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'University Challenged 2017/18: Volume Nine (18.09.17)'


Tonight’s University Challenge wasn’t an overly gripping affair, although I did enjoy the serious intensity of Oxlade.

Everything he said - as I mentioned in a tweet - appeared to be in inverted commas, and it wasn’t so much as if he enjoyed taking part; more that he was driven by some inner urgency to compete, like the world would end if he didn’t answer each question as best he could.

The episode was also notable for Howe’s terribly quasi-psychedelic jumper, which looked like it had been knitted (or ‘knat?’) by George Harrison’s mum as an outfit for his trip to Height Asbury. It really truly wasn’t a good look.

See below for today’s UC-based Twitter ramblings:

Leicester Vs. Fitzwilliam - Cambridge.

8:02PM: Aldred with his egghead.

8:02PM: Howe's jumper is a sensory explosion.

8:03PM: Tindall's severe, Bond villain eyebrows.

8:04PM: Oxlade speaks like he's doing a voice-over, while pulling his best voice-over face.

8:05PM: Howe's jumper is officially a war crime and should be tried as such at The Hague.

8:06PM: Even Gyles Brandreth wouldn't wear that jumper; a jumper so bad, I don't need to point out who's wearing it.

8:07PM: French isn't.

8:08PM: Howe's jumper looks like an Opal Fruit's vomit.

8:08PM Oxlade would like to be Roger Moore.

8:10PM: Just when you think Howe's jumper isn't bad enough... ...his shirt.

8:11PM: Oxlade says everything "LIKE THIS".

8:12PM: Oxlade could out-stern Paxman.

8:16PM: The person who knitted Howe's jumper was attempting to document a late-Sixties acid trip in wool.

8:24PM: Howe's magical mystery jumper is waiting to take you away, 
waiting to take you away, 
take you today. 
(I buried Paxman.)



8:25PM: Howe's depressed face doesn't sit comfortably with his choice of outfit.

8:26PM: Oxlade.



8:28PM: Oxlade says "pass" like it's an answer.

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