OK guys, I've decided that I will be covering the new series of Only Connect, which starts alongside UC next Monday, on here, given that our friend Dave Clark hasn't updated LAM for nearly two months. I will, of course, finish what I've started here, but the final Series 1 matches will be retro-capped sporadically, whenever I find a moment among the other work. I am going away next weekend, so I will do what I can when I can.
Anyway, playing the first ever OC semi-final were the Crossworders, Mark Grant, David Stainer and Ian Bayley, and the Science Writers, Arran Frood, Chrissie Giles and Peter Wrobel.
Round 1. The Writers went first, and chose Alpha: 'Charles I', 'Elizabeth I', 'Louis XIV' and 'William Penn', and I guessed that they all gave names to US states. The Writers spotted it too late, allowing the Crossworders to collect a bonus. They chose Beta for themselves: 'L.A. Story', 'Up Close & Personal', 'Groundhog Day' and 'To Die For'; neither team knew it, though the Crossworders did come close, that they are all films about weather forecasters. The Writers chose Delta next, and got the picture round: we saw Omar Sharif, then Paul Daniels, then Tony Hawk and finally Jeremy Beadle; again, both teams came close, but didn't hit the right answer, which is they all make/made a living with various sorts of 'tricks'. The Crossworders chose Zeta: 'First Folio', then '373g of sterling silver', then 'Barings Bank' and finally 'Lotto ticket'; they didn't know, but the Writers got that they were all bought for £1, which was correct for a bonus. For their final question, the Writers chose Epsilon: 'Shells', then 'Butterflies', then 'Priest Chokers' and finishing with 'Little worms'; I guessed meanings of Italian pasta names, which was correct, as the Crossworders knew for a bonus after the Writers missed it. They were themselves left with Gamma, and the music question: after three pieces, the Crossworders offered that they were all used in chocolate adverts, which was not correct. On hearing the classic 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life', the Writers didn't see it; they were all songs with a whistling section! At the end of the round, the Crossworders led 2-1.
And it wasn't about to get any easier. Round 2. The Writers chose Gamma first: '4 = LDPE;', '3 = PVC', '2 = HDPE'; they knew it was recycling codes, but didn't know what came next. Nor did the Crossworders. It's '1 = PET'. The Crossworders chose Beta: 'Marlborough House', then 'White Lodge, Richmond'; Mr Grant spotted that these are birth places of monarchs, and offered 'Bruton Street', which was correct enough for three points. The Writers chose Epsilon: 'Eastern Europe', 'Aerial Recon.', 'Security Service'; they offered 'MI6', which VCM accepted, as they had the right idea, though 'Secret Intelligence Service' was what they really wanted. The Crossworders chose Alpha: 'Antigua & Barbuda', 'St Kitts & Nevis', 'Brunei'; they offered 'St Vincent & the Grandines', which was wrong. The Writers didn't know it. They are places that gained independence from the UK, so Hong Kong would be next. (That question could well have been outdated by now, had things gone differently last September, lest we forget) For their final question, the Writers chose Delta: 'Wheat', 'Turnips', 'Barley'; they offered 'Rye', which VCM let them have, as it is the Norfolk crop rotation, so 'Rye Grass' would be next, apparently. The Crossworders were left with Zeta, and the picture set: we saw various coins, which the Crossworders knew are all no longer in use; on seeing a sixpence third, they offered a ha'penny, which was correct for two points. At the end of the second round, the Crossworders led 7-5.
So, on to the Walls. The Crossworders went first, and chose to attempt the Beta wall. After some wrong guesses, 'Suet', 'Flour', 'Sixpence' and 'Peel' slotted in, which are all components of a Christmas pudding. 'Drummle', 'Biddy', 'Estella' and 'Pip' followed, which are all characters from Great Expectations. They studied what was left, and worked it out: 'Hannah', 'Naan', 'Level' and 'Peep' are all palindromes, while 'Honey', 'Mason', 'Bumble' and 'Mining' are types of bee. A clean sweep, and a well-earned ten points.
The Writers were left with the Alpha wall to solve. They fiddled about with the clues for ages, but had no luck resolving anything. They were eventually timed out, and left to pick up bonus points. 'Seal', 'Sting', 'Jewel' and 'Pink' are all one-word pop stars, which they missed. 'Goose', 'Dame', 'Baron' and 'Prince' are pantomine characters, which they did get. 'Bird', 'Count', 'Duke' and 'King' are nicknames of jazz musicians, which they missed. 'Soldier', 'Sauce', 'Biscuits' and 'Buttons' can all follow 'chocolate', which they did get. So, two bonus points picked up. Going into the final round, the Crossworders led 17-7.
So, Missing Vowels to finish off, as usual. 'Garden designers' went to the Crossworders 1-0. 'Religious texts' went to the Writers 2-0. 'Photographic terms' got two questions out, but neither was answered by either side. At the end of the quiz, the Crossworders won 18-9.
Unlucky Writers, but you came a good long way, and should be pleased with what you achieved. Well done, of course, to the Crossworders, and we'll see you when we get to the final.
So, I'll go on to the second semi-final whenever I can slot it in. Unless I can think of something else to post about beforehand, I'll be back on Monday with the new series of UC.
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