Viewers of BBC University Challenge viewers were left stunned by an incredibly one-sided instalment of the long-running quiz show on Monday.
Host Amol Rajan commiserated Wadham College at the University of Oxford after they were dealt a devastating defeat by Imperial College London.
In the end, the match ended 345 to 25 – with Wadham spending most of the show languishing on zero points.
A late comeback saved them from complete ignominy, but it was far from enough to make up the ground. Even more humiliatingly, the last question of the night saw Wadham drop five points for answering wrongly while the host was reading the question.
“What can I say? You were up against an absolutely ludicrous team. I mean, they’re absolutely phenomenal,” Rajan commiserated to Wadham as he closed out the show.
He continued: “No one could be in any doubt watching you what a bunch of enormously brilliant, and clever young people you are. So thank you for playing so well.”
Wadham spent most of the night on zero points
BBC
“You were absolutely fantastic,” the host added charitably.
Rajan concluded: “And you’ve been on TV a couple of times, so that’s the main thing. We loved having you.”
Turning to Imperial, he simply said: “That’s a big score. And it’s going to scare the other people. Well done!”
Mercifully, Wadham were saved from the dubious honour of achieving the worst score in the show’s history – which fan run site Blachflower records as belonging to Sussex in 2009, who scored just 10 points.
Wadham could do nothing by cheers each other after the thrashing from Imperial
BBC
As Monday’s shows progressed, viewers were stunned by Imperial’s dominance and took to social media to share their thoughts.
“It’s awful watching this episode of University Challenge. Poor Wadham,” one wrote sympathetically.
Another exclaimed: “OMG, never seen a University Challenge like this. Come on Wadham!!”
“There’s an absolute massacre going on University Challenge right now,” a third observed.
A fourth asked jokingly: “Are the buzzers for the Oxford team actually working?”
“I wonder if anyone at Wadham can change a Light bulb,” a fifth wondered savagely.
Host Amol Rajan tried to commiserate the defeated Wadham as stunned fans watched on
BBC
Others shared meme gifs, including the famous “stop, he’s already dead” quote from The Simpsons.
Some viewers took a break from bashing Wadham to celebrate the dominant quizzing of Imperial.
“Wow. What a dominant performance from Imperial on #UniversityChallenge One of the most impressive I’ve seen. Not just the range of knowledge but the speed on the bell. Chapeau,” one congratulated.
Another wowed viewer added: “Well, what can I say except: bravo Imperial! An utterly storming performance that surely has them down as favourites so far going into the QFs! Best of luck to them there!”
