U to Z
U is for University Challenge
Proving every week that looks and brains rarely coincide
as rank after rank of potatoey graduates compete in TV’s
longest running quiz (30 years and counting). Only invented
to inspire the following thought processes in the audience
at home: “Did I really do a degree? I’m sure
I used to know this stuff. What’s happened to my
brain? Jeez, I could’ve been a contender. “
V is for Vordemann
B rains and looks and money. Has laid out 170,000 letters
for contestants of Countdown over the years. Did you
see our interview here?
W is for Whitely, Richard
MC of the classic Countdown. Famed for his fumbly manner,
idle banter with Vorders, and the fact that he never
misses an episode of his own show. Some Countdown factoids
for you:
: it’s based on the renown French TV quiz Des
Chiffres Et Des Lettres (“The Numbers And The
Letters”)
: no person has ever won ‘the double’ –
a Countdown and a 15-to-1 final
: every member of the audience is given a pen &
pad so they can play along
: the highest scoring celebrity guest? Not Bamber, nor
Charles Kennedy, nor even Loyd Grossman. Step forward:
Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall
XYZ is for XYZ
It’s always difficult to fill these in
A to Z’s isn’t it? We really had to dredge
the bottom of the quiz barrel to find this: XYZ, an
short-lived 1993 BBC1 quiz show hosted by George Marshall
(who?). Blockbusters-like, and notable perhaps only
for its catchphrase. “We’ll be ABC-ing you!”
Thank you. Good night.
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