Magnus Magnusson Signs off at 77

To a world drowning in stupid game shows like “Deal or No Deal” and “Wheel of Fortune,” the passing of Magnus Magnusson, the host of “Mastermind” (the hardest quiz show ever), is even more bad news. In addition, he was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, prolific author on subjects such as the Vikings and archaeology, chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, and an honorary knight (he never took British citizenship, an Icelander to the end). His entire life was a repudiation of what “game show host” means in any other context.

Born in Iceland, he moved to Scotland when his father was appointed European manager of the Icelandic Co-Op. The elder Magnusson later became Icelandic Consul-General to the UK, where he settled his family. His son was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Jesus College, Oxford, before joining the Scottish Daily Express as a reporter. The written word was good to him, and he to it. To this day, a search of Amazon.com provides three webpages of his work from: Njal’s Saga and Voyage of "Odin's Raven" to Lindisfarne: The Cradle Island and a wonderful series of biographies for young readers, the Famous People Story Books published by 4Learning.

His lasting contribution to pop culture, though, was his 25 years as host of “Mastermind.” The game was simple enough. As the BBC website puts it, “Four contestants (in later rounds of the competition the number is occasionally five) take it in turns to answer questions over two rounds against the clock. The first two-minute round comprises questions on each contestant's chosen specialist subject and the second two-minute round tests general knowledge. If a contestant does not know the answer to a question they can either take a guess, and wait to be told the correct answer, or 'pass' and move straight on to the next question. If the clock runs out whilst the quiz master is reading a question, he will continue and give the contestant an opportunity to answer - hence the show's catchphrase ‘I’ve started so I'll finish’.”

Sounds easy enough, until one looks at some of the special knowledge categories contestants have chosen: History and Genealogy of European Royalty, The Life and Works of Gilbert & Sullivan, The Moomin saga by Tove Jansson, The History of Lancashire County Cricket Club, The Life-cycle and Habits of the Honey-bee, The Buddhist sage Niciren. Perplexing as these are, some of the categories rejected by the show’s producers are even more so: Routes to Anywhere in Mainland Britain by Road from Letchworth, Cremation Practice and Law in Britain, The Banana Industry, Orthopaedic Bone Cement in Total Hip Replacement, Perfect Squares from 992 to 9801.

For knowing such material, the ultimate winner of the season-long tournament got . . . a crystal trophy. No cash prize, no new car, no trip to the Caribbean. But the bragging rights, they are special. One’s great regret with the all too early passing of Mr. Magnusson at 77 was never having sat in that black chair to answer questions on the Antarctic Treaty System in the 1960s.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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