Kevin Ashman - Mastermind

Kevin Ashman

Kevin Ashman is a civil servant from Winchester. He is regarded as the UK's foremost quiz player. There were signs of his prowess when he first appeared on Mastermind in 1987 when, taking 'The Political History of the United States 1923-80 as his subject, he scored an impressive 38. In the semi-final he took 'World Cinema 1960-80' and lost on passes to fellow civil servant Margaret Spiller.

Over the next few years Kevin had a long series of successes on TV quiz shows - he won Fifteen-to-One (series 3 champion), Sale of the Century, Quiz Night, Trivial Pursuit and The Great British Quiz. In 1995, Mastermind was unexpectedly opened up to former contestants, and Kevin was accepted for the new series - but only as a reserve contestant. However, his luck was in - another contestant pulled out at short notice, and Kevin found himself back on the programme.

Taking 'Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement' as his subject, Kevin took the lead at the halfway stage with 20. However, this was nothing compared to his runaway victory at the end of the general knowledge round - 41 and no passes, breaking the previous record jointly held by Jennifer Keaveney and Mary-Elizabeth Raw.

Although Kevin never equalled this feat, the semi-final was none the less decisive. He scored 18 in his first round with his new subject 'The History of the Western Film', putting him level with Bill Stratton and only one point ahead of Michael Taylor. In the general knowledge round, he scored 20 to finish well ahead of the opposition on 38.

In the final, Kevin scored 18 on 'The Zulu War', finding himself trailing one point behind Henry Boettinger. However, once again the general knowledge round proved crucial, and Kevin won the title of Mastermind for 1995 with 39 points.

Some people retire from quizzes after winning Mastermind, but not so Kevin who has gone from strength to strength. He went on to win Masterbrain, a radio competition for winners and runners-up of Mastermind and Brain of Britain. The following year he actually won Brain of Britain, therefore qualifying for Masterbrain which he won again! He also went on to win Brain of Brains (contested between the previous three years' Brains of Britain) and Top Brain (contested very nine years). Kevin was back on TV when he won the Millennium edition of Fifteen-to-One, broadcast on New Year's Eve 1999.

Away from TV and radio, Kevin won (by miles) a gruelling quiz organised by the Mind Sports Olympiad in 1999 and 2000, and mention should be made of the Magnum and Mugnum, two trophies awarded annually by the Mastermind Club for a difficult and a more light-hearted quiz. Kevin has won both on a record number of occasions - five and three respectively. He is also a member of a quiz team called the Allsorts which plays in the Quiz League of London - other members include fellow Masterminders Gavin Fuller and Phillida Grantham.