Only Connect viewers 'switch off' after spotting contestant's 'annoying' excuse

BBC's popular quiz show Only Connect returned to screens on Tuesday (October 14), with host Victoria Coren presenting questions to two teams of three who must find a connection between seemingly unrelated things. However, after she introduced the teams, Whitley Bays and Oh No, They Didn't, and the competition got under way, many viewers were left unimpressed. Many took to social media with fury after one player, Lizzie Riley, decided to point out her age as an excuse for not knowing a question.

After succeeding on a regional numbers question, the Whitley Bays were tasked with identifying: "What would you expect to see in the fourth picture?" Once they incorrectly answered: "A sugar cube," Victoria admitted: "I don't think that would work," before passing the bonus round on to the other team. After they too failed, the host revealed the link was "Vincent." She then turned to the contestant and pointed out: "You're looking blank, Lizzie," which prompted the player to confess: "Never heard of it."

However, everyone winced after the host questioned how Lizzie would succeed on questions about the British sitcom Porridge, to which the participant added: "I was born in 2004." But not everyone was impressed with her response as one viewer fumed: " Someone born in 2004 is on this show... I'm out... #OnlyConnect."

Another raged: "'I was born in 2004 so I wouldn't know'. Why? WHY would you go on a bloody high brow quiz show if you are going to use that age-old excuse? SO annoying."

"Kids today so self absorbed can't give an answer to anything before their age," said a third.

One fan fumed: "You can't come on to a general knowledge show, show a sore lack of it, and then blame it on your age! That really grinds my gears."

"Absolutely, *before I was born * always winds me up," added another.

As one viewer pointed out: "Lizzy Riley saying she was born in 2005, then not really knowing about the Nestene & the Autons (which were in Series 1 of Doctor Who *in 2005*) ...That all makes me feel about 1000 years old."

"Always slightly cringe when Victoria is shocked when young contestants don't have a clue about these 1970s/1980s cultural references #OnlyConnect even the contestants were cringing there as she explained it," said another fan.

As the Whitley Baes team and Victoria groaned at Lizzie's admission, the host quickly added: "Oh my word! Let's move on."