- Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk
University Challenge viewers were left speechless after one member of the Cardiff team made an outrageous blunder, leaving her team squirming in their seats.
The BBC programme sees the best young minds in the UK compete in a knockout tournament, answering questions on a wide range of cultural and academic topics.
And during Monday evening’s instalment of the programme, which is hosted by Amol Rajan, 42, contestant Danko admitted she ‘didn’t catch’ the start of her question to her teammates after getting distracted, as Bristol climbed to the top of the leaderboard.
Kicking off the segment, host Amol asked the Cardiff team: ‘What 16th-century monarch is the subject of an 1835 opera by Donizetti? Her religious affiliation contributed in part to her execution in 1587.’
Looking lost for words, Danko turned to her team and confessed: ‘I’m going to be honest with you. I didn’t catch the start of the question…So…’
Not knowing the answer, she then blurted out to the host: ‘Okay, cool. Mary? Queen of Scots?’
Luckily for the Cardiff team, Danko’s answer was correct, but agitated viewers then flocked to X, formerly Twitter, to comment on the blunder.
One wrote: ‘Danko needs a lesson in humility! #UniversityChallenge.’; ‘Danko is a problem starter, not a problem solver. #UniversityChallenge.’;
‘Wow. That Danko’s obnoxious. #UniversityChallenge.’; ‘Danko talking like a primary school teacher #UniversityChallenge.’
The results of the quiz were a close call as Bristol finished top of the leaderboard with 118 points, whereas the Cardiff team scored 115 points.
As he wrapped up the episode, Amol said: ‘Cardiff, it’s such bad luck, you never quite got going.
‘But we so enjoyed watching you try to work out answers. You came up with some very inventive ones, even though they were wrong.
‘You were up against a very, very strong performance by a brilliant team. Well done, Bristol.
‘That was comprehensive and hugely impressive, and we shall certainly see you again.’
It comes after one seemingly ‘easy’ music question left every single University Challenge contestant stumped in a previous episode of the game show.
Last month, four students from the University of Bath battled against opponents from the University of Southampton.
After having navigated rigorous questions on science, literature and maths, it was the music section that left both teams baffled.
The round saw music clips played through studio speakers, and the contestants were tasked with naming the artists behind the songs.
Host Amol gave the Southampton team a hint, saying the first artist based the song on her friendship with Nellee Hooper.
The clip played, and the team answered correctly that it was Icelandic singer-songwriter, Björk.
The next clue was: ‘This singer sang this song in honour of her collaboration with Marvin Gaye.’
But as the clip played, the team looked clueless. They turned to one another for answers, but each was more unsure than the last.
One team member shook his head and admitted, ‘I don’t know,’ before his teammate passed on behalf of the group.
Amol revealed: ‘It’s Diana Ross,’ at which the team were obviously dejected.
Meanwhile, agitated fans were shouting at the TV screen at home, with many online shocked at the ‘easy’ question.
‘P**s easy music round,’ wrote one, while another chimed in: ‘This is a boring match.’
University Challenge airs on BBC Two and is available to stream on iPlayer.
