Only Connect blooper

[norbitonflyer]

Only Connect makes a rare error. This was the very first question of the new series.

Only Connect - Series 21: 1. Whitley Baes v Caraxians

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the quiz where knowledge only gets you so far. A husband-wife-friend combo take on three fans of the films of Leos Carax.

www.bbc.co.uk

see at 3:21

Error was compunded by her quoting the correct date, and no-one noticing it didn't correrspond to that in the clue!

Didn't affect the outcome as the error was at Clue 3 and they guessed correctly at Clue 2

 

[47296lastduff]

Perhaps you could spell out what the error was, please?

 

[alistairlees]

The connecting word was "Rocket". This was illustrated in clue 3 with a picture of "Stephenson's Rocket". It was actually a picture of "Locomotion" (complete with "S&DR" initials underneath). Ironic in the 200th year...

 

[47296lastduff]

I suspect that only we enthusiasts would call that an error, and that the producers were only bothered about finding a picture of any early loco. The style of Only Connect is to spot what is hinted at rather than a literal identification of what is presented.

 

[Ediswan]

I suspect that only we enthusiasts would call that an error, and that the producers were only bothered about finding a picture of any early loco. The style of Only Connect is to spot what is hinted at rather than a literal identification of what is presented.

Disagree. For the question at issue, the correct name was key. Another clue was some green leaves, also rocket. (In practice the answer was found before the offending cluse was shown.)

 

[Capybara]

Disagree. For the question at issue, the correct name was key. Another clue was some green leaves, also rocket. (In practice the answer was found before the offending cluse was shown.)

Indeed. That it was Rocket was crucial to the question. And finding a picture of Rocket is not exactly difficult. If you put Stephenson's Rocket into Google images, you get pages of images of Stephenson's Rocket, not pictures of Locomotion No 1.

 

[alistairlees]

I suspect that only we enthusiasts would call that an error, and that the producers were only bothered about finding a picture of any early loco. The style of Only Connect is to spot what is hinted at rather than a literal identification of what is presented.

The pictures that Only Connect used were:

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Snooker player aka "The Rocket")
Rocket Raccoon (Marvel Comics character)
Locomotion (mislabelled as the Ricket)
Rocket Salad Leaves

If only a "hint" was required then surely they could have just done
Steve Davies
Some other marvel comics character
Locomotion
Lettuce leaves

Obvously that would not have worked. Only Connect is about being precise and pedantic, otherwise the quiz would not function.