He came to prominence as a BBC television journalist and was the presenter of the BBC television quiz programme Mastermind for 25 years. The programme has been the target for many television spoofs, including a Two Ronnies sketch written by David Renwick (a less polished version had previously appeared in the Radio 4 series " The Burkiss Way") in 1980, featuring Ronnie Barker as Magnus Magnusson and Ronnie Corbett as a contestant named Charlie Smithers, whose specialist subject was "answering the question before last". Gascoigne’s ability to speak with great clarity at high speed helped to build tension as the clock ticked. He was the perfect host to prove ITV’s instinct that viewer enjoyment does not necessarily depend on the ability to play along at home.

That programme was to become inextricably linked to his name and the phrase: "I've started, so I'll finish. The twist was that Archer's puppet, being incapable of answering questions about himself without exaggeration or evasion, ends the round with zero points. The BBC subsequently commissioned a duplicate chair which was kept locked in the scenery truck at every recording to thwart similar ransom demands.The dynamic doctor, who earned fulsome praise from host John Humphrys, admits he is ‘incredibly competitive’ and spent his evenings and weekends reading up on general knowledge. Aberdeen-born Gary, who was has lived in Greater Manchester for 13 years, began his job at Woodbank surgery in Brandesholme last November, just three days after filming the show’s final.

What has been the most memorable specialist subject for you across the series so far since you’ve been the host? Magnus Magnusson's daughter, Sally, became a television celebrity in her own right, presenting, among others, Breakfast Time and Songs of Praise. Whereas the original series had kept talk to a minimum (asking contestants only their name, occupation and specialist subject), the new run had at first included some conversational elements with contestants, at the start of the General Knowledge round (normally about the contestant's specialist subject). In August 2010 during an edition of Mastermind Champion of Champions, the 2010 series champion, Jesse Honey, scored 23 out of 23 on "Flags of the World" in the specialist subject round, an all-time record. His producer, who is more tech-savvy than Myrie, looked into it immediately, but minutes later the address no longer existed.In the early years of the programme, finalists were allowed to reuse their first-round subjects in the grand final. Specialist subjects that will delight, amaze and frankly baffle some, which is exactly how it should be. In 1968 he appeared as a storyteller in five episodes of the BBC children's programme Jackanory, narrating English translations of 'Stories from Iceland'. Spitting Image used the Mastermind format in a sketch where a Magnus Magnusson puppet asked questions of a Jeffrey Archer puppet whose specialist subject was himself. In parts of South Wales, when the closing-time bell rings, the landlord bellows: “ I’ve started so I’ll finish.