Test your Mastermind knowledge with 10 of the toughest questions from BBC show

11 December 2023 , 17:00

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Mastermind is one of the toughest quizzes on TV (Image: BBC/Hindsight/Hat Trick Productions/William Cherry/Press Eye)

BBC quiz show Mastermind is known for giving its contestants tricky general knowledge conundrums, and these are some of the 10 toughest questions that have ever been asked.

Challenging yourself to solve puzzles and brain teasers is a great way to keep your mind healthy and active, but if you're not a fan of hidden object puzzles or complicated riddles, then there's another way to give your brain a workout - answering general knowledge questions. You can find these questions online or you can tune in to the countless quiz shows on TV to get your fix, but none are quite as difficult as Mastermind.

The BBC series has been on air for over 50 years and is currently hosted by Clive Myrie. The format sees contestants first answer questions on their chosen specialist subject before they're tasked with some seriously tough general knowledge queries. Here are 10 of the hardest questions ever asked on the show - how many can you get right?

10 tough Mastermind questions

1. The painting Salvator Mundi, which was sold at auction for a record $450 million in 2017, is believed to be by which artist?

2. What corrosive acid was formerly known as oil of vitriol?

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3. Nicholson is the surname of a Singapore-born violinist known generally by what first names?

4. Which Mediterranean island country is the smallest member of the European Union by both size and population?

5. The Naked and the Dead, published in 1948, was the debut novel of which American author who based it partly on his experiences serving with the Army in the Pacific during the Second World War?

6. The UNESCO World Heritage site Leptis Magna, which contains some of the finest Roman architectural remains in the world, is in which North African country?

7. What's the common name of trees of the genus Quercus?

8. Who became the first singer in the history of the UK's Official Singles Chart to have had two songs at Number One for nine or more weeks with One Dance in 2016 and God's Plan in 2018?

9. In A.D. 14, who succeeded his stepfather Augustus to become the second Roman emperor?

10. What's the name of the author and illustrator, best known for her creations Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort, who was Children's Laureate from 2017 until 2019?

How many do you think you got right? We're about to give you all the answers below, so if you're still trying to think through some of the questions then don't scroll any further!

Answers

1. Leonardo da Vinci
2. Sulphuric acid
3. Vanessa-Mae
4. Malta
5. Norman Mailer
6. Libya
7. Oak
8. Drake
9. Tiberius
10. Lauren Child

How did you do? Let us know in the comments!

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