OK, so yesterday it was confirmed that University Challenge will return for it's 27th BBC series, and it's 50th(!) overall, a week on Monday. Thus confirming my theory that they did manage to get some of the new series recorded before the indoor gathering restrictions came into force.
This was also confirmed by Bother's Bar last week, which claimed that the first round was recorded as usual, but that was all they managed before the restrictions came along. It also says that TPTB don't intend to try and remount production of the series if/when it's safe to do so, so as to avoid another situation like that with Gail Trimble's Corpus Christi team that we do not talk about anymore.
So, as things stand, it would appear that the BBC has decided to air the full run of first round shows, just so that the contestants do at least get to appear on screen. In the circumstances, this would seem like a fair decision to make.
It is unclear what they intend to do once they have aired all the shows though, as the shows would only be enough to last until mid-late October. Perhaps then they'll start doing what they've been doing with the football and tennis et al and showing classic old episodes instead.
It also makes one wonder how much, if any, did Only Connect and Mastermind manage to get filmed before the restrictions came along; we shall have to wait and find out.
But, as things stand, UC will be back a week on Monday. And I will be covering it in my new truncated reviews, as highlighted in my review of the BBC era thus far.
I'll be back tomorrow with some further, not-unrelated thoughts about other shows, so, see you then I guess.
The first round has been filmed, but the next recording block is planned to go ahead, in September, according to teams still in the competition. This means the second round can still be completed before the first round is finished broadcasting.
ReplyDeleteAh, thanks for that. I shall report that and a few other updates that in my next blog tomorrow.
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