After 30 years on air; the toughest and most nerve wracking quiz on television arrived to TV3. Presented by former Minister for Justice Nora Owen, some of the best-known faces in the country sat in the most famous black chair in television for the chance to be crowned Ireland’s Celebrity Mastermind.

Filmed at the historical setting of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, Ireland’s first ever version of Mastermind follows the original format so much loved by Irish TV audiences.

The brave celebrities who took on the Mastermind challenge in the first ever 6-part series included; sports broadcaster Jimmy Magee, footballer Ger Brennan, singer Dickie Rock, writer Nell McCafferty, Crystal Swing’s Derek Burke, former Minister Mary O’Rourke, Miss Ireland Holly Carpenter, comedy actor Alan Shortt, broadcasters Rick O’Shea, Mairéad Farrell and Anton Savage and entrepreneur Gavin Duffy. The eventual winner broadcaster Rick O’Shea scooped a bonus of €5,000 for his nominated charity Brainwave and a specially commissioned Salmon of Knowledge trophy.

Following those brave celebrities into the famous black chair were our juniors –  some of the brightest young things took to the chair to be tested on their specialist subject and general knowledge. After the success of Celebrity Mastermind, Junior Mastermind aired in November 2012; a brand new series with the brightest 10 or 11 years olds taking on the most nerve wracking quiz on television.  Presented by Nora Owen, the show consisted of 5 heats as 4 children from across Ireland competed each week, for a place in the Grand Final, which aired Sunday 9th December, crowning Jack Meenan from Donegal as the winner of Junior Mastermind 2012.