Only Connect On Two
Wednesday, 27 August 2014
Only Connect starts on BBC Two this coming Monday, September 1st, in its otherwise usual slot of 8.30pm (after University Challenge). I can hardly believe it, but this is series 10.
Some people have joked - well, I hope they were joking… - about whether it will be “dumbed down” for a more mainstream channel. It ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT. Of course the opening episodes will seem easier than the last ones you watched, because they are opening heats and our last broadcasts on BBC Four were the semis and final which are harder than the first rounds. But nothing has changed: question levels the same, I’m the same, studio’s the same, crew’s the same. The questions and teams are new (apart from a small handful of quizzers who couldn’t bear not to come back and have another go) but I’m very proud to say that they’re along much the same lines as usual. i.e. they’re all brilliant, questions and quizzers alike.
If anything, considering the team line-ups and many of the questions, I think this might be our most enjoyable series ever. (There’s a particular treat in store for those who enjoy watching a RANGE of British TV question-based shows… You may know what I’m referring to already, it’s not a secret, but on this blog I’ll just leave it at that FOR NOW). Anyway, i think we have a terrific series ahead and, if you watch it, I hope you’ll feel the same way.
Comments
Alex McMillan at 1:04 pm on August 28th, 2014
I’ve heard there are some musical sequences in the new series, which sounds like the sort of thing that could cause mass hysteria! Other than that I am very much looking forward to the new series, I just need to put up the Quizmas decorations and buy some fireworks to properly ring in the new series with style!
strangely at 8:09 pm on August 28th, 2014
delighted to hear your denial on the dumbing down - no one wants something that works this well tinkered with.
also though, when you mention quizzers coming back, does that mean people can go back on then who’ve been on before? i have to say i presumed if you get invited on, that’s your one and only chance…
Phil at 9:09 am on August 29th, 2014
My mum, one of a very odd breed of self-proclaimed feminists who appear to despise nearly all intelligent and successful women in the public eye (Claudia Winkleman, all female comedians except Sue Perkins, the woman one off of dragon’s den, to name just a few), has decided that she really likes you. You can decide whether that’s a positive thing or not. I’ve loaned her your book to see if I can change her mind.
I’ll look forward to Only Connect, and trying to better my personal best of zero.
Victoria Coren M at 6:53 pm on September 1st, 2014
Hi strangely. Yes, on this series we’ve allowed a couple of the teams from the first two series to have another go - they had to audition again against the new incumbents, but the team thought it would be fair (since series 1 was so long ago, and so different in a way) to allow a couple of those ancient non-winning teams to audition again and see if they could make it onto BBC Two!
Pete Marshall at 8:17 pm on September 1st, 2014
No live play along….that’s dumbing down in my book.
Richard Cleaver at 12:20 pm on September 2nd, 2014
It certainly has not been dumbed down - if anything I thought it more difficult!
That apart, please could I ask you to help publicise a cryptic puzzle fundraiser for MIND- The Mental Health Charity? It consists of the names of 100 prominent women defined by cryptic crossword-style clues and is available from www.justgiving.com/MIND-Quiz1 where further details can be viewed. A tweet in support would be most appreciated.
Thank you in anticipation.
Richard Cleaver
Duncan Grant at 1:14 pm on September 2nd, 2014
Absolutely love the show but live play along with the wall was a major factor in being able to enjoy the programme fully yet it has been removed with no warning and no explanation. Any idea why this has happened and whether we’re going to get it back?
Victoria Coren M at 4:46 pm on September 2nd, 2014
Hi Duncan. I know a few people have been disappointed the playalong wall isn’t there. I think the reason is the BBC is really stretched for funds these days - especially with the ghastly campaign from some newspapers to scrap the licence fee entirely - so they just don’t have money to put into the online arm. It’s a shame to lose that factor for viewers who enjoyed it, but I guess I’d rather they cut back on the online stuff than started seriously thinking about cutting BBC Four!
Buckoman at 7:38 pm on September 2nd, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyed the first show of the new series and delighted there are 26 more episodes! My wife was wondering where you sourced the dress you wore on the first episode as she really liked it.
Mike at 7:44 pm on September 2nd, 2014
Another voice expressing sorrow at the demise of the play-along Connecting Wall, and at the insane attacks on the BBC (Daily Mail readers should go live in the US for awhile so they can better appreciate the amazing things they have here in the UK, Auntie Beeb and the NHS being the two most obvious ones). But absolutely looking forward to many more series!