Celebrity Mastermind began in 2002 as a one-off special hosted by Magnus Magnusson, the original host of the main show, before expanding to the current arrangement of 10 episodes, broadcast during December and January.

While other versions continued on radio and satellite television, the show did not return to BBC Television until 2002, with a one-off episode, the Mastermind Celebrity Special, originally broadcast on 30 December 2002 on BBC Two to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first ever Mastermind final.

[2] This was a precursor to the main show also returning to the BBC with a new host, John Humphrys.

The first series of the main show hosted by Humphrys began on BBC Two on 7 July 2003.

[3] The celebrity version then also aired on BBC Two for a first full series of three episodes in December 2003/January 2004, also hosted by Humphrys.