Only Connect

Only Connect Specials

TV Show

Specials Episodes

1. Crossworders v Rugby Boys: The Champion of Champions

December 21st, 200929 min

Quiz in which connections are made between seemingly random elements. The winners of series one meet the champs of series two.

2. Children in Need Special

November 15th, 201029 min

A special Children in Need episode of the quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital. The cunning wiles of the Wheel Men (Rev Richard Coles, Adam Hart-Davis and Grub Smith) take on the combined brains of the Larks (Michael Bywater, Sir Andrew Motion and Stuart Maconie), trying to work out what connects the likes of Fawlty Towers to St Joseph's Wort, Pesto and the Great Mouse Detective.

3. Series 3 vs Series 4 Winners Special

January 10th, 201129 min

Special edition of the quiz in which links must be made between seemingly random things, as the Gamblers square up to the Epicureans.

4. University Challenge Special

January 17th, 201129 min

Victoria Coren presents a special edition of the quiz show in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital. Undefeated champions of champions, the Crossworders, risk their reputation by confronting the awesome brainpower of the University Challengers, captained by the illustrious Alex Guttenplan. It isn't going to be an easy ride for either team, as they try to connect Fortis shareholders with Muntadar al-Zaidi, sabateurs and Nikita Kruschchev.

5. Comic Relief Special

March 14th, 201129 min

The Treesome (Brian Sewell, Adam Hart-Davis and Grub Smith) lock intellectual brains with the Larks (Michael Bywater, Sir Andrew Motion and Stuart Maconie) as they try to work out what connects the Golden Gate Bridge and David Dickinson.

6. Children in Need Special: Great Believers vs Free Speakers

November 14th, 201129 min

In this Pudsey Special, two teams of clever celebrities prepare to lose their dignity in honour of Children in Need. The cunning wiles of the Great Believers (Nick Hornby, Dame Joan Bakewell and John Lloyd) take on the combined brains of the Free Speakers (Ian Hislop, Simon Singh and John Sessions). So join Victoria if you want to know what connects Erté, Hergé, Jeep and Esso.

7. Wall Night 1 (1)

December 12th, 201129 min

The first half of Only Connect's inaugural Wall Night Special, in which eight teams return to face off against the Wall.

8. Wall Night 1 (2)

December 12th, 201129 min

Victoria Coren presents a special edition of the quiz show in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital. The semi-finals and final of the mini-tournament, plus wall-solving tales from celebrity alumni.

9. Champion of Champions: Crossworders v Epicureans

January 2nd, 201229 min

Special edition of the quiz in which series 3 & 4 champions the Epicureans take on Series 1 & 2 champions the Crossworders.

10. Only Connect vs Mastermind Special: Crossworders vs Masterminders

January 9th, 201229 min

Victoria Coren hosts a special edition of the word quiz in which a trio of Mastermind series winners take on Only Connect champions the Crossworders.

11. Wall Night 2 (1)

January 30th, 201229 min

Victoria Coren presents a special edition of the quiz show in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital. Eight seasoned Only Connect teams return to take part in a Connecting Wall mini-tournament.

12. Wall Night 2 (2)

January 30th, 201229 min

Victoria Coren presents a special edition of the quiz show in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital. The semi-finals and final of the mini-tournament featuring seasoned Only Connect teams, plus wall-solving tales from celebrity alumni.

13. Sport Relief Special: Cutters vs Backhanders

March 19th, 201229 min

Victoria Coren hosts a special celebrity edition of the quiz, as two teams prepare to lose their dignity in honour of Sport Relief.

14. Children in Need Special: Goldfingers v Fowls

November 12th, 201229 min

Victoria Coren hosts a very special celebrity edition of the quiz where knowledge will only take you so far, and patience and lateral thinking are also vital. In this Pudsey Special, two teams of clever celebrities prepare to lose their dignity in honour of Children in Need. The cunning wiles of the Goldfingers (Charlie Higson, Daisy Goodwin and Matthew Parris) take on the combined brains of the Fowls (Rosie Boycott, Richard Osman and Clarke Carlisle). So join Victoria if you want to know what connects Mark Antony, Henry VIII, Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond and the Black Fingernail.

15. Champion of Champions: Analysts v Scribes

January 7th, 201329 min

Series 5 champs the Analysts take on Series 6 winners the Scribes in a bid to be named Champion of Champions.

16. Special: Eggheads v Davids

January 14th, 201329 min

Three Eggheads take on three champion captains all called David, drawing together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Apollo 12, Pan Am Flight 214, Lee Trevino and York Minster.

17. Comic Relief Special 2013: Neuromantics v Muppets

March 11th, 201329 min

Victoria Coren hosts a special celebrity edition of the quiz where knowledge will only take you so far, and patience and lateral thinking are also vital. Two teams of clever celebrities prepare to lose their dignity in honour of Comic Relief, as the Neuromantics (Charlie Higson, Rufus Hound, and Baroness Susan Greenfield) take on the combined wits of the Muppets (David Mitchell, Rosie Boycott, and Bill Turnbull). So join Victoria if you want to know what connects £100,000, PG Wodehouse, deep reddish-purple and Jack Horner's thumb.

18. Children in Need Special: Scrabblers v The Balding Team

November 11th, 201329 min

In this Pudsey Special, two teams of clever celebrities prepare to lose their dignity in honour of Children in Need, as the Balding Team (Clare Balding, Clive Anderson and Sir Simon Jenkins) take on the Scrabblers (Alice Arnold, Konnie Huq and John Finnemore). So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects: Bread song, Steve Bell cartoon, Lindsay Anderson film and Rudyard Kipling poem.

19. Sport Relief: Scribblers v Terriers

March 17th, 201429 min

Two teams of clever celebrities prepare to lose their dignity in honour of Sport Relief as the Scribblers (Alice Arnold, Charlie Brooker and Ed Smith) take on the Terriers (Clare Balding, Val McDermid and Joshua Levine). So join Victoria if you want to know what connects: Howard's End, Veterans' Day, Caesar's Palace and Every dog has its day.

20. Children in Need: Noggins v Curiosities

November 10th, 201429 min

In this special Children in Need episode, two teams of celebrities put their collective reputations on the line in the name of charity. The Noggins - Robert Peston, Patrick Marber and Sophie Grigson - and the Curiosities - Kevin Eldon, Professor Steve Jones and Kate Mosse - compete to draw together the connections between things which at first glance seem utterly random.

21. Comic Relief Special: Waterbabies v Tillers

March 9th, 201529 min

Two teams of celebrities put their collective reputations on the line in the name of charity. The Waterbabies (Reeta Chakrabarti, Tom Holland and captain Patrick Marber) compete against the Tillers (Katie Derham, Steve Pemberton and their captain, Professor Steve Jones) to draw together the connection between things which at first glance seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects truth, malice, cava and prose.

22. Children in Need: Music Monkeys v Chess Pieces

November 9th, 201529 min

In this Children in Need special, two teams of celebrities compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. The Music Monkeys, featuring captain David Baddiel with Clemency Burton-Hill and Philip Hensher, square up to the Chess Pieces, a team lead by Hugh Dennis and featuring Bonnie Greer and AN Wilson.

23. Sport Relief: Royal III v BBC

March 14th, 201629 min

In this Sport Relief special, two teams of celebrities compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. This game sees the Royal III - David Baddiel, Dr John Cooper Clarke and Philippa Gregory - square up to the BBC - Hugh Dennis, Julian Lloyd Webber and Lynne Truss.

24. Champion of Champions: Europhiles v String Section

December 18th, 201830 min

Series 9 champions the Europhiles take on Series 11 winners the String Section. Victoria Coren Mitchell presents.

25. Sport: Footballers v Korfballers

December 19th, 201830 min

The Footballers and Korfballers return for a very special one-off sports special. Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts.

26. Family: Lasletts v Meeples

December 20th, 201830 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the series where knowledge will only take you so far. The Lasletts and Meeples return for a special family edition.

27. Quiz: QI Elves v Inquisitors

December 25th, 201830 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the quiz show about making connections. The QI Elves and Inquisitors compete in a special edition of the quiz.

28. Travel: Globetrotters v Eurovisionaries

December 30th, 201930 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the series where knowledge will only take you so far. In this episode, two former teams with a connection to travel return.

29. Happy Hour: Alesmen v Cosmopolitans

January 1st, 202030 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the series where knowledge will only take you so far. In this episode, two former teams with a connection to drinks return for a happy hour special.

30. Education: Clareites v Beaks

January 2nd, 202030 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the series where knowledge will only take you so far. In this episode, two former teams with a connection to education return for a special.

31. Champion of Champions: Verbivores v Escapologists

January 3rd, 202030 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the series where knowledge will only take you so far. Series 12 champions the Verbivores take on series 13 champions the Escapologists.

32. Christmas: Edwards Family v Wrights

December 29th, 202030 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell is back in the host’s chair for a one-off special of Only Connect. Two favourite family teams from previous series return for a family-themed Christmas special.

33. North and South: Scunthorpe Scholars v Oxonians

December 30th, 202030 min

Two favourite teams from previous series – one from the north and one from the south - return for a very special episode with a geographical flavour.

34. Doctors: Medics v Gallifreyans

December 31st, 202030 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell is back in the host’s chair as six favourite contestants from previous series return for a one-off special themed around doctors.

35. Music: Festival Fans v Choristers

January 1st, 202130 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell is back in the host’s chair for a one-off special of Only Connect. Two favourite teams from previous series return for a very special musical episode of Only Connect.

36. Christmas: Turophiles v Corkscrews

December 27th, 202130 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell is back in the host's chair for a one-off special as two favourite teams from previous series return for an evening of cheese, wine and Christmas quizzing.

37. The Birds and the Bees: Birdwatchers v Beekeepers

December 28th, 202130 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell is back in the host's chair for a one-off special of Only Connect as two teams from previous series – the Birdwatchers and the Beekeepers - return for a special episode.

38. Cold: Nordiphiles v Apres Skiers

December 29th, 202130 min

Victoria Coren Mitchell is back in the host's chair for a one-off special of Only Connect as the Nordiphiles and Apres Skiers return for a very special and chilly episode.

39. Champions: 007s v Puzzle Hunters

December 30th, 202130 min

Series 15's champions, the 007s, take on Series 16's champions, the Puzzle Hunters, in a competition to be named Only Connect Champions of Champions.

40. Christmas: Polyhymnians v Channel Islanders

December 23rd, 2022

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the quiz where knowledge only gets you so far. She asks what connects the following: Ange, Sedge, Christmas Eves, and God, frankincense and myrrh.

41. Mystery: Endeavours v Whodunnits

December 26th, 2022

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the quiz where knowledge only gets you so far. It’s a mystery-themed special, and two teams emerge from the mists of time to solve a series of mysterious puzzles.

42. Love: Part-Time Poets v Romantics

December 27th, 2022

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the quiz where knowledge only gets you so far. In this love-themed special, two teams from previous series have been lured out of retirement for some lovely questions.

43. Champion of Champions: Dicers v Data Wizards

December 28th, 2022

Two all-conquering teams from previous series battle for the title of champion of champions – the Dicers (Series 14) and the Data Wizards (Series 17).

44. Christmas – Relatives v Muppets

December 19th, 202328 min

A special festive edition of the quiz hosted by Victoria Coren Mitchell. Two family teams return for a yuletide battle of wits.

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45. Fashion – Dandies v Peacocks

December 20th, 202328 min

Another special edition of the quiz hosted by Victoria Coren Mitchell, where knowledge only gets you so far. Two fashionable teams from yesteryear return to strut their stuff.

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46. Boxing - Wrestlers v Arrowheads

December 26th, 202328 min

Another special edition of the quiz, hosted by Victoria Coren Mitchell, where knowledge only gets you so far. Two ‘sporting’ teams from previous series have returned to fight it out.

47. Politics: Politicians v Activists

December 28th, 202328 min

Previous contestants return – professional politicians, including a real, live Conservative MP (correct at time of recording), face a team of activists.

All Seasons

Season 20

Season 20

Aug 12, 2024
Series 19

Series 19

Jul 17, 2023
Series 18

Series 18

Aug 29, 2022
Series 17

Series 17

Jul 12, 2021
Series 16

Series 16

Sep 21, 2020
Series 15

Series 15

Sep 2, 2019
Series 14

Series 14

Oct 22, 2018
Series 13

Series 13

Jul 28, 2017
Series 12

Series 12

Jul 11, 2016
Series 11

Series 11

Jul 13, 2015
Series 10

Series 10

Sep 1, 2014
Series 9

Series 9

Apr 14, 2014
Series 8

Series 8

Sep 23, 2013
Series 7

Series 7

May 13, 2013
Series 6

Series 6

Aug 27, 2012
Series 5

Series 5

Aug 15, 2011
Series 4

Series 4

Sep 6, 2010
Series 3

Series 3

Apr 1, 2010
Series 2

Series 2

Jul 13, 2009
Series 1

Series 1

Sep 15, 2008
Specials

Specials

Dec 21, 2009