Only Connect viewers say 'I'm out' as BBC show makes huge change
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Fans of BBC Two's notoriously tough quiz show Only Connect fumed "I'm out" after an "audio-based special" was broadcast on Monday (May 12).
The brainy contest, helmed by Victoria Coren Mitchell, normally wins praise for its clever wordplay, enigmatic connections, and the relentless Missing Vowels round.
This time, dismay spread when the programme dabbled with a musical format, cueing an online outcry.
The frustration erupted during the Connections round, which ordinarily challenging teams to deduce what unites up to four disparate hints.
In a departure from the norm, the clues were presented as audio and musical snippets – a format that has been used sporadically on the show but continues to be widely disliked by a portion of the audience.
(Image: (Image: BBC))
Occasional music-oriented challenges have appeared in earlier series, always provoking a spirited response.
Audio-based questions are permitted within the connections or sequences rounds, yet some ardent fans argue they simply don't fit.
"This awful music format should never happen again. Switching channels," one disgruntled fan said on social media, while another lamented: "I love Only Connect, but as soon as the music round starts I'm out," reports the Express.
A third person echoed the sentiment, saying : "It's a quiz for thinkers, not karaoke night."
In other news, Victoria is poised to take on new ventures beyond her familiar role as Only Connect's quizmaster.
(Image: (Image: BBC))
The 52-year-old presenter, famous for her role in the BBC Two quiz show Only Connect since 2008, is gearing up to make a splash as a guest host on Have I Got News For You.
Fans can catch her episode airing on Friday, May 23, where she is set to share the stage with comedian Chris McCausland and media veteran Janet Street-Porter.
With a track record of 17 appearances, Janet, widely recognised from ITV's Loose Women, is no stranger to the satirical edge of Have I Got News For You.
Bringing together humour, seasoned insight, and straightforward opinions, the trio are poised to deliver an entertaining line-up for the renowned Friday evening programme.
(Image: (Image: BBC))
Victoria has become synonymous for her razor-sharp wit and a poker-faced sense of comedy, having skilfully hosted over 500 episodes of Only Connect across 20 series.
When not dazzling audiences on TV, she enjoys family life with her husband, Peep Show's David Mitchell, and their two daughters.
Speaking with the Evening Standard back in 2012, Victoria previously revealed intimate thoughts about motherhood: "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."
Only Connect is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
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