After nearly six months of intense competition during which a new Mastermind scoring record has been set, the five finalists out of the 64 original contenders now seek the coveted title of Mastermind 1986.

In the imposing surroundings of the McEwan Hall at the University of Edinburgh, one of them will receive the specially engraved Caithness glass trophy from the Controller of BBC1,

Michael Grade.

The five contenders are: Michael Formby (chartered surveyor) The history of the Epsom Derby from 1780 Owen Gunnell (schoolteacher) The life and works of Geoffrey Chaucer

Henry Farquhar-Smith (teacher) The history of Edinburgh from 1745

Jennifer Keaveney (careers information officer) The life and works of Elizabeth Gaskell Philip McDonald (schoolmaster) The life and poetry of John Donne