BBC Only Connect viewers fume at 'awful' format change and say they'll switch off
Only Connect fans were left outraged on Monday after an 'audio-based special' was aired on the BBC quiz show, with viewers saying they 'switched channels'.
BBC Two's Only Connect has sparked some displeased reactions from fans following an "audio-based special" that was broadcast on Monday. The intelligence-testing quiz show, lauded for its tough lexical conundrums and the formidable Missing Vowels round under Victoria Coren Mitchell's adept hosting, encountered online dissent.
Discontent arose amidst the Connections segment when, deviating from standard practice, audio and musical clips were utilised as hints – a method occasionally adopted by the programme but still met with considerable disapproval by some viewers. Though not unprecedented in its history, every instance of such an audio twist tends to polarise the fandom, with a faction insistent that these musical interludes undermine the show's cerebral atmosphere.
Even the most devoted aficionados have expressed clear disdain for the concept, maintaining that Only Connect should remain true to its intellectual spirit and eschew the audio inquiries entirely, reports the Mirror.
One irritated fan posted on social media: "This awful music format should never happen again. Switching channels," while another confessed: "I love Only Connect, but as soon as the music round starts I'm out."
Another audience member echoed this sentiment, saying: "It's a quiz for thinkers, not karaoke night."
Meanwhile, host Victoria Coren Mitchell is gearing up for a new endeavour, stepping aside from her usual role as quiz master on Only Connect to delight fans with a fresh project.
At the age of 52, Coren Mitchell, who has become synonymous with BBC Two's cerebral quiz show Only Connect since 2008, will soon be seen in the guest host chair on Have I Got News For You.
Her much-awaited stint on the panel show is slated to air on Friday, May 23. She'll be joined by the sharp-witted comedian Chris McCausland and the esteemed broadcaster Janet Street-Porter.
The veteran panellist Street-Porter, well-acquainted with the setup, will be marking her 18th appearance on the show.
Viewers can certainly expect an electrifying episode as this trio combine wit, informed opinions, and frank commentary to light up the sought-after Friday night slot.
Known for her razor-sharp mind and distinctive poker-faced humour, Victoria has hosted over 500 episodes throughout 20 series of Only Connect, challenging contestants with her tough trivia questions.
Behind the scenes, however, life is all about family for Victoria, who cherishes time with her two daughters and her husband, the distinguished actor from Peep Show, David Mitchell.
In an open-hearted discussion with the Evening Standard back in 2012, Victoria Coren Mitchell shared her personal views on becoming a mother, stating: "I hadn't experienced the yearning that some women feel to start a family.
"I never had that point that a lot of my friends went through in their early to mid-twenties when they decided that they absolutely wanted children. But I am slightly obsessed with children [so] I absolutely still might."
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