BBC University Challenge fans ‘despair’ as they issue same complaint minutes into show
Amol Rajan was back hosting a new series of University Challenge (Image: BBC)
University Challenge returned for a new series tonight as Amol Rajan welcomed teams from the University of Bristol and Imperial College London, the alma mater of Queen’s Brian May to the long running BBC quiz show. However, moments in to the contest both teams proved their musical knowledge was sorely lacking and viewers were not impressed.
Rajan played a track and asked them to identify the artist. The strains of Jefferson Airplane’s iconic 1967 hit Somebody To Love. Despite the song permeating popular culture and featuring in many films and TV shows, including huge UK series such as Being Human both teams failed to recognise it leaving viewers bemused. Taking to X one seethed: “Usual dismal knowledge of popular music on #UniversityChallenge Jefferson Airplane mistaken as, respectively The Shirelles and the Supremes. And no clue who Elvis Costello is. I despair. Whatever happened to a rounded education?” Another agreed adding: “#UniversityChallenge what?!! Nobody knows Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Somebody to Love’?!!? For shame!”
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University Challenge contestants failed to recognise legendary group Jefferson Airplane (Image: Getty)
A third chimed in: “The complete ignorance of Jefferson Airplane (and insistence that it was a Motown artist) is probably a sign that I’m going to be shouting a lot during the music round this series.”
A fourth exasperated viewer shared: “Now Jefferson Airplane I know! Oh come on kids…”
However a fifth acknowledged that while they recognised they song they got the artist wrong penning: “Who else was shouting Boogie Pimps for the “Somebody to Love” song? Just moi then!!! Other than that, I smashed the other answers lol.”(sic)
Boogie Pimps released a version of the song in 2003 which charted worldwide and made number 3 on the UK charts.
University Challenge welcomed contestants from University of Bristol and Imperial College (Image: BBC)
Meanwhile a sixth quipped: “It would be well embarrassing if a Queen song got played in the music round and Imperial didn’t know it! Red guitar upside the head time!”
Jefferson Airplane wasn’t the only music act the teams came unstuck on. They all also failed to recognise Elvis Costello when his 1978 cover of (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.
They did manage to redeem themselves slightly by recognising Alanis Morrissette after her track Iconic was played. They also knew The Pet Shop Boys after hearing their hit song Rent.
At the end of the contest Imperial easily won with a score of 220 to Bristols 160.
