THREAD: So - here's the full story of that #UniversityChallenge music round, which took considerably longer to complete than the two minutes or so you just saw. /1
As you just saw, Newcastle nailed the starter and first two bonus questions. (Newcastle Nielsen's explanation of how she recognised the starter as Britten is characteristically hilarious and equally characteristically unrepeatable in polite company.) #UniversityChallenge /2
We then move on to the third bonus question - the pressure is on, Newcastle's comeback attempt is gaining momentum, and Paxman seems keen to get on with it. #UniversityChallenge /3
Paxman: "And finally, name the composer of this piece by Aaron Copla... oh ****." #UniversityChallenge /4
Recording stops. Gasps and hilarity in the studio. Paxman suitably mortified. #UniversityChallenge /5
Hilarity rapidly subsides into confusion as we see 20 points being removed from Newcastle's score. It turns out that there is no back-up bonus question in case of situations like this one.... #UniversityChallenge /6
....so for consistency the director is insisting they have to take a whole new starter question and bonus round, as if Newcastle's previous three answers never existed. #UniversityChallenge /7
Cue much consternation amongst the Newcastle supporters in the crowd, led by the formidable mother of Newcastle Noble. #UniversityChallenge /8
Newcastle reluctantly admit they would have had no problems identifying Copland as the composer of Fanfare for the Common Man (if memory serves correct). Crowd is suggesting they therefore just film the question and give them the 5 points. #UniversityChallenge /9
Merton, exceptionally sportingly, make it clear they'd be perfectly happy with that. Newcastle, equally sportingly, insist they don't want any favours, and the TV people are telling us they can't do it. A travesty seems in the offing. #UniversityChallenge /10
Increasing disgruntlement from the crowd, possibly including a Welsh voice - no doubt emboldened by being safely tucked away behind the formidable Mrs Noble - demanding to know "why should the team be punished for Paxman's cock-up?" #UniversityChallenge /11
(The fact that this voice seemed to have been produced at the exact level of resonance to be audible to the despairing Paxman, sat with his head in his hands, across the studio may suggest some degree of professional vocal training.) #UniversityChallenge /12
Much bemusement from the crowd - why is there no back-up question? Surely this must happen all the time? Isn't it possible to produce one while we wait? The atmosphere was getting pretty tense, if not somewhat feisty. Yet the producers seem unmoved. #UniversityChallenge /13
At this point the #UniversityChallenge question team ride to the rescue, and during the delay and exchange of views they have indeed conjured up an entirely consistent alternative third bonus. Cheers all round, including from the Merton team and their supporters. /14
And so the recording continues, although you felt that Newcastle's momentum and focus had been affected. Having said that it almost certainly didn't affect the final outcome. Merton were excellent and Newcastle went down fighting. #UniversityChallenge /15
But - especially given the stick that #UniversityChallenge teams so often get for their classical music knowledge or lack thereof - it would have been a shame to lose those Britten - Bartok - Poulenc answers, which were crackers. /THREAD
PS: yes, probably a large factor in Nielsen's brain freezes (later redeemed) and Paxman's odd mood. #UniversityChallenge
PPS: a mere trifle by comparison with the @RoyalAcadMusic #UniversityChallenge Ernest Lough controversy back in 1999, it goes without saying.
