University Challenge returned for a new series on Monday evening, but viewers were left frustrated minutes into the show when contestants failed to recognize classic music acts. Host Amol Rajan welcomed teams from the University of Bristol and Imperial College London, the alma mater of Queen's Brian May, to the long-running BBC quiz show.
Music Round Disaster
During the music round, Rajan played a track and asked teams to identify the artist. The song was Jefferson Airplane's iconic 1967 hit "Somebody to Love," a staple of popular culture featured in numerous films and TV series, including the UK show Being Human. Despite its fame, both teams failed to recognize it, leaving viewers bemused.
Taking to X, one viewer seethed: "Usual dismal knowledge of popular music on #UniversityChallenge Jefferson Airplane mistaken as, respectively The Shirelles and the Supremes. And no clue who Elvis Costello is. I despair. Whatever happened to a rounded education?" Another agreed: "#UniversityChallenge what?!! Nobody knows Jefferson Airplane's 'Somebody to Love'?!!? For shame!"
Viewer Reactions
A third chimed in: "The complete ignorance of Jefferson Airplane (and insistence that it was a Motown artist) is probably a sign that I'm going to be shouting a lot during the music round this series." A fourth exasperated viewer shared: "Now Jefferson Airplane I know! Oh come on kids..."
However, a fifth acknowledged they recognized the song but got the artist wrong: "Who else was shouting Boogie Pimps for the 'Somebody to Love' song? Just moi then!!! Other than that, I smashed the other answers lol." The Boogie Pimps released a version of the song in 2003, which charted worldwide and reached number 3 on the UK charts.
Meanwhile, a sixth quipped: "It would be well embarrassing if a Queen song got played in the music round and Imperial didn't know it! Red guitar upside the head time!"
Further Musical Missteps
Jefferson Airplane wasn't the only music act that stumped the teams. They also failed to recognize Elvis Costello when his 1978 cover of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" was played. The teams did manage to redeem themselves slightly by recognizing Alanis Morissette after her track "Iconic" was played, and they also knew The Pet Shop Boys after hearing their hit song "Rent."
Final Result
At the end of the contest, Imperial College London won easily with a score of 220 to Bristol's 160.
