BBC quiz show Mastermind has sparked fresh controversy after viewers criticised a contestant’s choice of specialist subject in Monday’s semi-final.
Fans took to social media to express their dismay when semi-finalist Roopam Carroll revealed her specialist subject was rapper LL Cool J.
The choice prompted immediate backlash from viewers who deemed it an “utterly ridiculous” topic for a semi-final of the prestigious quiz show.
The incident has reignited the ongoing debate about whether Mastermind is being “dumbed down” with less academic topics replacing the traditionally challenging specialist subjects.
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Host Clive Myrie welcomed four contestants to the semi-final, all competing for a coveted spot in the final.
The specialist subjects among the semi-finalists, as well as LL Cool J, were the films of Mel Brooks, Homer’s Odyssey, and the Rumpole stories of Sir John Mortimer.
Cathryn Gahan tackled the questions on Mel Brooks films, Arnav Umranikar chose Homer’s Odyssey, and it was fellow semi-finalist John Hardin who selected Sir John Mortimer as his specialist subject.
It was Carroll’s choice of rapper LL Cool J that stood out among the more traditional academic topics.
The contrast between the intellectual themes and Carroll’s pop culture selection immediately caught viewers’ attention.
Viewers quickly took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice their disapproval with one fan writing: “Sorry but LL Cool J as a specialist subject in a semi-final is utterly ridiculous. Give me a break!”
Another commented: “It’s almost symptomatic of what’s wrong with #Mastermind these days, in that it’s a semi-final, and the specialist subjects include Homer’s Odyssey and, erm, LL Cool J…”
“As much as I’m a big fan of LL, I’m not really sure he deserves to be a specialist subject on #Mastermind,” a third viewer stated. (sic)
Others simply expressed surprise at the inclusion of the rapper as a specialist topic.
Carroll racked up a score of seven for her specialist subject after her first stint in the hot-seat during Monday’s show.
Combined with the same score in her general knowledge round, Carroll ended up propping up the semi-final leaderboard with a score of 14.
This placed her behind third-placed Umranikar’s 16, runner-up Gahan on 22, and semi-final winner and soon-to-be finalist Hardin’s 24.
Carroll’s choice of specialist subject wasn’t the only talking point from the episode, however, as Hardin left barely a dry eye among viewers when discussing his win at the end of the show.
The budding quizzer revealed he’d been “egged” on to apply on Mastermind by his wife, but she tragically died before she got a chance to see him take part.
“(I’m) extremely surprised,” Hardin said of his victory. “I literally came on thinking I might be able to do quite well in a heat. I never expected to find myself in a semi-final, let alone winning one.
“I really enjoyed revising my specialist subject, although it is quite like being back at school again, to some degree, cramming for exams.
Contenders in tonight’s semi-final: Cathryn Gahan, Arnav Umranikar, Roopam Carroll & John Harden, answering questions on: The Films of @MelBrooks, Homer’s ‘Odyssey’, @llcoolj & The Rumpole Stories of Sir John Mortimer. Tune in at 7:30pm on #BBCTwo. #Mastermind pic.twitter.com/77URFe9PDZ
— Mastermind (@MastermindQuiz) April 7, 2025
“I originally applied but was unable to appear last year, as very sadly my wife died just as we were about to broadcast.
“I do believe if Caroline knew I’d made it through to the Grand Final, that she would be genuinely surprised.
“It was really Caroline that sort of egged me on to come on Mastermind because she got fed up with me shouting at the television and she said, ‘If you think you’re so clever, go and try it!’
“So it’s thanks to her,” Hardin said before looking to the sky and concluding: “This one’s for you, darling.”
