Victoria Coren-Mitchell has publicly addressed concerns from fans after her popular quiz show, Only Connect, appeared to have been axed from the BBC's Christmas schedule. The presenter moved quickly to dismiss the speculation and confirm that festive specials are indeed planned for broadcast.
Addressing the Festive Schedule Omission
The confusion began when the BBC released its official Christmas schedule guide, which highlighted programmes like Strictly Come Dancing, Amandaland, and staple dramas such as Call the Midwife and Death in Paradise. Notably absent from the published list was the beloved puzzle show, Only Connect, leading to dismay among its dedicated viewership.
Taking to the social media platform X, the 53-year-old host directly tackled the rumours. She wrote, "Some people have sent me this and asked if Only Connect doesn't have any Christmas specials this year – but we have!" Coren-Mitchell went on to reveal exciting details, confirming, "There are four, including one really twinkly and fun experiment. They are lovely shows, all dotted around Christmas Day."
Recent On-Air Antics and Viewer Reactions
The Christmas schedule announcement comes just days after an awkward yet amusing moment on the set of Only Connect. Victoria Coren-Mitchell, who is married to comedian David Mitchell, confessed to having never heard the Busted pop classic 'Year 3000'.
This admission prompted contestants to burst into a full-throttle rendition of the song, a moment that viewers described as 'the most awkward moment ever'. While Coren-Mitchell watched on in amusement, fans at home took to social media to express their second-hand embarrassment. One viewer pleaded, "oh god, make it stop," while another dubbed the incident "the most awkward moment ever." A third commented firmly, "I firmly believe that all contestants should be banned from singing. What on earth was that? So awkward."
Controversy Over a Questionable Answer
In the same episode, the host faced criticism from sharp-eyed fans for what they perceived as allowing a wrong answer. The question involved finding a connection between picture clues referencing 'Ward in Nottingham', 'Street in Birmingham', 'Rotherham in Liverpool', and 'Livingstone in London'.
After a contestant offered an answer, Victoria justified accepting it by stating, "Well, I'll take that answer - some of them are still mayors, the notable thing is they're all inaugural mayors."
This decision did not sit well with some viewers. One fan argued, "They said 'former mayors.' That's wrong. Never should have got that point!" Another viewer criticised the perceived lack of rigor, writing, "Why was that mayor's question allowed? They got it wrong. VCM just makes arbitrary decisions as she goes it should be more strict than that." A third even suggested the question itself was flawed, pointing out inaccuracies in the specific mayor titles and regions.
Despite these recent on-air hiccups, Only Connect remains a flagship programme for BBC Two. Fronted by Coren-Mitchell since its inception in 2008, the show is renowned for its devilishly tricky puzzles where participants must decipher cryptic clues and spot obscure connections.
