THE familiar menacing theme tune starts, the spotlight shines on the solitary black leather chair.

The beginning of Mastermind is surely one of the most evocative and intimidating of TV moments.

It's a shame therefore that the rest of the programme appears to have gone downhill since Magnus I've started so I'll finish' Magnusson relinquished the role of chief inquisitor.

Poor old John Humphrys always had a hard act to follow and he certainly tries his best.

But what lets it down for me is the specialist subjects which people are allowed to get away with.

One of the great joys of Mastermind rather like University Challenge was the sense of achievement the viewer got by managing to answer one question during the entire show.

As the eggheads on display could give the Latin name for the humble carrot without batting an eyelid, you could only gape in wonder, harbouring a feeling that the education system had let you down somewhere along the way.

But now what do we get? Last night's specialist subjects included the Bodyline Ashes tour and .... David Bowie.

David Bowie? Popular music! What's happening?

This is Mastermind for goodness sake not some local pub quiz.

There's no need to dumb down every programme on TV.

We need the occasional half hour which actually taxes our brain and encourages us to think.