University Challenge

[LMcD]

....I too stumbled through Dowland pieces on the guitar (played "Melancholy Galliard" at a master class to a famous guitarist, played The King of Denmark's Galliard to Osian Ellis), saw and heard Lina Lalandi and Eugen Dombois, August Wenzinger and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Julian Bream, etc. etc., I evidently just wasn't as exclusive in my tastes as you guys. And while learning classical guitar, being able to pick out the accompaniment to a Tom Paxton song did not of itself turn one into a babe magnet but having a party trick never did any harm. Cloughie -

Your starter for ten - which Tom Paxton song provided the title and leitmotif for an episode of Lewis?

PS I ceased to be any good at pub quizzes after the early eighties when I ceased to recognise any of the pop music.

Are you ramblin', boy?

[Richard Tarleton]

Are you ramblin', boy?

(last sung lustily by me and 2000 others in a capacity St David's Hall, Cardiff, at the last Tom Paxton concert I attended, around 20 years ago)

[ardcarp]

For your benefit ardcarp (what were you doing in 1966?)

I confess to total nerdery. Our 'light music' was Your Hundred Best Tunes, turning down the volume when pieces were announced so we could guess what they were.

Tina Who?

[Boilk]

I agree Leo got off to a slow start. I would just question one of JP's decisions. Towards the end he allowed Leo to get away with some hesitation before answering a starter. As he had, moments before warned him for the same 'offence' suggesting he wouldn't get away with it again, this seemed a bit 'partial'. Might this have affected the outcome?

Yes, it almost certainly would have affected the outcome, because from that starter question they garnered another 15 points on the following 3 questions. Bristol might have got those 15 points, had they got the next starter (can't remember). I have never been so annoyed with JP as at that moment when he completely ignored his earlier warning about buzzing in before actually knowing the answer. Leo was even audbily working towards his answer out loud!

Further messages of support for unfairly treated Bristol on Twitter thread.

[ardcarp]

Further messages of support for unfairly treated Bristol on Twitter thread.

Blimey. It makes our Forum sound like a Maiden Aunt supervising a Sunday School picnic.

[LMcD]

Yes, it almost certainly would have affected the outcome, because from that starter question they garnered another 15 points on the following 3 questions. Bristol might have got those 15 points, had they got the next starter (can't remember). I have never been so annoyed with JP as at that moment when he completely ignored his earlier warning about buzzing in before actually knowing the answer. Leo was even audbily working towards his answer out loud!

Further messages of support for unfairly treated Bristol on Twitter thread.

I've previously been inclined to give JP the benefit of the doubt when he's been accused of bias, but I'm now of the view that it's time he was put out to pasture. I wonder whether Victoria Coren Mitchell could be persuaded into a Monday night BBC double-header?

[Richard Tarleton]

I wonder whether Victoria Coren Mitchell could be persuaded into a Monday night BBC double-header?

Excellent idea. Mind like steel trap, brilliant repartee, thought processes about twice the speed of Paxo's and bl**dy clever.

[LMcD]

Excellent idea. Mind like steel trap, brilliant repartee, thought processes about twice the speed of Paxo's and bl**dy clever.

We regularly watch 'Pointless' (yes, I know ..... ) where Alexander Armstrong, amiable, jocular and contestant-friendly as he unquestionably is. nevertheless doesn't indulge participants in the way that has unfortunately become all too common on University Challenge. (How on earth would JP have coped with Scumbag College, I wonder?)
If VC-M is unavailable, perhaps John Humphrys could be drafted in to instil some discipline...or, if you want somebody who would terrify contestants by means of physical stature alone, how about Alexander's co-host?

[JimD]

(Alleged!) Oxbridge bias, or (alleged) clever player bias?

[Richard Tarleton]

(Alleged!) Oxbridge bias, or (alleged) clever player bias?

[greenilex]

There was a young Chinese man fairly recently who was the best UC player I have ever seen.

[LMcD]

(Alleged!) Oxbridge bias, or (alleged) clever player bias?

Both!

[ardcarp]

[Victoria Coen Mitchell] Mind like steel trap, brilliant repartee, thought processes about twice the speed of Paxo's and bl**dy clever.

Ye-e-e-s. I wonder if her particular brand of brilliant repartee is entirely suited to UC ? I'd prefer someone like Tom Sutcliffe of RBQ fame.

[LHC]

Yes, it almost certainly would have affected the outcome, because from that starter question they garnered another 15 points on the following 3 questions. Bristol might have got those 15 points, had they got the next starter (can't remember). I have never been so annoyed with JP as at that moment when he completely ignored his earlier warning about buzzing in before actually knowing the answer. Leo was even audbily working towards his answer out loud!

Further messages of support for unfairly treated Bristol on Twitter thread.

On the second occasion that Leo stumbled on the starter question, Bristol had already interrupted incorrectly, so they weren’t disadvantaged by the extra time he took. This might be why Paxman only warned him again, rather not not accepting the answer.

[ardcarp]

On the second occasion that Leo stumbled on the starter question, Bristol had already interrupted incorrectly, so they weren’t disadvantaged by the extra time he took. This might be why Paxman only warned him again, rather not not accepting the answer.

Forgive me if I've got the rules wrong, but if that's the case, and if Leo's stumbled answer had been disallowed, there would have been another starter question...which Bristol might have won.