One had to ask why the twelve who went out and had failed to reach the programme final will get further opportunities on Monday and Tuesday - but then, rather cynically, you realise that this means that fewer would-be contestants need to be vetted and Channel 4 will save a bomb in travelling expenses. (Perhaps this is how they have funded the new forty grand prize.)
When I first came across Sandi Toskvig - I found her amusing. In this - her sense of superiority and manufactured bonnhomie rather grates.
When Bamber was replaced by Paxman; when Magnus by John Humphries; you quickly warmed to the new 'heavy-hitters'. This will not happen with Sandi as William G Stewart was infinitely superior in his handling of the show - he possessed the necessary gravitas which she lacks.
The programme had another serious difficulty. I have had enough involvement in quizzes over years to recognise the distinction between questions which are hard but fair and those which are unreasonable. Last night, there were too many nigh on impossible questions added to a number which were hardly within the realms of reasonableness.
This said, I have missed the programme so much for eleven years that I have now set it up permanently on record.
Incidentally, the guys who reached the last three last night were all of a very high quizzing calibre. I was most impressed.
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