Only Connect

[andy-hughes]

I watch this to be polite, because Mrs Hughes really likes it, but I really can't do with it.

To me, it's far too pleased with itself, contestants, impossible format, even the music!

I do like Victoria Coren-Mitchelll - but I have to click off before her final breathtakingly bad 'amusing' link at the end.

Anyone else feel like that, or are you fans?

[jim360]

Well I like prime numbers.

[Roobaba]

How about this one, 1111111111111111111 a repunit hex-congruent prime in bases 11 and 12.

[Etch]

Another big fan of OC here. OH and I prefer not to watch live (by recording or using iPlayer) so we can pause on 'Missing Vowels' and try to get the answer before it is given (by the contestants or Victoria). We don't do it for the Walls, but these give you quite a bit of 'thinking time'.

As an aside I do find myself wondering, both on OC and in similar cases, whether 'choosing a hieroglyph' makes any difference to the question that comes up: it could just be a case of "show that you are familiar with the hieroglyphs we use, and now here is the next (pre-determined) question".

[andy-hughes]

Etch - // As an aside I do find myself wondering, both on OC and in similar cases, whether 'choosing a hieroglyph' makes any difference to the question that comes up: it could just be a case of "show that you are familiar with the hieroglyphs we use, and now here is the next (pre-determined) question". //

It's to instill an element of choice in the questions selected.

If you are going to give someone a choice, you have to have name for that options - on The Chase, with only two choices, 'A' and 'B' are used - on OC, which is obviously a lot more highbrow (and pleased with itself!!!!) they use the hieroglyphs.

[naomi24]

Etch, the wall is my favourite bit.

[gingejbee]

I know that not many will agree with me, but I always argue that choosing between A and B isn't two choices - it's only one ie A or B, one choice!

[tomus42]

I like quiz shows with hard questions. If you find UC or any of the others so tough that can't enjoy it, don't watch them.

[Etch]

andy-hughes - "It's to instill an element of choice in the questions selected"
But that's what I am questioning - how do we know that it makes any difference as to the question that is then asked? Maybe a team would get the dreaded 'music question' no matter which hieroglyph they chose.
Funny you should mention The Chase, because that is another instance where it seems to me that it could be a case of (in the final chase): "You've chosen set B, well here are the slightly more difficult questions for the team, to be followed by the easier questions for the chaser when it is their go". Who ensures that the subsequent questions do genuinely depend on the team's choice? Maybe I'm just too cynical. :-)

[Roobaba]

I'd suggest reading the QuizzQuizzQuizz blog Only Connect 'Question Editor's Thoughts' posts, they give an insight into the effort that goes into the questions, the programme format, plus other interesting OC related stuff.

[andy-hughes]

Etch - // But that's what I am questioning - how do we know that it makes any difference as to the question that is then asked? //

A fair point - let me amend my response to suggest that the action is to offer the illusion of choice - as you quite rightly say, we as viewers have no idea if the choice is actually acted on by the production staff.

[zebo]

If the choice of symbol were random and had no influence on the question then in about half the editions one team would get the music and picture round but I've never seen it happen.

[zebo]

//These are bright kids: they can take it.//
Wasn't there a mother who once complained that her little man had been upset when Paxo was mean to him?? Poor lad, he probably wanted to strangle her!

[bednobs]

ive never see music or pics come first either

[fiveleaves]

I like OC but why VCM thinks she is amusing is a mystery to me. I am lucky to get 1 or 2 connections right. Sometimes get one or 2 categories in the wall

[maggiebee]

Absolutely love OC although I'm pretty useless at most of it. Do quite well in the missing vowels round - put that down to doing so many crosswords and my love of English.
Mastermind - OC then University Challenge - makes my night.

[andy-hughes]

I would like to enjoy Mastermind, but I can't do with John Humphreys - something about his manner just irritates me, and did when he was on Radio 4, and don't get me started about the stupid comb-over...