Regular readers will know of my passion and enthusiasm for popular quiz show Only Connect. One of the many likeable features of the show is the quirky, single line fact given about each of the contestants as they are introduced. Stuff like:
“John Smith, a copywriter who has a room full of toy buses.”
“Angela Davies, a librarian who once unknowingly took part in a Boney M tribute act in a bar in Swindon.” or
“Stanislav Mikhailovich, a student whose favourite shirt was sold by his cousin to a man in Belfast.”
These facts are often a bit off-the-wall (hey, the whole show is a bit that way), and are always presented without context. For me, this allows the viewer to fill in the gaps in any way they choose, and thus adds to the amusement.
There are often discussions on OC forums about what people would use as their quirky facts. I don’t consider myself to have led a very boring life, but they’re more difficult to come up with than you might think. So far, I have got:
“6000, a blogger who was in a rival pub quiz team to Only Connect question editor Jack Waley-Cohen for many years.”
“6000, a laboratory manager who once watched a 90 minute argument between two prostitutes on a street in Florence, while eating a free watermelon.”
or:
“6000, a microbiologist who once sat opposite Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar on an otherwise empty District Line train.”
Not much for n years, hey? I’m sure I could do better if I really applied myself, though. Like my abseiling off the Tyne Bridge. Or disappointing my BSc supervisor by choosing not to do a thesis on Slime Moulds.
But this week has actually been very kind in supplying quirky facts. Because I can now add:
“…who once nearly blew himself up in a Victorian cottage on top of Table Mountain.”
and:
“…who once played Beat The Intro against a Quantum Physicist at a braai in Constantia.”
What fun we had.
(OK, the nearly blowing myself up bit wasn’t great, but it does make for a good story.)
So… the obvious question is: what would your best quirky fact be for your Only Connect introduction? The more bizarre, the better. But of course, they have to be true.