If you’ve ever watched TV quiz show Mastermind (on SBS) it looks terrifying as contestants perch on an intimidating chair under a spotlight and no wonder – the show’s creator drew on his prisoner-of-war experience being interrogated.
Canberran Mick Logue, 37, who has an arts degree in political science and nerves of steel, sat in that very chair last Friday and won the grand final – no small feat given he only had a week to prepare.
In the lead-up to the grand final, Mick took a week off bar work at the Burns Cub and crammed 12 to 14 hours a day to prepare.
“I was feeling a lot of pressure, most of it I put on myself,” Mick said. “I’m not the best at the hard kind of study. I guess I’m just quite curious. I’m quite engaged in what’s going on in the world so I’ve taken a lot of knowledge that way.”
For those playing at home, Mick’s specialist subject in the first round was the Canberra Raiders 1989-1999 – “It was compulsory, I’m a massive Raiders fan,” he said. In the semi-finals his specialty was the Socceroos in the World Cup, and in the grand final, ‘90s British sitcom Men Behaving Badly.
“They showed the repeats when I was at uni and I used to cut uni to watch it,” Mick said. “There’s nowhere to hide with your specialty topics, you’ve just got to cram them. However well you think you know them, you don’t.”
For his win, Mick received a handcrafted, etched glass bowl (made by Indigenous artist Dennis Golding) and fame and glory. Next time, he wants the fortune.
“In terms of prestige, I guess it is the pinnacle but I would like to do one with prize money next time,” Mick said.
Perhaps The Chase might be on the cards, as Mick knows British quiz personality Isser Schultz after the two paired up – and won – the Australian Quiz Championships three times. The two have also been teammates on the Australian National Team.
In the mean time, Mick will continue to run regular quiz nights at the Services Club in Barton with his business, Trivial Excuse.
“It used to be my full-time gig running trivia but Covid kind of sent that to the wall,” Mick said.
If you’d like to watch Mick on Mastermind, his episodes are on SBS on demand (season 6) and don’t be surprised if you hear TV host Marc Fennell call him “Micky” Logue – it’s a strategy.
“Micky became this weird kind of alter ego who had all the qualities I didn’t have but needed to win the show,” Mick said. “It was just this whole beast I didn’t recognise, who was getting up early to study, staying up late studying. It wasn’t something I planned but it was something that weirdly kind of happened.”
