Only Connect is a British television quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell. In the series, teams compete in a tournament of finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues. The title is taken from a passage in E. M. Forster's 1910 novel Howards End: "Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted."[2]
Only Connect | |
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Genre | Quiz show |
Presented by | Victoria Coren Mitchell |
Theme music composer | Dawson Sabatini |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 19 |
No. of episodes | 421 (including 47 specials) |
Production | |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production companies | Presentable (2008–13) RDF Television and Parasol (2013–22) RDF Television (2022–2024)[1] Remarkable Entertainment (2024–present) |
Original release | |
Network | BBC Four (2008–14) BBC Two (2014–) |
Release | 15 September 2008 present | –
History
editOnly Connect aired on BBC Four from 15 September 2008 to 7 July 2014, before moving to BBC Two from 1 September 2014. From 2008 until 2013 the show was recorded in Studio 1 at the ITV Cymru Wales Studios based at Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff, which have now been demolished. It moved temporarily to Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff in late 2013, before settling in Enfys Studios in Cardiff from 2014 onwards.[3][4]
The series is regularly the most watched programme on BBC Two of the week and is typically broadcast on Mondays between Mastermind and University Challenge as part of the channel's quiz night.[5]
On 1 March 2010, an interactive online version of the Connecting Walls round was put on the Only Connect website.[6] From mid-2011, coinciding with series 5, the website took online submissions for new Connecting Walls; the online game was discontinued for series 10.
In 2020, changes had to be made to the production of the show for series 16 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and new British government requirements and guidelines on television productions. For this new series, each team now sat at their desks socially distanced with perspex screens dividing the team members and no huddled conferring permitted. For the connecting wall round, each team stood socially distanced apart, with perspex screens separating them and only the team captain permitted to use the keyboard. These changes were kept in place up to and including series 18 but discontinued for series 19.
In June 2023, The New York Times introduced a daily word game called Connections. Several figures associated with Only Connect commented on its similarity to the Connecting Wall in the programme.[7]
Format
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in hieroglyphs
Only Connect is deliberately difficult,[8][9] and its contestants are often characterized – including within the show itself – as nerdy or geeky.[9][10] Teams are encouraged to take names which reflect specialist interests or hobbies, such as the 'LARPers' or 'Francophiles'.[10][8] The show's questions will cover any topic, and many may require knowledge of both arcane subject areas and popular culture. Questions may also be self-referential, or based on linguistic or numeric tricks, rather than requiring any particular factual knowledge.[11] When presented with the clues, contestants are not told the type of the connection, and as such part of the gameplay involves establishing whether the connection is thematic, linguistic, factual, mathematical, etc.[11]
Coren Mitchell's presenting includes very dry, sarcastic humour, which may include a gentle mocking of herself, the contestants, the viewers, the show's production team, celebrities, or other popular quizzes, and often Michael Portillo.[10][12] On occasion Coren Mitchell will wear a wig or costume (such as a carnival mask or a complete pilgrim outfit), and no reference will be made to her appearance.[13]
Each programme has two teams of three people competing in four rounds of gameplay. Before the show, a coin toss is conducted to determine the order of play, with the winner deciding to either play first in Rounds 1 and 2, or pass to their opponent and play first in Round 3. 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. 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 displayed Greek letters in the first episode of Series 4, but these were replaced with the hieroglyphs in subsequent episodes.
Series 1–6 had a straight round-robin "knockout" format, which was then modified to a double-elimination tournament, in a rule change that Coren Mitchell said that even she did not fully understand. Series 12–13 shifted to a format identical to University Challenge, with a knockout first round combined with a repechage for the best performing losers and double-elimination quarter-finals. The number of competing teams has fluctuated: 16 in series 1, 3–6, 10–11 and 14; 8 teams in series 2, 8 and 9; and 24 in series 12–13. The difficulty of questions generally increases by each round.
Round 1: Connections
editTeams 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, fails to answer after buzzing in a timely manner, or fails to buzz within the time allotted, the opposing team is shown any remaining clues and can answer for a bonus point. Play then alternates until each team has played three sets of clues. Typically, one of the six puzzles involves pictures, and another uses pieces of music, both classical and contemporary. Music questions are generally considered among the toughest questions in the quiz, and a team's dismay upon realising they have chosen the music question is a frequent source of humour on the programme.
Round 2: Sequences
editIn this round, each set of four clues forms a sequence. Teams may see a maximum of three clues, and must determine what would come fourth in the sequence within the 40 second time limit. As with the first round, teams score points dependent on the number of clues seen and if they fail to guess correctly, it is thrown over to the other team, who can see any remaining clues and answer for a bonus point. Some sequences can have multiple acceptable answers (for example, if the sequence is sources of Vitamins A, B, C, and D, any source of Vitamin D would be an accepted answer), while others may only have one. Teams can score points without correctly identifying what the sequence is, but may be required to do so if the sequence is very specific or if they are providing a correct alternative sequence incorporating the three provided clues. As in the previous round, one set of clues involves pictures, with teams describing the fourth picture in the sequence, and starting from the quarterfinals of Series 10, there is occasionally a sequence made by three music clips, with contestants supplying the title or artist/s of the fourth unplayed music clip.
For example, sequential clues of "Anger", "Bargaining" and "Depression" would be correctly followed by "Acceptance", these being the 2nd to 5th stages of the Kübler-Ross model of grief.
Round 3: Connecting Wall
editEach team receives a wall of 16 clues and are given 2 minutes and 30 seconds to sort them into four groups of four connected items. The puzzles are designed to include red herrings and to suggest more connections than actually exist, as some clues appear to fit into more than one category, but there is only one perfect solution for each wall.[11] Teams create groups one at a time by tapping on four tiles on the touchscreen, and can make unlimited guesses before finding two complete groups. Once two groups have been identified, teams are only given three chances to identify the remaining two groups before the wall freezes, even if there is time remaining on the clock.
Once all groups are found, time has expired, or all three lives are depleted, the team scores 1 point for each group found within 2 minutes 30 seconds, and any groups not found are shown. The team then scores 1 point for correctly identifying the connections in each group, including the groups they failed to find. If a team finds all four groups and correctly identifies all four connections, they are awarded 2 bonus points, for a maximum total of 10 points. Unlike the previous rounds, the opposing team does not have the opportunity to score points from their opponents' wall.
Round 4: Missing Vowels
editIn a final buzzer round, the teams are presented with a series of word puzzles. The category of the puzzles is given before they are 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 gives the win to the other team. 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 and runners-up
editSeries | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
1 | Crossworders Mark Grant, David Stainer, Ian Bayley |
Lapsed Psychologists Richard McDougall, Jack Waley-Cohen, Matthew Stevens |
2 | Rugby Boys Richard Parnell, Gary Dermody, Mark Labbett |
Cambridge Quiz Society Paul Beecher, Simon Spiro, Joshua Karton |
3 | Gamblers Jenny Ryan, Dave Bill, Alan Gibbs |
Strategists Chris Cummins, Michael Dnes, Sarah Higgins |
4 | Epicureans David Brewis, Katie Bramall-Stainer, Aaron Bell |
Radio Addicts Dave Clark, Gary Grant, Neil Phillips |
5 | Analysts Paul Steeples, David Lea, William De Ath |
Antiquarians Simon Belcher, Will Howells, Debbie Challis |
6 | Scribes Holly Pattenden, Dom Tait, Gareth Price |
Draughtsmen Andy Tucker, Iwan Thomas, Steve Dodding |
7 | Francophiles Ian Clark, Mark Walton, Sam Goodyear |
Celts Beverly Downes, Huw Pritchard, David Pritchard |
8 | Board Gamers Hywel Carver, Jamie Karran, Michael Wallace |
Bakers Tim Spain, Peter Steggle, Matt Rowbotham |
9 | Europhiles Douglas Thomson, Mark Seager, Khuram Rashid |
Relatives Hamish Galloway, Davina Galloway, Nick Latham |
10 | Orienteers Paul Beecher, Sean Blanchflower, Simon Spiro |
Chessmen Henry Pertinez, Stephen Pearson, Nick Mills |
11 | String Section Tessa North, Richard Aubrey, Pete Sorel-Cameron |
Wayfarers Barbara Thompson, Gerard Mackay, Matt Beatson |
12 | Verbivores Phyl Styles, Graeme Cole, Tom Cappleman |
Cosmopolitans Annette Fenner, Amy Godel, Emily Watnick |
13 | Escapologists Frank Paul, Lydia Mizon, Tom Rowell |
Belgophiles Helen Fasham, Ben Fasham, Phil Small |
14 | Dicers George Corfield, Hugh Binnie, Joey Goldman |
Time Ladies Charlotte Jackson, Rebecca Shaw, Emma Harris |
15 | 007s Frankie Fanko, Andrew Fanko, Andrew Beasley |
Suits Kyle Lam, Toby Nonnenmacher, Isi Bogod |
16 | Puzzle Hunters Paul Taylor, Katie Steckles, Ali Lloyd |
Dungeon Masters Charlie Deeks, Anna Hayfield, Sam Hayfield |
17 | Data Wizards Claire Turner, Tim Brown, Jonathan Cairns |
Golfers Evan Lynch, Frances Clark-Murray, George Charlson |
18 | Strigiformes Jonathan Taylor, Jonathan Williams, Joshua Mutio |
Crustaceans Dennis, Alex Hardwick, Elia Cugini |
19 | Thrifters Will Chadwick, Sam Haywood, Jack Karimi |
Also Rans Harry Heath, Dan Afshar, Claire Barrow |
Transmissions
editSeries
editSeries | Channel | Episodes | Start date | End date | Tournament Format | Average viewers[14] (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BBC Four | 15[15] | 15 September 2008[16] | 22 December 2008[15] | 16-team single-elimination tournament | |
2 | 8[17] | 13 July 2009[18] | 31 August 2009[17] | 8-team single-elimination tournament with third-place match | ||
3 | 15[19] | 4 January 2010[20] | 12 April 2010[19] | 16-team single-elimination tournament | 0.395 | |
4 | 16[21] | 6 September 2010[22] | 27 December 2010[21] | 16-team single-elimination tournament with third-place match | 0.569 | |
5 | 16[23] | 15 August 2011[24] | 5 December 2011[23] | 0.702 | ||
6 | 16[25] | 27 August 2012[26] | 17 December 2012[25] | 0.953 | ||
7 | 13[27] | 13 May 2013[28] | 5 August 2013[27] | 8-team modified double-elimination tournament | 0.858 | |
8 | 13[29] | 23 September 2013[30] | 23 December 2013[29] | 0.922 | ||
9 | 13[31] | 14 April 2014[32] | 7 July 2014[31] | 0.769 | ||
10 | BBC Two | 27[33] | 1 September 2014[34] | 30 March 2015[33] | 16-team modified double-elimination tournament | 2.357 |
11 | 27[35] | 13 July 2015[36] | 18 January 2016[35] | 2.334 | ||
12 | 37[37] | 11 July 2016[38] | 7 April 2017[37] | 24-team knockout based on University Challenge | 2.57[39] | |
13 | 37[40] | 28 July 2017[41] | 30 April 2018[40] | 1.999 | ||
14 | 28[42] | 22 October 2018[43] | 29 April 2019[42] | 16-team modified double-elimination with third-place match | 1.983 | |
15 | 28[44] | 2 September 2019[45] | 30 March 2020[44] | |||
16 | 28[46] | 21 September 2020[47] | 29 March 2021[46] | |||
17 | 28 | 12 July 2021[48] | 24 January 2022 | |||
18 | 28 | 29 August 2022[49] | 13 March 2023 | |||
19 | 28 | 17 July 2023[50] | 29 January 2024 | |||
20 | 28 | 12 August 2024 |
Specials
editSeries[note 1] | Date | Title | Viewers | Weekly Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|
— | 21 December 2009[51] | Series 1 vs Series 2 Winners Special[51] | — | — |
15 November 2010[52] | Children in Need Special[52] | 599,000 | 1 | |
10 January 2011[53] | Series 3 vs Series 4 Winners Special[53] | 558,000 | 1 | |
17 January 2011[54] | University Challenge Special[54] | 615,000 | 3 | |
14 March 2011[55] | Comic Relief Special[55] | 468,000 | 4 | |
14 November 2011[56] | Children in Need Special[56] | 794,000 | 3 | |
12 December 2011[57] | Wall Night Special (Heats)[57] | 673,000 | 3 | |
12 December 2011[58] | Wall Night Special (Semi-finals & Final)[58] | 523,000 | 5 | |
2 January 2012[59] | Series 1 vs Series 4 Winners Special[59] | 761,000 | 6 | |
9 January 2012[60] | Only Connect vs Mastermind Special[60] | 650,000 | 4 | |
31 January 2012[61] | Wall Night Special 2 (Heats)[61] | 634,000 | 5 | |
31 January 2012[62] | Wall Night Special 2 (Semi-finals & Finals)[62] | — | — | |
19 March 2012[63] | Sport Relief Special[63] | 706,000 | 2 | |
12 November 2012[64] | Children in Need Special[64] | 1,078,000 | 3 | |
7 January 2013[65] | Series 5 vs Series 6 Winners Special[65] | 982,000 | 1 | |
14 January 2013[66] | Eggheads vs Davids[66] | 1,173,000 | 1 | |
11 March 2013[67] | Comic Relief Special[67] | 999,000 | 1 | |
7 | 11 November 2013[68] | Children in Need Special[68] | 967,000 | 2 |
8 | 17 March 2014[69] | Sport Relief Special[69] | 750,000 | 2 |
10 | 10 November 2014[70] | Children in Need Special[70] | 2,280,000 | 10 |
9 March 2015[71] | Comic Relief Special[71] | 2,422,000 | 7 | |
11 | 9 November 2015[72] | Children in Need Special[72] | 2,030,000 | 12 |
14 March 2016[73] | Sport Relief Special[73] | 2,315,000 | 4 | |
14 | 18 December 2018[74] | Champion of Champions Special: Europhiles v String Section[74] | 1,749,000 | |
19 December 2018[75] | Sport Special: Footballers v Korfballers[75] | 1,816,000 | ||
20 December 2018[76] | Family Special: Lasletts v Meeples[76] | 1,658,000 | ||
25 December 2018[77] | Quiz Special: QI Elves v Inquisitors[77] | 953,000 | ||
15 | 30 December 2019[78] | Travel Special: Globetrotters v Eurovisionaries [78] | 2,303,568 | 5 |
1 January 2020[79] | Happy Hour Special: Alesmen v Cosmopolitans[79] | 1,948,505 | 10 | |
2 January 2020[80] | Education Special: Beaks v Clarites[80] | 1,997,764 | 9 | |
3 January 2020[81] | Champion of Champions Special: Verbivores v Escapologists[81] | 2,204,549 | 6 | |
16 | 29 December 2020[82] | Christmas: Edwards Family v Wrights[82] | 2,559,914 | 5 |
30 December 2020[83] | North and South: Scunthorpe Scholars v Oxonians[83] | 2,445,075 | 7 | |
31 December 2020[84] | Doctors: Medics v Gallifreyans[84] | 2,407,190 | 8 | |
1 January 2021[85] | Music: Festival Fans v Choristers[85] | 2,499,923 | 6 | |
17 | 27 December 2021[86] | Christmas: Turophiles v Corkscrews[86] | TBA | TBA |
28 December 2021[87] | The Birds and the Bees: Birdwatchers v Beekeepers[87] | TBA | TBA | |
29 December 2021[88] | Cold: Nordiphiles v Apres Skiers[88] | TBA | TBA | |
30 December 2021[89] | Champions: 007s v Puzzle Hunters[89] | TBA | TBA | |
18 | 23 December 2022[90] | Christmas: Polyhymnians v Channel Islanders[90] | TBA | TBA |
26 December 2022[91] | Mystery: Endeavours v Whodunnits[91] | TBA | TBA | |
27 December 2022[92] | Love: Part-Time Poets v Romantics[92] | TBA | TBA | |
28 December 2022[93] | Champion of Champions: Dicers v Data Wizards[93] | TBA | TBA | |
19 | 19 December 2023[94] | Christmas: Relatives v Muppets[94] | TBA | TBA |
20 December 2023[95] | Fashion: Dandies v Peacocks[95] | TBA | TBA | |
26 December 2023[96] | Boxing: Wrestlers v Arrowheads[96] | TBA | TBA | |
28 December 2023[97] | Politics: Politicians v Activists [97] | TBA | TBA |
Notes
edit- ^ Some specials appear in BBC’s episode guide as a part of a particular series, even though they are nonrelevant to the tournaments.
References
edit- ^ Elmes, John (7 March 2022). "Only Connect co-producer closes amid bumper order". Broadcast. Media Business Insight. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "Crossworders v Birkbeck Alumni". Only Connect. Series 1. Episode 2. 22 September 2008. Event occurs at 0:23. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
Hello and welcome to Only Connect, the show that takes its title from the passage in E.M. Forster's novel Howards End: 'Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted'.
- ^ "Credits". Enfys HD TV Studios. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Kempton, Martin. "The rest of the UK – today (more or less)". An incomplete history of London's television studios. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- ^ "Weekly top 50 shows". Barb. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Play Only Connect". BBC Four. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
- ^ Abdul, Geneva (15 June 2023). "What connects Only Connect and New York Times? Game's similarity puzzles host". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Sunderland quiz captain takes on TV's Only Connect". Sunderland Echo. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Victoria Coren Mitchell on nerd pride and finding Only Connect's niche". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ a b c Butter, Susannah (30 October 2018). "Only Connect: Warmth and humour make whip-smart Victoria Coren-Mitchell queen of the quizzes". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ a b c "Only Connect: If you think answering the questions is hard, try setting them". The Guardian. 7 September 2010. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ Vicky Frost (30 March 2020). "Only Connect: The quiz queen baffles us again in this infuriating and irresistible finale". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Wilkinson, Sylvie (23 September 2021). "Victoria Coren Mitchell's hair transformation but fans are saying the same thing". MyLondon. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ Mean average calculated with 7-day data from BARB Archived 17 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine unless otherwise specified
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 1, Episode 13". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 1, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 2, Episode 8 (Cambridge Quiz Society v Rugby Boys – The Final)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 2, Episode 1 (Cambridge Quiz Society v Oxford Librarians)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 3, Episode 15 (Gamblers v Strategists)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 3, Episode 1 (Archers Admirers v Music Lovers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 4, Episode 16 (Epicureans vs Radio Addicts)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 4, Episode 1 (Epicureans vs Courtiers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 5, Episode 16 (Analysts vs Antiquarians)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 5, Episode 1 (Social Networkers vs Vegetarians)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 16 December 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 6, Episode 16 (Scribes vs Draughtsmen)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 6, Episode 1 (Joinees v Draughtsmen)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 7, Episode 13 (Francophiles v Celts)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 7, Episode 1 (Corpuscles v Cat Lovers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 8, Episode 13 (Board Gamers v Bakers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 8, Episode 1 (Lasletts v Pilots)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 9, Episode 13". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 9, Episode 1 (Heath Family v Exhibitionists)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 10, Episode 27". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 10, Episode 1 (Politicos v Felinophiles)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 11, Episode 27". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 11, Episode 1 (Cluesmiths v Operational Researchers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 12, Episode 37". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 12, Episode 1 (Tubers v Bardophiles)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ Jones, Paul. "Only Connect sheds close to a third of its viewers after move from Mondays to Fridays". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 13, Episode 37". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 13, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 14, Episode 28". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 14, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 15, Episode 28". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 15, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 16, Episode 28". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 16, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 17, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 18, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Only Connect – Series 19, Episode 1". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 1 vs 2 Winners Special (Crossworders v Rugby Boys)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 January 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Children in Need Special (Wheelmen v Larks)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 3 vs Series 4 Winners Special (Gamblers v Epicureans)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – University Challenge Special (Crossworders v University Challengers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Comic Relief Special (Treesome v Larks)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Children in Need Special (Great Believers vs Free Speakers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Wall Night Special 1 (Part 1)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Wall Night Special 1 (Part 2)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 1 vs Series 4 Winners Special (Crossworders vs Epicureans)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Only Connect vs Mastermind Special (Crossworders vs Epicureans)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Wall Night Special 2 (Part 1)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Wall Night Special 2 (Part 2)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Sport Relief Special (Cutters vs Backhanders)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Children in Need Special (Goldfingers vs Fowls)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Series 5 vs Series 6 Winners Special (Analysts vs Scribes)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Eggheads vs Davids". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Comic Relief Special (Neuromantics vs Muppets)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Children in Need Special (Scrabblers v The Balding Team)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Sport Relief Special (Scribblers v Terriers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Children in Need Special (Noggins v Curiosities)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Comic Relief Special (Waterbabies v Tillers)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Children in Need Special (Music Monkeys v Chess Pieces)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ a b "Only Connect – Sport Relief Special (Royal III v BBC)". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Champion of Champions Special: Europhiles v String Section". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Sport Special: Footballers v Korfballers". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Family Special: Lasletts v Meeples". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Quiz Special: QI Elves v Inquisitors". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 15 Specials, Travel: Globetrotters v Eurovisionaries". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 15 Specials, Happy Hour: Alesmen v Cosmopolitans". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 15 Specials, Education: Clareites v Beaks". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 15 Specials, Champion of Champions: Verbivores v Escapologists". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 16 Specials, Christmas: Edwards Family v Wrights". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 16 Specials, North and South: Scunthorpe Scholars v Oxonians". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 16 Specials, Doctors: Medics v Gallifreyans". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 16 Specials, Music: Festival Fans v Choristers". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 17 Specials, Christmas: Turophiles v Corkscrews". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 17 Specials, The Birds and the Bees: Birdwatchers v Beekeepers". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 17 Specials, Cold: Nordiphiles v Apres Skiers". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 17 Specials, Champions: 007s v Puzzle Hunters". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 18 Specials, Christmas: Polyhymnians v Channel Islanders". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 18 Specials, Mystery: Endeavours v Whodunnits". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 18 Specials, Love: Part-Time Poets v Romantics". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 18 Specials, Champion of Champions: Dicers v Data Wizards". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 19 Specials, Christmas : Relatives v Muppets Islanders". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 19 Specials, Fashion : Dandies v Peacocks". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 19 Specials, Boxing : Wrestlers v Arrowheads". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Only Connect, Series 19 Specials, Politics : Politicians v Activists". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.