University Challenge fans rip into ‘waste of space’ contestant as he takes ‘vow of silence’ on BBC game show
UNIVERSITY Challenge fans were outraged when a returning contestant fails to say a word yet again.
Host Jeremy Paxman introduced the returning competing teams who were battling it out as the phase two quarter finals continued last night.
First was Southampton who consisted of Ethan Lyon, Magda Steele, Dom Belcher and Elliot Miles.
Their opponents, from Robert Gordon, were made up of Samuel Fregene, Donald Anderson, Emily Cullen and Faye Cook.
It was Samuel Fregene caught viewers attention – but for all the wrong reasons.
Taking to Twitter, fans pointed out his lack of contribution and silence during the competition.
One said: “Fregene chose the wrong time to go on a vow of silence! Don’t think he uttered a word in a single episode! Waste of space!”
Another quizzed: “Is Fregene’s buzzer broken?”
A third penned: “Think Fregene should have went on Pointless.”
It was Southampton who came out on top with a total of 170 points, whereas Robert Gordon only racked up a score of 60.
This comes after the BBC hit back after being accused of favouring Cambridge and Oxford based teams on the show.
The programme came under fire for allowing Cambridge and Oxford to enter individual teams from different colleges within institutions.
At present, the rules state that each institution that offers a university-level education is allowed to put forward one team each.
However, many professors have taken a critical look upon this arguing that it simply allows the two leading universities an advantage to submit more than one team.
During the latest series of the BBC Two show, fronted by Jeremy Paxman, eight of the 28 teams came from an Oxford or Cambridge based university institution.
This was one down on the previous series which featured a total of nine.
The BBC was quick to hit back as it offered up an explanation.
A statement read: “All institutions that deliver higher education courses at the level of bachelor’s degree or equivalent or higher are welcome to apply to take part in University Challenge.
“Institutions are eligible and welcome to apply to University Challenge independently of each other.”
It added: “All education institutions that design and deliver teaching towards university level qualifications are welcome to apply to University Challenge independently.
“This is not limited to Oxbridge colleges, but also includes around 300 colleges of further and higher education across the UK, several member institutions of the University of London, and a number of UK conservatoires and art schools.”
University Challenge airs Mondays at 7.30pm on BBC Two.