Only Connect

Only Connect
Genre Quiz show
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 11
No. of episodes 202 (inc. 23 specials)
Production
Location(s) HTV Studios, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff, Wales[1]
BBC, Roath Lock, Cardiff Bay (2014–)[2]
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) Presentable (2008–13)
RDF Television and Parasol (2013–)
Distributor Zodiak Media
Release
Original network BBC Four (2008–14)
BBC Two (2014–)
Picture format 16:9
Original release 15 September 2008 (2008-09-15) – present

Only Connect is a British quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell. It aired on BBC Four from 15 September 2008 to 7 July 2014 and then moved to BBC Two from 1 September 2014. In the series, teams compete in a tournament of finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.

Etymology

The phrase "Only connect" was originally used in E. M. Forster's 1910 novel Howards End. It was spoken by the character Margaret Schlegel, and occurs in chapter 22:

Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.

The quote was the basis of an unanswered question in the grand final of series nine - the beast, the monk, the prose, the passion, to which the answer was Only Connect.

Format

M17 M17
E23
V28
I9
N35
N35
N35
D10
Question labels
in hieroglyphs

Each programme has two teams of three people competing in four rounds of gameplay. In the first three series, clues in Rounds 1 and 2 and the connecting walls in Round 3 were identified by Greek letters. In series 4 Coren Mitchell announced that this idea had been dropped, ostensibly due to viewer complaints that it was too pretentious, and that henceforth Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs (two reeds, lion, twisted flax, horned viper, water and the eye of Horus) would be used instead. The show's opening sequence continued to display Greek letters until series 5, when they were replaced with the hieroglyphs. In series 7 the "knockout" format was modified to a double-elimination tournament with the exception of the single-elimination final round, in a rule change that Coren Mitchell said that even she did not fully understand. This reduced the number of competing teams from 16 to 8, and the episodes from 16 to 13, compared with the previous series except Series 2. The number of competing teams was restored to 16 with Series 10, expanding the series to a total of 27 episodes.

Round 1: Connections

Teams are given up to four clues and must try to figure out the connection between them within 40 seconds. The team is initially shown one clue, and may request the remaining three clues at any time within the 40 seconds (they are not automatically shown). The team may press their buzzer to guess after the first clue for 5 points, the second for 3, the third for 2, or the fourth for 1. If the team guesses incorrectly, or fails to buzz within the time allotted, the question is posed to the other team for a bonus point, after being shown any remaining clues. Typically, one of the six puzzles involves pictures, and another uses pieces of music, both classical and contemporary.

The image shows four boxes arranged in a horizontal line, containing sequential clues of "A hammer and feather", "Six US flags", "Eugene Shoemaker's ashes" and "Two golf balls".
Example Puzzle for Round 1. To earn points on this puzzle, teams would have to provide the answer "Items left on the Moon" (or a variant thereof).

Round 2: Sequences

Each set of clues is now a sequence, and teams must try to figure out the fourth item in the sequence (therefore, the team will only be able to see three clues), again as early as possible. They must give the final item in the sequence, and score points even if their theory for the connection is incorrect. As in the previous round, each team will play three sets; again, if one team fails to guess, it is thrown over to the other team, who can see any remaining clues and earn one point by guessing correctly. As in Round 1, one of the sets of clues involves pictures.

For example, sequential clues of "5 C in a N", "2 N in a D" and "2 1/2 D in a Q" would be answered correctly with "2 Q in an H", the explanation being abbreviations of US coin values, beginning with "five cents in a nickel" and ending with "two quarters in a half-dollar".

Round 3: Connecting Wall

An example "Connecting Wall" puzzle. The answer requires dividing the items into "Terms for zero", "Poker terms", "Flying ___" and "Things made of rubber".

Each team receives a wall of 16 clues and must figure out a perfect solution, consisting of four groups of four connected items. The puzzles are designed to suggest more connections than actually exist, and some clues appear to fit into more than one category. Teams score 1 point for each group found within 2 minutes 30 seconds. They try to create one group at a time, and may make unlimited guesses on the first two groups. Once two groups have been identified, they only have three chances to identify the remaining two groups.

Should the team fail to complete the wall, the missing groupings are shown. Teams can then earn 1 point per group for identifying the connection, regardless of whether they correctly identified the grouping. A team that identifies all four groups and all four connections earns a 2-point bonus, for a total of 10 points. Unlike the previous two rounds, teams have no opportunity to score on their opponents' wall.

On 1 March 2010, an interactive online version of this round was put on the Only Connect website.[3] Since mid-2011, coinciding with series 5, the website took online submissions for new Connecting Walls, although a successful submission does not guarantee publication on the site. The online game was discontinued for series 10.

Round 4: Missing Vowels

In a final buzzer round, the teams are presented with a series of word puzzles. The category of the puzzles is given prior to them being displayed, and each category contains a maximum of four puzzles. Each puzzle is a word or phrase with the vowels removed and the spaces shifted to disguise the original words. For example, in a category of "Booker Prize-winning novels", a puzzle of "VR NNGDLT TL" would be correctly answered as "Vernon God Little".

Teams answer simultaneously using buzzers, and score 1 point for each puzzle they solve. Initially there was no penalty for guessing incorrectly on this round, but starting with the quarter-finals in Series 1, teams have faced a penalty of 1 point for each incorrect answer. Additionally, if the team that buzzes provides an incorrect answer (even by a single letter) or fails to answer quickly, the opposing team is given an opportunity to answer for a bonus point.

The round lasts for between 90 seconds and three minutes. The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner. If teams are tied, then a single sudden-death puzzle is given to the captains of each team. If a captain buzzes in first and gives the correct answer then their team wins, but an incorrect answer automatically forfeits the game. Although no category is officially given they make reference to their own role as sudden-death questions. Examples are "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish", "To the Victor, the Spoils" and "Winner Stays On".

Champions

Transmissions

Series

Series Start date End date Episodes Tournament Format
1 15 September 2008[4] 22 December 2008[5] 15[5] 16-team single-elimination tournament
2 13 July 2009[6] 31 August 2009[7] 8[7] 8-team single-elimination with third-place match
3 4 January 2010[8] 12 April 2010[9] 15[9] 16-team single elimination
4 6 September 2010[10] 27 December 2010[11] 16[11] 16-team single-elimination with third-place match
5 15 August 2011[12] 5 December 2011[13] 16[13] 16-team single-elimination with third-place match
6 27 August 2012[14] 17 December 2012[15] 16[15] 16-team single-elimination with third-place match
7 13 May 2013[16] 5 August 2013[17] 13[17] 8-team modified double-elimination tournament
8 23 September 2013[18] 23 December 2013[19] 13[19] 8-team modified double-elimination
9 14 April 2014[20] 7 July 2014[21] 13[21] 8-team modified double-elimination
10 1 September 2014[22] 30 March 2015[23] 27[23] 16-team modified double-elimination
11 13 July 2015[24] 18 January 2016 27[25] 16-team modified double-elimination

Ratings

Ratings sourced from BARB.[26]

Series 1

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking Teams
1 15 September 2008 N/A N/A Lapsed Psychologists vs Knitters
2 22 September 2008 256,000 6 Crossworders vs Birkbeck Alumni
3 29 September 2008 285,000 7 County Councillors vs Ombudsmen
4 6 October 2008 217,000 10 Travel Writers vs Science Writers
5 13 October 2008 N/A N/A Edinburgh Scrabblers vs Solent Scrabblers
6 20 October 2008 N/A N/A Urban Cyclists vs Country Walkers
7 27 October 2008 N/A N/A Bankers vs Bookkeepers
8 3 November 2008 N/A N/A Cricket Supporters vs IT Support
9 10 November 2008 N/A N/A County Councillors vs Science Writers
10 17 November 2008 N/A N/A Crossworders vs Edinburgh Scrabblers
11 24 November 2008 N/A N/A Bankers vs IT Supporters
12 1 December 2008 258,000 6 Lapsed Psychologists vs Country Walkers
13 8 December 2008 191,000 10 Crossworders vs Science Writers
14 15 December 2008 N/A N/A Bankers vs Lapsed Psychologists
15 22 December 2008 N/A N/A Crossworders vs Lapsed Psychologists

Series 2

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 13 July 2009 272,000 5
2 20 July 2009 230,000 4
3 27 July 2009 N/A N/A
4 3 August 2009 202,000 7
5 10 August 2009 262,000 4
6 17 August 2009 N/A N/A
7 24 August 2009 261,000 4
8 31 August 2009 267,000 10

Series 3

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 4 January 2010 369,000 9
2 11 January 2010 388,000 4
3 18 January 2010 422,000 3
4 25 January 2010 N/A N/A
5 1 February 2010 371,000 4
6 8 February 2010 338,000 6
7 15 February 2010 277,000 9
8 22 February 2010 336,000 8
9 1 March 2010 432,000 3
10 8 March 2010 308,000 6
11 15 March 2010 464,000 1
12 22 March 2010 506,000 2
13 29 March 2010 507,000 4
14 5 April 2010 442,000 4
15 12 April 2010 376,000 4

Series 4

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 6 September 2010 507,000 1
2 13 September 2010 428,000 6
3 20 September 2010 450,000 4
4 27 September 2010 572,000 1
5 4 October 2010 480,000 1
6 11 October 2010 524,000 2
7 18 October 2010 609,000 2
8 25 October 2010 656,000 2
9 1 November 2010 684,000 1
10 8 November 2010 633,000 1
11 22 November 2010 586,000 1
12 29 November 2010 640,000 1
13 6 December 2010 586,000 1
14 13 December 2010 628,000 2
15 20 December 2010 664,000 1
16 27 December 2010 452,000 7

Series 5

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 15 August 2011 650,000 1
2 22 August 2011 623,000 2
3 29 August 2011 635,000 2
4 5 September 2011 707,000 2
5 12 September 2011 635,000 1
6 19 September 2011 646,000 1
7 26 September 2011 583,000 1
8 3 October 2011 759,000 1
9 10 October 2011 673,000 1
10 17 October 2011 807,000 2
11 24 October 2011 737,000 2
12 31 October 2011 697,000 1
13 7 November 2011 745,000 1
14 21 November 2011 712,000 3
15 28 November 2011 853,000 3
16 5 December 2011 762,000 3

Series 6

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 27 August 2012 967,000 1
2 3 September 2012 854,000 1
3 10 September 2012 942,000 1
4 17 September 2012 802,000 2
5 24 September 2012 894,000 1
6 1 October 2012 888,000 1
7 8 October 2012 988,000 1
8 15 October 2012 936,000 1
9 22 October 2012 1,018,000 1
10 29 October 2012 1,006,000 1
11 5 November 2012 1,004,000 1
12 19 November 2012 913,000 3
13 26 November 2012 1,160,000 1
14 3 December 2012 918,000 3
15 10 December 2012 886,000 3
16 17 December 2012 1,078,000 1

Series 7

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 13 May 2013 787,000 3
2 20 May 2013 728,000 1
3 27 May 2013 894,000 1
4 3 June 2013 720,000 1
5 10 June 2013 669,000 2
6 17 June 2013 804,000 1
7 24 June 2013 850,000 1
8 1 July 2013 775,000 1
9 8 July 2013 706,000 2
10 15 July 2013 963,000 1
11 22 July 2013 991,000 2
12 29 July 2013 1,182,000 1
13 5 August 2013 1,080,000 1

Series 8

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 23 September 2013 786,000 3
2 30 September 2013 958,000 1
3 7 October 2013 1,031,000 1
4 14 October 2013 907,000 2
5 21 October 2013 859,000 2
6 28 October 2013 898,000 2
7 4 November 2013 920,000 2
8 18 November 2013 888,000 1
9 25 November 2013 947,000 1
10 2 December 2013 913,000 1
11 9 December 2013 940,000 1
12 16 December 2013 1,000,000 1
13 23 December 2013 945,000 2

Series 9

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Four Weekly Ranking
1 14 April 2014 822,000 1
2 21 April 2014 796,000 1
3 28 April 2014 895,000 2
4 5 May 2014 842,000 2
5 12 May 2014 864,000 2
6 19 May 2014 652,000 4
7 26 May 2014 773,000 3
8 2 June 2014 775,000 3
9 9 June 2014 720,000 2
10 16 June 2014 597,000 2
11 23 June 2014 764,000 2
12 30 June 2014 631,000 4
13 7 July 2014 862,000 2

Series 10

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Two Weekly Ranking
1 1 September 2014 2,234,000 4
2 8 September 2014 2,057,000 6
3 15 September 2014 2,030,000 6
4 22 September 2014 2,179,000 3
5 29 September 2014 2,188,000 7
6 6 October 2014 2,029,000 8
7 13 October 2014 2,250,000 5
8 20 October 2014 2,266,000 4
9 27 October 2014 2,131,0007
10 3 November 20142,280,000 8
11 17 November 20142,220,000 11
12 24 November 20142,511,000 8
13 1 December 2014 2,201,0008
14 8 December 2014 2,170,00012
15 15 December 2014 2,559,0007
16 5 January 2015 2,269,0007
17 12 January 2015 2,641,000 2
18 19 January 2015 2,449,0007
19 26 January 2015 2,598,000 5
20 2 February 20152,473,000 7
21 9 February 2015 2,394,000 6
22 16 February 2015 2,296,000 7
23 23 February 2015 2,794,000 6
24 2 March 2015 2,853,000 5
25 16 March 2015 2,365,000 5
26 23 March 2015 2,653,000 5
27 30 March 2015 2,552,000 4

Series 11

Episode No. Airdate Viewers BBC Two Weekly Ranking
1 13 July 2015 Not Available -
2 20 July 2015 2,292,000 6
3 27 July 2015 2,441,000 4
4 3 August 2015 2,373,000 5
5 10 August 2015 2,234,000 5
6 17 August 2015 2,457,000 5
7 24 August 2015 2,393,000 6
8 31 August 2015 2,446,000 5
9 7 September 2015 2,417,000 4
10 14 September 2015 2,395,000 3
11 21 September 2015 2,412,000 3
12 28 September 2015 2,250,000 4
13 5 October 2015 2,387,000 5
14 12 October 2015 2,478,000 3
15 19 October 2015 2,379,000 4
16 26 October 2015 2,514,000 3
17 2 November 2015 1,850,000 16
18 16 November 2015 1,990,000 13
19 23 November 2015 2,189,000 9
20 30 November 2015 2,091,000 10
21 7 December 2015 1,970,000 14
22 14 December 2015 2,040,000 14
23 21 December 2015 2,342,000 10
24 28 December 2015 2,275,000 10
25 4 January 2016 2,466,000 5
26 11 January 2016 2,705,000 3
27 18 January 2016 2,898,000 2

Specials

Date Title Viewers BBC Four/Two Weekly Ranking
21 December 2009[27] Series 1 vs Series 2 Winners Special[27] N/A N/A
15 November 2010[28] Children in Need Special[28] 599,000 1
10 January 2011[29] Series 3 vs Series 4 Winners Special[29] 558,000 1
17 January 2011[30] University Challenge Special[30] 615,000 3
14 March 2011[31] Comic Relief Special[31] 468,000 4
14 November 2011[32] Children in Need Special[32] 794,000 3
12 December 2011[33] Wall Night Special (Heats)[33] 673,000 3
12 December 2011[34] Wall Night Special (Semi-Finals & Final)[34] 523,000 5
2 January 2012[35] Series 1 vs Series 4 Winners Special[35] 761,000 6
9 January 2012[36] Only Connect vs Mastermind Special[36] 650,000 4
31 January 2012[37] Wall Night Special 2 (Heats)[37] 634,000 5
31 January 2012[38] Wall Night Special 2 (Semi-Finals & Finals)[38] N/A N/A
19 March 2012[39] Sport Relief Special[39] 706,000 2
12 November 2012[40] Children in Need Special[40] 1,078,000 3
7 January 2013[41] Series 5 vs Series 6 Winners Special[41] 982,000 1
14 January 2013[42] Eggheads vs Davids[42] 1,173,000 1
11 March 2013[43] Comic Relief Special[43] 999,000 1
11 November 2013[44] Children in Need Special[44] 967,000 2
17 March 2014[45] Sport Relief Special[45] 750,000 2
10 November 2014[46] Children in Need Special[46] 2,280,000 10
9 March 2015[47] Comic Relief Special[47] 2,422,000 7
9 November 2015[48] Children in Need Special[48] 2,030,000 12
14 March 2016 Sport Relief Special

References

  1. ↑ "Only Connect - First Round". Life After Mastermind. 20 September 2010.
  2. ↑ The Only Connect Adventure: Episode I; Retrieved 19 January 2016>
  3. ↑ "Play Only Connect". BBC Four. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 1, Episode 1". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 1, Episode 13". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 2, Episode 1 (Cambridge Quiz Society v Oxford Librarians)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 2, Episode 8 (Cambridge Quiz Society v Rugby Boys - The Final)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 3, Episode 1 (Archers Admirers v Music Lovers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 3, Episode 15 (Gamblers v Strategists)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 4, Episode 1 (Epicureans vs Courtiers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 4, Episode 16 (Epicureans vs Radio Addicts)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 5, Episode 1 (Social Networkers vs Vegetarians)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 5, Episode 16 (Analysts vs Antiquarians)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 6, Episode 1 (Joinees v Draughtsmen)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  15. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 6, Episode 16 (Scribes vs Draughtsmen)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 7, Episode 1 (Corpuscles v Cat Lovers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  17. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 7, Episode 13 (Francophiles v Celts)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 8, Episode 1 (Lasletts v Pilots)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 8, Episode 13 (Board Gamers v Bakers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 9, Episode 1 (Heath Family v Exhibitionists)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 9, Episode 13". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 10, Episode 1 (Politicos v Felinophiles)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 10, Episode 27". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "Only Connect - Series 11, Episode 1 (Cluesmiths v Operational Researchers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  25. ↑ "BBC announces entertainment commissions". BBC Online. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  26. ↑ http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10
  27. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 1 vs 2 Winners Special (Crossworders v Rugby Boys)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Only Connect - Children in Need Special (Wheelmen v Larks)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  29. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 3 vs Series 4 Winners Special (Gamblers v Epicureans)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  30. 1 2 "Only Connect - University Challenge Special (Crossworders v University Challengers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  31. 1 2 "Only Connect - Comic Relief Special (Treesome v Larks)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  32. 1 2 "Only Connect - Children in Need Special (Great Believers vs Free Speakers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  33. 1 2 "Only Connect - Wall Night Special 1 (Part 1)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  34. 1 2 "Only Connect - Wall Night Special 1 (Part 2)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  35. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 1 vs Series 4 Winners Special (Crossworders vs Epicureans)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  36. 1 2 "Only Connect - Only Connect vs Mastermind Special (Crossworders vs Epicureans)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  37. 1 2 "Only Connect - Wall Night Special 2 (Part 1)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  38. 1 2 "Only Connect - Wall Night Special 2 (Part 2)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  39. 1 2 "Only Connect - Sport Relief Special (Cutters vs Backhanders)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  40. 1 2 "Only Connect - Children in Need Special (Goldfingers vs Fowls)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  41. 1 2 "Only Connect - Series 5 vs Series 6 Winners Special (Analysts vs Scribes)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  42. 1 2 "Only Connect - Eggheads vs Davids". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  43. 1 2 "Only Connect - Comic Relief Special (Neuromantics vs Muppets)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  44. 1 2 "Only Connect - Children in Need Special (Scrabblers v The Balding Team)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  45. 1 2 "Only Connect - Sport Relief Special (Scribblers v Terriers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  46. 1 2 "Only Connect - Children in Need Special (Noggins v Curiosities)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  47. 1 2 "Only Connect - Comic Relief Special (Waterbabies v Tillers)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  48. 1 2 "Only Connect - Children in Need Special (Music Monkeys v Chess Pieces)". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 November 2015.

External links

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