first four heats of uk kids quiz.

see preview-clip at first link.

Channel: BBC1

Date: Monday 30 August  Time: 7:00pm to 7:30pm

John Humphrys poses the questions as four contestants, aged only 10 and 11, brave the black chair in the general knowledge quiz.

Specialist subjects are: Formula 1 racing (1990-2004), Sharks, The `Alex Rider' novels by Anthony Horowitz and the Life and Reign of Queen Victoria.
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Channel: BBC1
 
Date: Tuesday 31 August  Time: 7:00pm to 7:30pm

John Humphrys poses the questions as four contestants, aged only 10 and 11, brave the black chair in the general knowledge quiz. Specialist subjects are: The Works of Jane Austen, the Eurovision Song Contest, Albert Einstein and the History of the Grand National (1990-2004).
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Channel: BBC1

Date: Wednesday 01 September  Time: 7:00pm to 7:30pm

John Humphrys poses the questions as four contestants, aged only 10 and 11, brave the black chair in the general knowledge quiz. Specialist subjects are: The History of the VW Beetle, the `Harry Potter' novels by J K Rowling, Liverpool Football Club (1995-2004) and The `Girls in Love' series by Jacqueline Wilson.
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Channel: BBC1

Date: Thursday 02 September  Time: 7:00pm to 7:30pm

John Humphrys poses the questions as four contestants, aged only 10 and 11, brave the black chair in the general knowledge quiz. Specialist subjects are: The Life of Mozart, the `Noughts and Crosses' book series by Malorie Blackman, British Olympic Medallists (1948 - 2000) and The Simpsons.

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<i>Aug 30 2004

Scotland's Mastermind hope

THINK Junior Mastermind and visions of studious swots with their heads buried deep in a pile of books spring to mind.

But Scotland's hope of claiming the title on the TV show couldn't be further from the nerd-like stereotype.

Calum MacEwen is a tousled-haired skateboarder who is more likely to be found riding a half pipe with his pals, or practising his electric guitar than poring over schoolwork.

That's not to say the 11-year-old couldn't care less about flunking grades.

'Lots of people are clever but aren't nerds. I hope to do well in school but I wouldn't be serious about it. I'm not studious, I like to enjoy myself,' he said. 'It's important to do well at school as it could affect your whole life.

'My school pals think it's quite cool I'm the only person in Scotland to get on the show.'
Calum, from Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, would rather be on the sportsfield than in his bedroom gazing at a computer screen.

'I don't sit at home on a nice day playing computer games. I'd much rather be outside on my skateboard or BMX,' he added.

Calum did however take time out from sport and music to get to grips with his specialist subject, the Alex Rider novels by Anthony Horowitz.

Calum faces a two-minute grilling by broadcaster John Humphreys on the adventures of the 14-year-old reluctant spy in tonight's show. The schoolboy read the series of books just four months before sitting in the TV hot seat.

'I read Skeleton Key in a day as I wanted to get on to Eagle Strike and I read them all again before going on Junior Mastermind,' he said.

He has even introduced parents Pauline and Neil, and brother Gregor, nine, and sister Morven, eight, to the adventure stories before the family travelled to London to watch Calum on the show. Mum Pauline, who runs her own chain of opticians, said: 'He's not the brightest in the class but he is switched on in other ways and has a sharp business mind.

'When he was four he drew pictures and sold them to all the neighbours. Hecame home with £4.50. The following year he set up a car washing scheme and a car boot sale in the garden.'
Calum could get his head for business from his mum or dad Neil, self-made boss of the Advanced Laser eye clinics in Scotland and Belfast.</i>

here are details for friday's show plus final on saturday - to add to first four heats listed above.

<i><b>Friday</b> - Four children take the walk to the black chair to answer questions on dinosaurs, Vincent Van Gogh, the life and career of Sachin Tendulkar, and the Tudors.

<b>saturday</b> - It's the Final of the junior version of Britain's toughest quiz. Tonight's subjects are: the geography of Australia, James Bond villains, frogs, Western European geography and The Princess Diaries</i>

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eyeclinic.co.uk/index.htm

alas, being cute wasn't enough to secure calum a coveted place on the winner's podium.

he came last of four contestants in his heat.

that's life - one has to learn to deal with disappointments.

the winner :

<i>ten-year-old Daniel Parker was last night crowned the first Junior Mastermind Champion.</i>

pic.

2 was his ID number in contest.

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<i>The Cardiff schoolboy, whose specialist subject in the final was James Bond villains, beat four other children to win the coveted title.

And Mastermind quiz master John Humphrys, who also hails from Cardiff, was delighted the first title went to a Welsh youngster.

He said: "I know that it's the oldest cliche in the book but they are all winners. They all did wonderfully well - far better than I expected.

"As for Daniel, he had a big advantage, he's Welsh!"

Daniel won by eight points, putting Jacob Richler-Kleiman from Manchester into second place.
He was equal first after the first specialist round.

But eventually he steamed ahead in the general knowledge to win with a total of 31 points.

Speaking after the final, Daniel said: "I didn't realise I had won until John Humphrys announced it. I was so happy, I couldn't believe it."

The five finalists' specialist subjects ranged from the geography of Australia to frogs.

Daniel chose the Volkswagon Beetle in an earlier round, but switched to James Bond villains for the final and revised using cards of 007's enemies, like Goldfinger and Blofeld.

"I like the Bond films because of the action, the cars and the gadgets and I think the villains make up what the Bond film is today.

"I think Jaws is the best of the baddies," he said.</i>
***
here's how the shropshire star reported the earlier stages of daniel's ruthless climb to the top of the child celebrity tree :

<i>Former Shropshire schoolboy Daniel Parker played it cool in the Mastermind hotseat - and won through to the finals of the competition to find Britain's brightest youngster.

The high-flying 11-year-old, formerly of Bishop's Castle, traded punches with quizmaster John Humphrys during last night's heats of Mastermind Junior on BBC 1 before answering his difficult questions with ease.

Humphrys took the youngster to task on his specialist subject - the VW Beetle.

Despite the pressure of being on the legendary black seat with the spotlight beaming on him and cameras rolling, Daniel gave as good as he got in response to Humphrys' gentle teasing.

Daniel sailed through his specialist subject and was impressive in the general knowledge session.</i>

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