'pork'. Unfortunately, we still said no. | "One applicant wanted to do 'meat' and narrowed it down to 'pork'. Unfortunately, we still said no. |
| "I'd rather work with the contender to find some common ground between what they are interested in and what we think we can write enough questions about." | "I'd rather work with the contender to find some common ground between what they are interested in and what we think we can write enough questions about." |
| Other subjects that have been rejected from the quiz show, hosted by John Humphrys, include the Chronicles of Narnia series and Roald Dahl books. | Other subjects that have been rejected from the quiz show, hosted by John Humphrys, include the Chronicles of Narnia series and Roald Dahl books. |