mostly david ephgrave

I barely took part in my usual Monday evening tweet-along-to-University-Challenge-athon this evening for a couple of reasons: (1) because I’ve grown a little bored of the show if I’m honest, and (2) I’m feeling a bit less childish of late. I read an article a few weeks back, written from the perspective of a few contestants who’ve appeared on the game show and weren’t prepared for the virtual onslaught they received online as a result of this, literally in a virtual sense. The article was mostly written from the point of view of women who felt the way they looked took priority over their actual abilities, which is something I don’t believe I’m guilty of, yet it still made me think. I’d like to hope what I do is never seen as an attack; I’m not seeking these people out directly and copying them in to my feedback, and the sort of thing I write is meant to be harmless and comedic, but it’s so easy to cross a line so that's no longer the case. This...

Tonight’s University Challenge wasn’t particularly enthralling, if I’m honest. It’s notable that one of my more popular tweets (whatever I mean by ‘popular’) during the broadcast was about my sadness at the lack of a Monkman in this series; despite there having been the odd - ‘odd’ being the operative word - amusing contestant, no one’s come along yet to steal Monkman’s throne; in fact, I’m beginning to wonder if anyone ever will. I guess there’s still time. Until then, I’ll keep watching each week, in the hope someone funny crops up; I’m not entirely sure I’ve grasped what University Challenge is all about. Merton - Oxford Vs. King's - London (23.10.17) 7:32PM: Thomas looks like an android. 7:33PM: "I'm reading for a masters in medieval studies". Useful. 7:33PM: I've got an average age of forty too. 7:34PM: Richard Senior is actually senior. Beautiful. 7:35PM: Oxford's Thomas...

Tonight’s University Challenge was always set to be interesting, as it was a Cambridge Vs. Oxford affair. One thing the show - and the series as a whole thus far - has lacked, however, is a Monkman. Oxford and Canada’s finest manic erratically fringed celebrity has yet to have his University Challenge crown stolen by a new contender to the throne. The closest we got tonight was Emmanuelle Cambrodge’s Derby and his spectacular hair, which stole the show for me, but this was still nothing when compared to the joy I felt each time Monkman appeared on the screen; something tells me he’ll never be bettered. See below for my tweets on tonight's pompous, over-educated student-fest: Emmanuel Cambridge Vs. St Hugh's Oxford (02.10.17) 8:02PM: Derby's hairstyle is an event. 8:02PM: Is Mistlin wearing a jumper, or is that his body? 8:03PM: Cambridge's Derby is studying Physics. I'm studying the physics of hi...

Tomorrow night, I preview my Edinburgh show in Cambridge , and the question on everyone’s lips is, “Will I wear my Monkman t-shirt?” MONKMAN! Well, ‘everyone’ is a bit of an exaggeration; it’s more likely just a few. I did raise my quandary on Facebook and Twitter this evening to an entirely positive response, but that was only from the people who replied, which in fact were minimal; is it right to assume mass-silence as a positive vote? In reality, I don’t think I have any choice, as not wearing a t-shirt with the face of one of Cambridge’s biggest cult icons (and moat recent University Challenge finalists) emblazoned on it - when I own such a garment - would be an opportunity missed. The only genuine poser faced is “Which Monkman t-shirt?” as I’ve actually got two: a brown one and a red one. Perhaps I should change colours in the interval. Hopefully it will be a fun gig and a useful one too. I started a run earlier this evening but...

It’s like what John Lennon sang when The Beatles split up: “The dream is over”; Monkman's gone from our screens. Personally, I’m inconsolable, as he's lightened my mood on many a Monday for weeks. He’s that wonderful blend of being likeable yet also capable of making you laugh unintentionally nigh-on every time he speaks. He's got better comic timing than Morecambe (E), Wise (E), Dawson (L) and Cooper (T) rolled into one big funny monster…with a Canadian accent and an asymmetrical fringe to boot. See below for tonight’s UC tweets: if you have a drink nearby then raise a glass; we shan’t see his like again (until the next series). Wolfson - Cambridge Vs. Balliol - Ocford (10.04.17) 7:58pm: We, my friends, are on the brink of TV history: we're mere seconds away from MONKMAN'S LAST HURRAH. My God, it's tense. 8:00pm: Tonight's # UniversityChallenge is the quiz equivalent to the Boat Race. 8:01pm: Monkman's looking mor...

This morning, I made a (Eph)grave miscalculation, when I woke up thinking the day would end with a Monkman. I even went so far as to tag some of his bigger fans within my friendship group on Facebook to the effect that today would end with a Monkman. I also Tweeted about the day ending with a Monkman, before suddenly losing faith. ‘Hang on a minute,’ I thought. ‘What if the day doesn’t end with a Monkman? What if he isn't back until next week?’ I checked my sources and lo and behold, I’d got it wrong: today wasn’t set to end with a Monkman at all; not for me and not for the wider general public. The only people to be treated to a Monkman at the end of the day were those who live with him; the rest of us mere mortals have to wait until the final next Monday. Rest assured though: next Monday is Monkmonday. I can’t wait. See below for tonight’s University Challenge Tweets: Edinburgh Vs. Balliol - Oxford (03.04.17) 8:03pm: Boy...

They say the show ain’t over until the fat lady sings, but in the case of this series of University Challenge, it ain’t over until another team winds up facing the wrath of Wolfson Cambridge, AKA Team Monkman. It’s well known how much humour the man can inject into such a potentially dry and joyless show; every small utterance is delivered with comedic gusto, except you know that no writing was involved. He’s an natural in his unnaturalness and a human antidepressant; I laughed nearly every time he spoke. See below for my mostly Monk-themed tweets; there’ll only be more to follow when he returns next week. Emmanuel Cambridge Vs. Wolfson Cambridge (27.03.17) 8:03pm: Monkman: a God Amongst Monkmen. ` 8:04pm: Monkman's made special effort tonight with his hastily scissored fringe. 8:05pm: Monkman has the look of a man who's delighted to be sitting on his spike. 8:07pm: Thomas Moore Moore Moore...how do you ...

Unfortunately, I’ve missed the last few episodes of University Challenge due to a hectic schedule (correction: I just happened to have a string of gigs on Mondays), so in many ways, I feel like I’ve fallen out of the loop. The biggest disaster of all thanks to this was missing an extra performance from this year’s internet sensation, the truly wonderful Monkman. The chap is as puzzlement even to himself, though he should at least rest assured that he’s the epitome of the sort of person you expect to see on television’s most socially awkward quiz show; the man expels so much nervous energy for me to worry he will burst. Still, what we lost from no Monkman was counteracted nicely by the presence of Goldman, who’s like a robot when it comes to answering questions, while seemingly deriving no pleasure from it. His joyless tone was my main focus on Twitter tonight, though my comments weren’t appreciated by everyone; it’s not like I sought him out person...