mostly david ephgrave

The end of the current series of University Challenge is sneaking ever closer and inevitably, the faces of the contestants have grown very familiar. We’ve already dined out on Venkatesh’s keenness that masks a slight murderousness and Clarke’s disdainful venom. That’s not to say we can’t enjoy them again, particularly in the case of the latter; my God, did Clarke have a cob on this evening; even Paxman must have approached her tentatively. See below for tonight’s tweets: Bristol Vs. Corpus Christi - Oxford (23.01.17) 7:33pm: Rolleston's wearing a surprisingly narrow waistcoat. 7:34pm: Venkatesh has a murderous resting face. 7:35pm: There's no substance thicker than the lenses of Fleet's glasses. 7:36pm: With a waistcoat like that, it's no wonder Rolleston will end up teaching history. 7:37pm: Mess with Bristol's Clarke at your peril. 7:38pm: Bristol's Clarke is a woman wit...

I was delighted to see the proper series of University Challenge return to our screens tonight, as it’s much more fun to bully its contestants (indirectly on Twitter of course) than those in the Christmas specials. Siantonas is a case in point, as he's University Challenge Gold; if I were to expect a man with his choice in facial hair to crop up anywhere on the planet, it would be behind a desk with his name on a lightbox, being grilled by Paxman. His is an extraordinary look, the like of which has been seldom seen since the glory days of Prog Rock in the mid-to-late 1970s; chances are he owns a special limited edition version of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells. He wasn’t the only source of amusement tonight. See below for my related Twitter posts:   Bristol Vs. Oriel Oxford (02.01.17) 8:03pm: Siantonas is a pastiche of himself. 8:05pm: Siantonas was played by John Thomson in The Fast Show. 8:06pm: I got the Joh...

Today sees another Twitter summary - this time on yesterday’s festive edition of University Challenge - that was posted without the use of the aforementioned social media site, due to missing the episode’s broadcast. See below for what I'd have cattily posted, had I been watching the show when it went out (which is ironic, as it was compiled whilst cuddling and fussing over a neighbour’s ridiculous cat). How’s that for a back-story?  Bristol Vs. Nottingham (26.12.16) 6:22pm: When it's cold, Kate prefers to sleep with the Quilton.  6:24pm: Hawkins looks like he’s enjoyed the odd Early Breakfast.  6:25pm: Spalding's sporting a Murray mint necklace.  6:26: “You stunted fir”: a great insult.  6:27pm: I enjoyed Hutton's evil post- Frankenstein laugh.  6:28pm: Krestovnikoff / Krestovnikon.  6:29pm: This show's a lot less fun with real, well-rounded adults. 6:30pm: The answ...

Tonight saw, without fanfare, the return of BBC2’s Quizzy Monday. I, for one, had no idea it was coming back yet; if it weren’t for a phone call from my wife’s mum about it, I would have missed it entirely, and consequently been very angry about it. Instead I got to watch it and be angered by that instead. Sheffield Vs. Bristol (11.07.16). See below for this week’s low-level unpleasantness, as tweeted by me during the show. Some of it won’t make much sense if you didn’t watch the programme, but you should get the gist of it. I’m sorry for being such a bitch. 8:03pm: Paxman: is that a wig? 8:04pm: Paxman's hair. So soft. Fluffy Paxman. 8:07pm: Rolleston, pulling a classic # UniversityChallenge 'I think I know the answer to that one' face, when he doesn't. 8:08pm: "No, that's John Fas-HA-nu." 8:10pm: Clarke's got a face on her. 8:11pm: Rolleston: the ...