Latest news with #OnlyConnect
Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Is Clive Myrie right to call the Mastermind final ‘TV's toughest quiz'?
Much as I always enjoy Mastermind (BBC2), I would robustly disagree with Clive Myrie that it is 'television's toughest quiz'. No, it isn't. Only Connect and University Challenge have far harder questions, though I do appreciate that they are both team quizzes and in Mastermind you are alone, braving the black chair naked. Metaphorically, I mean, not literally. That would be terrible for all concerned, including the black chair. Spoiler alert! Winner referenced ahead. But, please. Warm-up general knowledge questions such as 'what domestic pet is popularly said to have nine lives?' and completing the lyric 'The hills are alive with the sound of …' do not belong in a Mastermind grand final but in a children's quiz. I will stop griping now, though, because
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
BBC schedule shake up as string of hit shows taken off air this week
Fan favourite shows will disappear off the TV guide this week gone missing BBC schedule shake up as string of hit shows taken off air this week Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCHEDULE shake up on BBC2 this week will see a string of hit shows taken off air. A number of viewers' favourite programmes have been cancelled. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 1 King Charles with David Beckham at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday Credit: Reuters It's to make way for the coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show which airs every night at 8pm. That means Only Connect, Digging for Britain and Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing will all be off air. RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the pinnacle of the gardening calendar, from Sunday, May 18 through to May 25. It is hailed as a celebration of horticultural excellence, sustainability, and creative garden design. This year's coverage features an all-star presenting line-up with some exciting new additions. From Monday to Friday on BBC One and iPlayer from 2pm, Nicki Chapman and Angellica Bell offer practical take-home gardening tips. Every evening on BBC2 and iPlayer from 8pm, Monty Don, Rachel de Thame, and Arit Anderson offer expert insights from Carol Klein, Frances Tophill, and more. Then on May 23 on BBC One and iPlayer from 7:30pm there is a special evening programme hosted by Sophie Raworth and Adam Frost. This weekend, on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25 on BBC One, the end-of-week highlights will air with and reflections on BBC Two and iPlayer from 5.25pm. Plus, Radio 2's The Scott Mills Breakfast Show will be live from Chelsea Flower Show on 19 May as he officially unveils the The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden live on the station and BBC Sounds.
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
BBC schedule shake up as string of hit shows taken off air this week
A SCHEDULE shake up on BBC2 this week will see a string of hit shows taken off air. A number of viewers' favourite programmes have been cancelled. Advertisement 1 King Charles with David Beckham at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday Credit: Reuters It's to make way for the coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show which airs every night at 8pm. That means Only Connect, Digging for Britain and Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing will all be off air. RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the pinnacle of the gardening calendar, from Sunday, May 18 through to May 25. It is hailed as a celebration of horticultural excellence, sustainability, and creative garden design. Advertisement READ MORE ON BBC This year's coverage features an all-star presenting line-up with some exciting new additions. From Monday to Friday on BBC One and iPlayer from 2pm, Nicki Chapman and Angellica Bell offer practical take-home gardening tips. Every evening on BBC2 and iPlayer from 8pm, Monty Don, Rachel de Thame, and Arit Anderson offer expert insights from Carol Klein, Frances Tophill, and more. Then on May 23 on BBC One and iPlayer from 7:30pm there is a special evening programme hosted by Sophie Raworth and Adam Frost. Advertisement Most read in News TV Exclusive This weekend, on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25 on BBC One, the end-of-week highlights will air with and reflections on BBC Two and iPlayer from 5.25pm . Plus, Radio 2's The Scott Mills Breakfast Show will be live from Chelsea Flower Show on 19 May as he officially unveils the The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden live on the station and BBC Sounds. David Beckham meets with King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
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."
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Only Connect fans rage 'I'm out' as they 'switch channels' just minutes into show - blasting 'awful' problem with BBC quiz
Only Connect fans raged 'I'm out' and some even 'switched channels' just minutes into the BBC quiz show. First broadcast in 2008, Only Connect consists of a tournament-type format in which teams compete by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues. An audio-based special episode aired on Monday, May 12, and included a twist in the usual format. Host Victoria Coren, 52, introduced the theme which involved the clues being audio clips - a style that has been used before on the show. 'Hello and welcome to an Only Connect special where tonight's theme is sound,' Victoria said. 'I don't mean that in a Mancunian sense of boss, mint, sorted like, we'll make that judgement at the end. 'No I mean it's about all things audio and once again we'll be hearing from some favourite teams of past eras.' However, some viewers disliked the format and took to social media to share their disappointment. Many posted on X: 'I love Only Connect, but as soon as the music round starts I'm out. It's a quiz for thinkers, not karaoke night #onlyconnect.'; 'Love the vowel round normally and that sucked tonight bring back the usual format #onlyconnect.'; 'Let's never do that again, please #onlyconnect.'; 'This isn't a good watch at all. #onlyconnect.'; 'It's probably just me, but not warming to this sounds special, at all. #onlyconnect.'; '#OnlyConnect I've abandoned this tonight as so many audio and music questions are no good for hard of hearing. Hope this isn't continuing every week.' According to the Express, another viewer posted: 'This awful music format should never happen again. Switching channels.' However, some viewers disliked the format and took to social media to share their disappointment While someone else found the audio aspect difficult and said: '#onlyconnect wow didn't realise how much I rely on my vision! 'I usually fly through the missing vowels round but finding just listening to the clues incredibly hard!' The audio episode comes after it was revealed BBC star Victoria is set to feature onto something new. It has been confirmed that Victoria will be a guest host of Have I Got News For You. She will appear on the popular show on Friday, May 23. Alongside Victoria will be guest panellists comedian Chris McCausland and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter. Janet is a regular on ITV 's panel show Loose Women and has been on Have I Got News For You 17 times before. Victoria has hosted Only Connect since 2008 and is known for her sharp wit. The BBC show has so far seen over 500 episodes spanning across 20 series. Naturally, there have been countless questions on the show that have left both fans and contestants alike baffled. And the show was recently named one of the most difficult quiz programmes on television, in a survey part of Spin Genie AR's Treasure Quest launch. Only Connect can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
