Magnus Magnusson

Writer and broadcaster, born in Edinburgh, EC Scotland, UK of Icelandic parents. He studied at Oxford, and became a journalist, then a broadcaster. He is chiefly known for presenting a wide range of radio and television programmes, such as Chronicle, Tonight and, most famously, the annual series of Mastermind (1972–97). His books include Introducing Archaeology (1972), Vikings! (1980), and Treasures of Scotland (1981), and he has translated many books from Icelandic (with Hermann Pálsson). Fakers, Forgers and Phoneys: Famous Scams and Scamps appeared in 2006. He was the editor of the 5th edition of the Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1990). He was Rector of Edinburgh University (1975–8), and has been much involved with heritage and conservation organizations.

For the Icelandic strongman, see Magnús Ver Magnússon.

Magnús Magnússon KBE (born 12 October 1929) is a Scottish television presenter, journalist, translator and writer, of Icelandic origin.

He was born in Reykjavík but grew up in Edinburgh, where his father was Icelandic consul.

After graduating from Jesus College, Oxford, he became a reporter with the Scottish Daily Express and The Scotsman.

His most famous catch-phrase on Mastermind, which the current presenter John Humphrys has continued to use, was "I've started so I'll finish".

He has translated a variety of books from Icelandic and Old Norse into English. Among these are several works by Halldór Laxness, the Nobel prize winning novelist from Iceland, and a number of Norse sagas which he co-translated (with Hermann Pálsson) for the Penguin Classics series: Njal's Saga (1960), The Vinland Sagas (1965), King Harald's Saga (1966) and Laxdaela Saga (1969).

His eldest daughter, Sally Magnusson, is also a television presenter in Scotland.

On October 12, 2006 his 77th birthday, Magnusson was diagnosed with cancer.