Mastermind fans blasted the BBC for ‘dropping its standards’ after a contestant on the quiz show won having specialised in children’s cartoon The Simpsons.

Viewers were left furious that the subject choice ‘wasn’t serious enough’ as contender Danielle faced Clive Myrie in the hot seat for her opening round.

The admin assistant was competing against a global health consultant specialising in composer Chopin, a digital designer specialising in the plays of Samuel Beckett and a teacher specialising in the life of American activist Gloria Steinem.

It was revealed that Danielle would be answering questions based on the first ten series of the popular cartoon, which was first launched in the 1990s.

Among the questions the contestant had to face were: ‘What was the name of the dog the Simpsons adopt in the first episode?’ and ‘what is the name of the Simpsons’ local newspaper?’

Scoring an impressive 11 points in the first round, and using no passes, Danielle then went on to score another 13 points in the second general knowledge round as she went head to head with health consultant Omair.

+4
View gallery

Mastermind fans have blasted the BBC for ‘dropping its standards’ after a contestant on the quiz show won after specialising in children’s cartoon The Simpsons

+4
View gallery

Contender Danielle faced Clive Myrie in the hot seat for her opening round where she was seen answering questions about the first ten series of the cartoon

Clive, 61, congratulated Danielle: ‘In the lead with 24 is Danielle, so she goes through to the semi-final, congratulations to her.’

Celebrating her win, the admin assistant then told the camera: ‘I can’t believe it to be honest, it’s not what I expected really signing up, I just thought give it a go and at least to be a part of it.

‘But to actually win, I don’t think I really heard it when Clive said it. I’ve never been on a quiz show before, it’s been brilliant.

‘The main person cheering me on at home is mum – and I got into quiz shows by watching the BBC’s quizzing Mondays, just the two of us. We always try to keep a little tally.

‘Going into the semi-finals, I feel quite nervous now, it didn’t even occur to me that there would be another topic to learn so it’s quite exciting that there will be something else to learn, so there’s more prep now’.

Taking to X after the show, some viewers were left furious that Danielle had managed to surpass the other, more historical, specialist subjects chosen.

One penned: ‘Simpsons season 10? Has Mastermind dropped its standards?’ as a second fumed: ‘The Simpsons. This isn’t a serious programme anymore.’

A third added: ‘Ffs…. The Simpsons, as a specialist subject? I got 8 correct!’ as a fourth chimed in: ‘Simpsons. I dunno. Lots of material, but not exactly highbrow.’

+4
View gallery

The admin assistant was competing against a global health consultant specialising in composer Chopin, a digital designer specialising in the plays of Samuel Beckett and a teacher specialising on the life of American activist Gloria Steinem

Another penned: ‘The Simpsons. Oh, p**s, right, off!’

Others stepped in to defend Danielle, with one writing: ‘All Simpsons fans are smart so no surprise she won. She knew her Simpsons stuff certainly.’

A second agreed: ‘The Simpsons seasons 1-10 – that would’ve been my specialist subject choice!’

While a third gushed: ‘Attractive AND a fan of the best seasons of The Simpsons. What more could you ask for?’

It comes after Mastermind viewers erupted in outrage last week as host Clive was accused of ‘robbing’ a contestant of his place in the finale after a ‘very harsh’ ruling on a Shakespeare question.

Contestant Alan was tackling his general knowledge round when Myrie asked: ‘In which Shakespeare play is Titania, queen of the fairies, attended to by other fairies named Peasblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustard Seed?’

Alan confidently replied: ‘A Midsummer’s Night Dream.’

The slip – a misplaced apostrophe and extra ‘s’ – proved costly as Myrie refused to award the point, firmly telling him: ‘No. It’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’

Alan, taking the ruling in good humour, continued calmly with his questions and went on to finish with a respectable 19 points.

The winning contestant ultimately secured just one point more than Alan, meaning the Shakespeare ruling could well have changed the outcome.