Mastermind 'isn't dumbed down'

Mastermind presenter John Humphrys has strongly criticised the Conservatives for claiming the programme has been "dumbed down".

Shadow culture secretary Julie Kirkbride said contestants were choosing subjects which compromised the "intellectual purity" of the long-running BBC quiz.

The criticism followed a recent edition in which one contestant answered questions on comic creation Alan Partridge. Ten years ago specialist subjects included Aztec mythology and the life and reign of Napoleon III.

But today Humphrys said it was merely a bid to grab headlines. He said: "It's complete tosh, absolute rubbish. It is so easy to select today's lighter subjects and then go back 20 years and choose 10 serious subjects. I could do exactly the same in reverse and prove that we've dumbed up."

Humphrys, 61 next month, relaunched the programme after Magnus Magnusson retired in 1997. The new show has seen contestants answering "specialist" questions on topics including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Only Fools And Horses and Dr Who.

Humphrys invited Ms Kirkbride to take part.