BBC contestant blows fans away with ‘phenomenal’ Mastermind moment

| Senior TV Reporter Published August 22, 2026 4:28pm Updated August 22, 2026 4:28pm To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video One Mastermind contestant has left fans with their jaw hanging open in awe after debuting a truly niche specialist subject. Do you know what a moquette is? If the answer is no, then you wouldn’t have been in with a flying chance of answering any of the questions during Monday night’s specialist subject on the BBC quiz show. Enter policy researcher Emily Medhurst, whose knowledge of the history of the carpet-like fabric of the capital’s transport vehicles (aka Transport for London) is second to, perhaps, none. Yes, that’s what the term means; it’s niche, and no one does niche better than an enthusiastic Mastermind contestant. Over the course of two minutes, she faced a tough grilling, including questions like which line had a Yellow Pages directory-branded moquette (the Circle) and which former official War Artist created two moquettes called Alperton and Arnot (It’s a guy called Paul Nash). The cherry on top? That she was wearing a moquette-patterned jumper she knitted to aesthetically match the line of questioning (overground themed, of course). Now that’s television at its finest. Emily even wore a TfL-themed top that she knitted herself for the occasion (Picture: BBC) Needless to say, her cool, calm demeanour, near-perfect set of answers and sheer level of knowledge were enough to knock viewers’ socks off. ‘Obsessed! Diva!’ Charitydales proclaimed. ‘Niche knowledge is exactly what we need more of in the world, but when you realise that the pattern on her top is the subject of one of the questions… that’s just phenomenal,’ David Rowe praised. ‘I don’t know what the prize for this is, but I know it should be one hundred billion pounds,’ SpecerKlavan declared. ‘Wait…. not her wearing the same pattern as the train seat fabric. taste,’ AshleyReece agreed. Frances Coppola called the performance ‘astonishing’ while OldStationSt declared: ‘If I ever have a daughter I hope she grows up to feel as passionate about something niche and obscure as Moquettes.’ Host Clive Myrie delivered niche question after question – and fans were impressed (Picture: BBC) Celebrating her appearance on the show, Emily wrote on social media: ‘TfL has such a rich history of design, and it was so fun to dive in and learn more about the amazing designers, manufacturers and lore behind the fabric that 2-4 million people park themselves on every day.’ She also shared her excitement at knitting her own themed sweater vest for the occasion. She confirmed the pattern was the 2016 update by Fernando Solis of the original 2008 design by Wallace Sewell. Deals of the Day Simba's cooling mattresses are now up to 30% off ahead of the bank holiday The best hosepipe ban-friendly products to protect your garden this summer Amazon has slashed the price of Cetaphil's bestselling sensitive skin products Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Mastermind is available to catch up on BBC iPlayer. Arrow MORE: Is Casualty on tonight? When it’s back and next on TV confirmed Arrow MORE: BBC series watched by 11,800,000 returns with ‘stakes higher than ever’ Arrow MORE: BBC’s new 33-year-old Hercule Poirot is unnerving with completely different moustache TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.