BBC seals format deals for Mastermind

BBC Worldwide has struck agreements for international versions of long-running UK quiz show Mastermind.

Mastermind has been on the BBC in the UK for 35 years and Worldwide, the commercial arm of the public broadcaster, has inked two format agreements for the show.

It will air in Turkey and West Africa. In Turkey, Dogus Media Group has picked up rights to the quiz format and will air it on its NTV channel.

In Africa, Rapid Blue, the production house that makes Strictly Come Dancing South Africa, will produce a version of Mastermind for both Nigeria and Ghana. It will make one version with contestants from both of the West African countries and the 13-episode series will go out in August.

The African version will be ad-funded, with regional telco Glo Mobile footing the bill. Rapid Blue will confirm local broadcast partners as they come on board.

Elin Thomas, VP, format licensing EMEA, BBC Worldwide said: “The format has been commissioned in nine other countries including India, Israel and Russia, and is known for testing the boldest and brightest of contestants with the toughest of questions. Viewers in Turkey, Ghana and Nigeria can look forward to a real battle of the brains as contestants attempt to hold their nerve and get ‘no passes’ in the quick fire Specialised Subject and General Knowledge rounds.”

Worldwide is also set to announce several other format deals off the back of MIPTV.

Finland’s YLE has ordered a local version of Show Me the Funny – Standup Showdown and will make nine episodes of the comedy show. Georgian public broadcaster GPB has also greenlit a local version and will make a seven-episode series.