Fans of Mastermind have blasted the gameshow's host Clive Myrie for 'ruining the show' after he hounded contestants with 'smack talk'.
On Monday night's episode, four new contenders joined Clive on the BBC quiz show to answer questions on their topics of expertise and general knowledge.
The specialist subjects were A Song Of Ice And Fire by George RR Martin, the marine mammals whales, the Italian climber and explorer Reinhold Messner, and Emily Brontë.
However, after introducing the players and their subjects, Clive gave a welcome speech that some viewers found unpleasant.
Looking directly into the camera with a stern expression, the host said: 'So, you think you’re hard do you? You want a piece of me? Is that why you’re here?
'No I’m not talking to you, dear viewer, but to our four contenders, quizzers par excellence who believe they’ve got the goods on me. The answers to all my questions, the solutions to all my conundrums.
'Well, we’re gonna find out if that’s the case but remember, this is the big league where the prize of this wonderful glass bowl and the title of Mastermind Champion are up for grabs.'
Fans of Mastermind have blasted the gameshow's host Clive Myrie for 'ruining the show' after he hounded contestants with 'smack talk'
On Monday night's episode, four new contenders joined Clive on the BBC quiz show to answer questions on their topics of expertise and general knowledge
Looking directly into the camera with a stern expression, the host said: 'So, you think you’re 'ard do you? You want a piece of me? Is that why you’re here?'
The intense nature of the speech echoes the show's high-pressure theme, especially since the idea for Mastermind was based on the reoccurring nightmares of BBC producer Bill Wright.
Despite being freed from a prisoner-of-war camp decades before, Former RAF gunner Wright was tormented by nightmares in which he would be seated, a bright light blazing in his face and unable to see his interrogator in the blackness beyond.
More than 25 years later, Wright turned that traumatic experience into the basis of arguably the most iconic quiz show in British TV history. The terrifying chair, the dazzling light and the merciless questioning are an integral part of the show he created, Mastermind.
However, some 'dear viewers' did not take well to Clive's goading introduction and ran to social media site X with their complaints.
'I can't cope with Clive Myrie doing smack talk.'
'Mastermind...get Clive Myrie off this show. He is ruining it.'
'These introductions are below you, Clive.'
'Shut up, Clive.'
Former war reporter Clive received glowing reviews from TV critics who called his Mastermind debut 'classy' and 'masterly' when he took over from John Humphrys as the new host in 2021.
He will replace John Humphrys (pictured) who stepped down in 2021 after 18 years in the role
The terrifying chair, the dazzling light and the merciless questioning are an integral part of the show
However, he was lambasted by viewers last month as they accused him of 'stitching up' a contestant and making the show seem 'very unfair'.
Alex Thomas, was one of the four brainiacs to join Clive as he asked them a series of questions in their chosen specialist subject within a two-minute time period for each round.
Alex chose the history of the West Indies men's cricket team from 1974 to the present day as his specialist subject, but sadly came in third place.
However, fans had been defending him on social media since his first round of questions when they compared the length of his questions to fellow player and winner Olivia's.
Another said: 'These Mastermind comments appear every week. They go on and on and on; just how long will these questions last for? Very unfair!'
'Just how long were those questions! Very unfair,' another added.
One wrote: 'His questions are way longer than the other contestants that seems a bit unfair?'
Former war reporter Clive received glowing reviews from TV critics who called his Mastermind debut 'classy' and 'masterly' when he took over from John Humphrys as the new host in 2021
The news presenter earns £310,000 for hosting bulletins, as well as an undisclosed fee for Mastermind which is produced by the Corporation's commercial arm BBC Studios
It comes after Clive apologised to the public in October for failing to declare at least £65,000 of earnings from corporate events.
The Mastermind host earned the money from corporate events over the last 12 months, including speeches at functions hosted by Dutch bank ING and the Royal College of Surgeons.
On top of his £310,000-a-year salary for presenting the News At One, News At Six and News At Ten, Mr Myrie earns an undisclosed sum for his work on the quiz show.
A source said that Mr Myrie had been 'very foolish' not to list the corporate gigs, saying: 'Whatever sins of greed or pride they commit, declare it and you’re forgiven.'
They added that there was 'quite a bit of bitterness' over the issue, which they said was yet more evidence that star anchors are 'not deities the BBC builds them up to be'.
Mr Myrie is expected to declare earnings from more events over the summer in his next submission to the register.
