Masterteam

Hosted by Peter Snow, this new high brow Radio 4 quiz incorporates features from Mastermind as well as other well known quiz shows.

Each match is between two teams of three players. Round 1 is a straightforward buzzer round, with 1 point for a correct answer, but the question gets passed over to the other team to answer (with conferring) if the original interruption is incorrect. As soon as one teams reaches ten points, then the round finishes.

The team on ten points then selects from a list a specialist subject for one member of each team to attempt Mastermind style. Of course they will try and choose a subject they are good at for themselves, and then give a difficult subject to the other team.

The final round, which lasts for about half the show, is essentially a risk taking round. A team gets a question for one point. If they answer that correctly, they can then choose to hear a question for two points (for which there will be two required answers). Then they can have a three point question, and so on up to a five point question (with five answers). If they get a question wrong then they lose all points amassed on that turn, and the other team gets a turn. Alternatively, they can stop after answering one of the questions, and bank the points, and then the other team get a turn.

Six teams, representing their region of the country, play a league format, each against four other teams. The two highest scoring teams playing off in a final at the end of the series.