(Rev Dr) Robert Peters

Mastermind has had its fair share of characters over the year, but perhaps no contestant stranger than a man calling himself 'The Reverend Dr Robert Peters', claiming to be a Church of England priest and also Director of Theological Studies at University College Buckland. He made a favourable impression at his audition and was accepted for the programme. However, on his actual night (taking 'The Life and Times of Archbishop William Temple) he made a rather poor showing and did not get beyond his heat - fortunately, as it transpired.

After the programme had been transmitted, the Mastermind office received a number of complaints that Peters had been thrown out of the Church of England for bigamy. This was subsequently confirmed by the News of the World - his real name was Robert Parkins, and he was indeed a defrocked priest who had married bigamously twice. He had also been appointed to positions by claiming to have qualifications that he did not possess, and he had charged students large sums of money for worthless theology certificates.

With such a shameful past behind him, one would think that 'Peters' would now wish to keep a low profile - instead, he risked media attention by applying for one of the most prestigious quiz shows on television. For sheer audacity, this man must surely deserve a special place in the annals of Mastermind contestants.