The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Beaten Mastermind finalist Ken does Brechin proud
“Sci-fi geek” found last night’s viewing excruciating
A Tayside energy analyist said it was “utterly excruciating” to watch himself crash out of last night’s Mastermind final.
But quiz show fan Ken Morland said he would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Millions of viewers watched the 48-year-old, from Brechin, answer questions on chosen specialist subject, Indian Premier League Cricket during the six-man showdown on BBC Two.
He was further quizzed on 18th Century poets, Dutch art museums and shamed politicians and scored a highly respectable final tally of 24.
But he was beaten to first place by retired librarian Brian Chesney, who chose the Revolt of the Netherlands. His final score was 32.
Speaking after the broadcast, Ken said he was happy to have come fourth. “Even on my very best days, I was never going to beat Brian,” he said. “He is a really lovely guy, but he is a real brain of Brtain. I had no chance.
“Watching it back was utterly excruciating. I had forgotten a lot of what I had been asked, but I remembered the ones I got wrong.
“I knew them at the time, but I couldn’t get the answers out. I was so busy concentrating on the next question and trying to remember to breathe.”
Ken was sent to India with a BBC film crew as he researched his chosen subject.
“Indian cricket is something I have loved since I started watching games on Youtube in 2010.
“But it wasn’t my first choice. In fact, it was my 11th choice.
“I had really wanted to do the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Star Wars, but I had been told they had already been done before. I was a bit disappointed, because I am a bit of a sci-fi geek.”
Ken’s daughters Olivia, 17, and Katie, 12, travelled down to Manchester for the filming of the final in November.
“It was really hard to keep the outcome a secret,” he said. “I told a small handful of people, but I generally just told people they would have to watch to find out what happened.”
He added: “I would definitely do it again though. Mastermind was one of those shows that the whole family sat down to watch on a Sunday night at my house.
“To have made the final was just incredible. I always said the only reason I wouldn’t do it again was if I had won.”
Brian...is a real brain of Britain. I had no chance