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THE questions on University Challenge can often leave the average viewer completely stumped.

But a round on LOVE ISLAND saw the tables turned on the brainboxes in the Christmas special of the show.

LSE's alumni University Challenge team were tasked with the difficult job of answering three bonus questions about Love Island
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LSE's alumni University Challenge team were tasked with the difficult job of answering three bonus questions about Love Island

Three questions on the finalists from this year's series had them clutching at straws, as they only managed to get one right.

Host Jeremy Paxman asked the contestants three questions on Love Island couples, all of which were to guess the name of a contestant using historical or cultural references as clues.

The stumped contestants, which included critic Ekow Eshun and writer Maya Jaggi, looked bemused and were only able to guess one of the answers correctly: Wes Nelson's surname.

For Love Island fans, the questions would have proved easy, but these boffins clearly weren't tuned into the final this summer, unlike 3.6million others.

The team, which also featured economist Jagjit Chadha and journalist Simon Garfield, went on to win the match against the University of Edinburgh, despite this initial bonus-round setback.

Jeremy Paxman asked LSE's team the questions as their first bonus round of the show
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Jeremy Paxman asked LSE's team the questions as their first bonus round of the showCredit: BBC

WHAT LOVE ISLAND QUESTIONS DID JEREMY PAXMAN ASK ON UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE?

How many would you have got correct?

  1. Which of the finalists shares a first name with Celia Johnson's character in the 1945 film Brief Encounter and a surname with the first England bowler to take 500 test wickets? Contestant answer: Dolly Anderton Correct answer: Laura Anderson
  2. Josh Denzel's partner in third place has a first name closely resembling that of four kings of Poland. The third known as The Great reigned from 1333 to 1370. What is that contestant's first name? Contestant answer: Pass Correct answer: Kazimir
  3. Wes shared fourth place with Megan Barton-Hanson. His surname is that of which paramour of Lady Emma Hamilton who died in battle in October 1805? Correct contestant answer: Nelson
The contestants all looked amused but scared at the prospect of answering the questions about a show they'd never seen
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The contestants all looked amused but scared at the prospect of answering the questions about a show they'd never seen
The team were only able to answer one of the questions correctly
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The team were only able to answer one of the questions correctly

Edinburgh's team was composed of comedian Mitch Benn, TV presenter JJ Chalmers, SNP MP Joanna Cherry and GP Gavin Francis.

Many viewers took to Twitter to complain that University Challenge had been dummed down, but one person criticised it of being snooty towards people who enjoy the popular reality show.

Ellie Miles wrote: "I don't mind university challenge most of the time, just thought the sneery vibe of that round of questions was unnecessary."

Ellie said the show was 'vom'
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Ellie said the show was 'vom'
She added that the 'sneery vibe' was 'unnecessary'
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She added that the 'sneery vibe' was 'unnecessary'
The questions were on the four couples who made it to the final of the ITV2 show
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The questions were on the four couples who made it to the final of the ITV2 showCredit: Rex Features

Meanwhile others were revelling in the collision of two of their favourite shows, excited they were able to get so many questions correct on the famously tricky show.

One Twitter user wrote: "Was there really just a round on #loveisland on #UniversityChallenge or am I going mad?!?!?!?"

While another noticed this is what most students learn at uni anyway: "There was a Love Island round on University Challenge tonight and there's never been a better example of what most people learn during their degree".

Twitter users were confused by the cross over
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Twitter users were confused by the cross over
For some, it summed up uni life pretty well
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For some, it summed up uni life pretty well

Sarah Robinson seemed excited that she now had the knowledge to answer the show's usually very tough questions, writing on Twitter: "There's a round on #UniversityChallenge about love island contestants and I don't want to say that this now means love island is high brow but I could win this quiz".

Tiana had similar thoughts watching the show, writing: "university challenge did a question on love island and i've never felt so clever".

Others were happy to have been able to actually answer the questions
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Others were happy to have been able to actually answer the questions
Many Twitter users were excited to be able to get the points
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Many Twitter users were excited to be able to get the points
It made lots of viewers feel clever, unlike how watching the show usually makes people feel
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It made lots of viewers feel clever, unlike how watching the show usually makes people feel

 

Meanwhile others took to Twitter to express their disgust at the inclusion of questions about the dating show.

Mike Cross wrote: "Love Island questions on #UniversityChallenge, dear god make it stop" UC was my source of solace away from all that s***e!"

Some were horrified to see their favourite show had been tainted by Love Island
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Some were horrified to see their favourite show had been tainted by Love Island
It certainly ruined this Twitter user's argument about the show being dumbed down
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It certainly ruined this Twitter user's argument about the show being dumbed down

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In 2016 University Challenge was accused of "dumbing down" question, but the claim was dismiss as "nonsense" by the BBC.

An insider told the : "There will be fewer mind-blowing mathematical and complex classical music questions this time."

But a BBC spokesperson said: "This story is untrue. There are no plans to change University Challenge."

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