Good evening my friends, and welcome to the new season of Quizzy Mondays! Much needed as well, as the few months since we were last year have been somewhat sad in all honesty, with the Radio 4 quiz pilots providing some much needed cheer. My review of the last of these, Around the World in 80 Ways, coming up next Tuesday once the second episode has gone out. For now though, down to business; coming up, some confusion about Only Connect, but first, on with the new series of UC...
Bristol have been fairly regular senders of UC teams in the BBC era, this is their 21st; last year's team exited in the second round, but the two beforehand reached the semis and the final respectively. Playing for them this year were:
Jake Wingfield, from Kidderminster, studying Music
Francesca O'Connor, from East Grinstead, studying English and History
Captain: Freddie Burns, from Stroud, studying Quantum Computing
Artem Borisov, from Moscow, studying Maths and Computer Science
Imperial have only appeared in 17 previous BBC series, but their record is exemplary, with a joint record five series wins and a further seven teams reaching at least the QFs; last year's team were defeated by eventual winners Manchester in the semis. This year's line-up, with a lot to live up to, were:
Dennis Reppen, from Chicago, studying Taxonomy
Lola Linnane-Barron, from London, studying Pure Maths
Captain: Charlie Lowman, from Chester, studying Maths
Edward Israngkura Na Ayudhya, from Bangkok, studying Advanced Chemical Engineering
So, off we set on another series, and it was Charlie Lowman who took the first starter of the series, for Imperial, who took all three bonuses. Bristol's first contribution of the series was an unfortunate penalty, but they soon got going as well; after the first picture round, the teams were tied on 35-each. The London side pressed ahead then with two starters in a row, but an unlucky penalty of their own allowed Bristol back in. It was a brief blip in a productive second quarter for Imperial; after the music round, they led 110-55.
Another starter took Imperial within sight of a three figure lead, but Bristol managed to get a run together and, after the second picture round, they'd suddenly cut the gap to 130-110. But Imperial reawoke with a starter and full set of bonuses. Bristol took the next to keep the pressure on them, but a late rally saw the Londoners race away and soon reach 200. Bristol did keep their score ticking over as well though, thus ensuring they'll almost certainly be back in the repechage. At the gong, Imperial won 220-160.
An excellent start to the new series, two very impressive teams, well played to both of them. Well done Imperial, carry on like that and we'll be seeing them in the later stages again; best of luck to them, for now though, in the second round! Hard lines to Bristol, but they'll almost certainly be back in the repechage with a score as good as that; best of luck to them in that.
The stats: Messrs Reppen and Lowman were joint best buzzers of the night with five each, while Messrs Wingfield and Burns were joint best for Bristol with three each. On the bonuses, Bristol managed 16 out of 27 (with two penalties) and Imperial 22 out of 36 (also with two penalties), and, pleasingly for the first show of the series, all eight players got at least one starter correct.
Next week's match: Durham vs Manchester
Only Connect’s returned for its 22nd
series, which the BBC website claims will run for 34 episodes, but the host
claimed at the start will be 38 episodes long. Whichever it is, how it would
work, I don’t know. Surely they’re not going to do the double elimination
format AGAIN when they’re down to eight teams after the initial play-off round. Hopefully all will become clear in due course and it won’t be as
faffy as Series 12 and 13. Seriously, what was wrong with the existing format? (Or maybe
there are going to be lots of Christmas specials and they’re counting them
towards the total)
Anyway, the series was opened by
the Culture Club, Charlie Brookfield, Viki Owen and captain Hugh Adler, and the
Makeweights, Omer Elchanan, Isaac Barden and captain Eleanor Stiles.
I don’t think me or my parents got
any questions completely right in the first round, though we came close on a
few of them (and I was a bit distracted during it as well TBF); the teams were
tied on 3-each at the end of that. I claimed our first points of the series,
the same three as the Makeweights, on the KPop Demon Hunters question in the
second round; my Dad claims three on the most translated authors question. The
Makeweights led 10-6 after that round.
On to the Walls, and the Culture
Club went first, and polished off their wall pretty easily for a full ten. The
Makeweights did likewise, so, as you were, they led 20-16 going into Missing
Vowels. They maintained their lead in that to win 25-21. Well played both
teams, an excellent start to the series; best of luck in your next games!
Next week's match: Two Hearts vs Ad Astri
Mastermind’s first episode of its
new series was won by David Rhodes, who won with 22 points, four ahead of
second placed Ravi Meah with 18. Sarah Klein and Holly Simmons completed the
first line-up of the series, finishing with 15 and 16 respectively.
And that's the first week of the new season done! Thanks as ever for reading; hopefully the fact I've been rather distracted this week by how warm it is in my flat hasn't spoiled your enjoyment of it too much. Back same time same place next week with the second instalment, followed by my review of the final Radio 4 pilot next Tuesday; so, see yous then...
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