New Mastermind host Clive Myrie made an energetic appearance on Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, where he claimed that stepping into the quiz show’s iconic studio brought him more fear than dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein’s army.
The BBC newsreader, 56, who has taken over the hot seat from veteran question-master John Humphrys, 78, is the show’s fifth presenter over its 50 year tenure.
An elated Clive told Ranvir Singh and Richard Bacon: ‘The thing about this studio it’s light, it’s bright, it’s like being out in the fresh air, it’s wonderful.’
‘I genuinely was shaking’: Clive Myrie said hosting Mastermind brought him greater fear than dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein’s army in a Monday appearance on Good Morning Britain
He continued: ‘You walk into the Mastermind studio and it is dark, it is black. You’ve got the four contenders on that side, you walk in and I sit down, and I’m like, “I’m presenting Mastermind, I don’t believe this. It’s absolutely bizarre.”
‘Then you see the chair across the way and the music starts up and it’s like, boom! I genuinely was shaking for the first one.’
Referencing his lengthy journalism career, which dates back to 1987, a surprised Ranvir said, ‘You’ve been around the world reporting on so many things.’
Flapping his hands, Clive said: ‘Listen, I’ll be dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein’s army and all kinds of stuff… but that was scary. Sitting in that studio, it really was.’
Hard at work: The BBC newsreader has been marked as the show’s fifth presenter over its 50 year tenure
Animated: Clive couldn’t contain his excitement as he divulged into his ‘bizarre’ Mastermind filming experience
The University of Sussex alum previously told PA Media that he had been expecting an influx of racist abuse on social media following the announcement of his Mastermind gig.
‘I got very little after the announcement, actually. Everything was positive, absolutely everything,’ Clive, who has Jamaican parents said.
‘This is not something that happens every day. Every now and again someone will send an email or send a letter or a card or whatever, making their racist views known.
‘By and large, my days of getting angry are over. I’m way too long in the tooth for that – or getting upset, rather,’ he concluded.
Experienced: Referencing his lengthy journalism career, which dates back to as far as 1987, a surprised Ranvir said, ‘You’ve been around the world reporting on so many things’
Unbelievable: Flapping his hands, Clive said, ‘Listen, I’ll be dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein’s army and all kinds of stuff but that was scary. Sitting in that studio, it really was’
Clive has been a regular BBC News At Six and Ten newsreader since 2010, and previously worked as the broadcaster’s correspondent in Asia, Africa, Washington, Paris and Brussels.
He said presenting the quiz show has been a welcome contrast to the grim headlines of the past year, adding: ‘It has been nice, actually, to have this to look forward to, something slightly different, a new challenge, a new opportunity.
‘Also a chance for the public to see me in a different light.’
The broadcaster, who has known his 18-year-long predecessor John for a considerable amount of time, has not sought advice from him but said he hopes he will be a worthy successor.
Friends: Clive, who has known his predecessor John for a considerable amount of time, has not sought advice from him but said he hopes he will be a worthy successor
He said: ‘Obviously I’m following in the footsteps of giants of British broadcasting – John Humphreys.
‘I hope that that I do the show proud, as he has done over so many years, and so there’s a level of trepidation there as well.
‘At the same time, I’m excited to see how the public reacts, and I hope it’s a positive reaction,’ he added.
Clive Myrie’s debut as host of Mastermind will air at 7.30pm on Monday August 23 on BBC Two and iPlayer.
Throwback: Clive has been a regular BBC News At Six and Ten newsreader since 2010, and previously worked as the broadcaster’s correspondent in Asia, Africa, Washington, Paris and Brussels (pictured in the 2010s)