Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 6: University Challenge R1M6, Only Connect R1M5, Mastermind Heat 5

Good evening again my friends, and welcome back to another Quizzy Monday! And, for the first time in a few weeks, we have no extreme weather here tonight; it is postitively average instead! Anyway, on with tonight's quizzing; coming up, another heat of Mastermind, and an edition of Only Connect that I appear to have foreseen four years ago! But firstly, on with UC, and something of a derby between two institutions who were with us last series...

 

Cardiff were knocked out in the second round last series; this series is its tenth of the BBC era, of which its best two performances were quarter-final appearances in 1997-98 and 2013-14. Representing them this series, and partly introducing themselves in Welsh pleasingly, were:

Harri Slaughter, from Wrexham, studying Medicine

Aeron Wheel, from Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, studying Maths and Stats

Captain: Carenza Danko, from Didcot, studying Biochemistry

Freddie Lancett, from the Forest of Dean, studying Social Sciences  

 

Bristol is appearing in a 20th BBC series, and, as the chairman indirectly pointed out, its eleventh in the last twelve; its last two teams have reached the semis of the last series and been runners-up of the final Paxo-era series three years ago. This year's quartet consisted of:

Lewis Jenkins, from Swansea, studying Maths

Lois Connolly, from Brighton, studying Liberal Arts

Captain: Hugo Goodwill, from Surrey, studing Aerospace Engineering

Nathaniel Joyce, from Southampton, studying Biology  

 

Cardiff got off the marks first with a starter and two bonuses, but Bristol took the next two and all but one of the resulting six bonuses, to give them an early lead. They also took the first picture round, and another full house meant they led 70-20. Cardiff responded well by taking two starters of their own, and half the resulting bonuses; but Bristol bounced back with a double of their own, including the music round, after which they had reached three figures, leading 105-55.

 

The game continued in the same vein, with Bristol maintaining their lead, but Cardiff keeping themselves in touching distance. A starter and a full set of bonuses on cheese production gave Bristol more room to breath, but Cardiff took the second picture round, which allowed them to cut the gap to 140-90. Both sides incurred a penalty each, before Cardiff rebounded and reached three figures, reducing the gap to 35 with just a few minutes to go. That would be as close as they got though, as Bristol made a late rally with two starters and all but one of the resulting bonuses to win the game. Cardiff did take the final starter, ensuring they at least make it onto the repechage board for at least one week. At the gong, Bristol won 180-115.

 

A good contest, solid play from both teams, but Bristol had the better of both the buzzers and the bonuses and were worthy winners in the end. Well done them, and best of luck next time! Hard lines to Cardiff, who probably won't be back in the repechage, but gave a fair account of themselves; thanks to them for playing!

 

The stats: Mr Jenkins was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Mr Lancett was best for Cardiff with four. On the bonuses, Cardiff managed 10 out of 21 (with one penalty) and Bristol a pretty good 20 out of 27 (with two penalties) and, for the third time this series, all eight players got at least one starter right.

 

Next week's match: Trinity Cambridge vs Linacre Oxford

 

Only Connect’s fifth first round heat was contested by the Scanners, Julie-Ann Moreland, Neelaksh Sadhoo and captain Steve Ash, whose name sounds familiar but I’m not sure where from (WWTBAM maybe?), and the Worker Bees, Cath Foster, Peter Flynn and captain Charlotte Jackson-Orland, who I appeared to think had already done OC when she was on Brain of Britain a few years ago; well, she has now!

 

My parents claim two points on the ‘synonyms for drunk’ question in the first round, and I was about to get the ‘stripy tops’ question when the Scanners did; the Bees led 4-1 at the end of that round. I half-claim the World Cup question in the second round as I worked it out but didn’t know what a proper answer would be; I definitely claim two points on the first female holders of the Great Offices of State. The Scanners had turned it around to lead 9-6 at the end of that.

 

The Scanners went first on the Walls, and correctly worked out two groups, but failed to get the other two in their three tries; they did get three connections though, so five points. Highlight of the Bees’ wall was ‘Dave Clark’ being a clue! Of course, the LAM webmaster had nothing to do with it, though it did give us this week's crossover with UC! They took their time and worked out all the groups, but also only got three connections; seven points meant they now trailed 14-13 going into Missing Vowels. The Bees had the better of that though to turn the game around again, and then ended up winning 21-18. Well done both teams, another excellent contest, and best of luck in your next games!

 

Next week’s match: Pitchers vs Benchwarmers

 

Mastermind was won by Robert Cohen, whose total of 20 points saw him easily win over Katie Stoyle with 15, Maxim Sinclair with 13 and Liz Bain with 9.

 

And that's it, we're done for another week! Thanks very much as ever for reading, and here's hoping the calm conditions outside can be maintained for as many more weeks as possible this season! Back next Monday, same time same place as usual, so, see yous then I guess...