Only Connect
Specials
200959 episodes
Episode 1
Champion of Champions: Crossworders v Rugby Boys
Dec 21, 200929m
The Crossworders, champions of series one, return to challenge the kings of series two, the Rugby Boys.
Episode 2
Children in Need Special: Wheel Men v Larks
Nov 15, 201029m
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).
Episode 3
Champion of Champions: Gamblers v Epicureans
Jan 10, 201129m
The Gamblers, the winners of series three, square up to the Epicureans, the winners of series four.
Episode 4
University Challenge Special: Crossworders v University Challengers
Jan 17, 201129m
Undefeated champions of champions, the Crossworders, risk their reputation by confronting the awesome brainpower of the University Challengers, captained by the illustrious Alex Guttenplan.
Episode 5
Comic Relief Special: Treesome v Larks
Mar 14, 201129m
The Treesome (Brian Sewell, Adam Hart-Davis, and Grub Smith) lock intellectual brains with the Larks (Michael Bywater, Sir Andrew Motion, and Stuart Maconie).
Episode 6
Children in Need Special: Great Believers v Free Speakers
Nov 14, 201129m
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).
Episode 7
Wall Night 1 (1)
Dec 12, 201129m
Eight seasoned Only Connect teams return to take part in a Connecting Wall mini-tournament.
Episode 8
Wall Night 1 (2)
Dec 12, 201129m
The semi-finals and final of the mini-tournament, plus wall-solving tales from celebrity alumni.
Episode 9
Champion of Champions: Crossworders v Epicureans
Jan 2, 201229m
Series 3 & 4 champions the Epicureans take on Series 1 & 2 champions the Crossworders.
Episode 10
Mastermind Special: Crossworders v Masterminders
Jan 9, 201229m
A trio of Mastermind series winners take on Only Connect champions the Crossworders.
Episode 11
Wall Night 2 (1)
Jan 30, 201229m
Eight seasoned Only Connect teams return to take part in a Connecting Wall mini-tournament.
Episode 12
Wall Night 2 (2)
Jan 30, 201229m
The semi-finals and final of the mini-tournament featuring seasoned Only Connect teams, plus wall-solving tales from celebrity alumni.
Episode 13
Sport Relief Special: Cutters v Backhanders
Mar 19, 201229m
The Cutters (Nick Hornby, Mark Gatiss, and Samira Ahmed) take on the combined wits of the Backhanders (Ian Hislop, Stephen Mangan, and Allison Pearson).
Episode 14
Children in Need Special: Goldfingers v Fowls
Nov 12, 201229m
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).
Episode 15
Champion of Champions: Analysts v Scribes
Jan 7, 201329m
Series 5 champions the Analysts take on Series 6 champions the Scribes in a bid to be named Only Connect Champion of Champions.
Episode 16
Special: Eggheads v Davids
Jan 14, 201329m
Three Eggheads take on three champion captains all called David.
Episode 17
Comic Relief Special 2013: Neuromantics v Muppets
Mar 11, 201329m
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).
Episode 18
Children in Need Special: Scrabblers v The Balding Team
Nov 11, 201329m
The Balding Team (Clare Balding, Clive Anderson, and Sir Simon Jenkins) take on the Scrabblers (Alice Arnold, Konnie Huq, and John Finnemore).
Episode 19
Sport Relief Special: Scribblers v Terriers
Mar 17, 201429m
The Scribblers (Alice Arnold, Charlie Brooker, and Ed Smith) take on the Terriers (Clare Balding, Val McDermid, and Joshua Levine).
Episode 20
Children in Need Special: Noggins v Curiosities
Nov 10, 201429m
The Noggins (Robert Peston, Patrick Marber, and Sophie Grigson), face the Curiosities (Kevin Eldon, Professor Steve Jones, and Kate Mosse).
Episode 21
Comic Relief Special: Waterbabies v Tillers
Mar 9, 201529m
The Waterbabies (Reeta Chakrabarti, Tom Holland, and captain Patrick Marber) compete against the Tillers (Katie Derham, Steve Pemberton, and their captain, Professor Steve Jones).
Episode 22
Children in Need Special: Music Monkeys v Chess Pieces
Nov 9, 201529m
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.
Episode 23
Sport Relief Special: Royal III v BBC
Mar 14, 201629m
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.
Episode 24
Champion of Champions: Europhiles v String Section
Dec 18, 201830m
Series 9 champions the Europhiles take on Series 11 winners the String Section.
Episode 25
Sport Special: Footballers v Korfballers
Dec 19, 201830m
The Footballers and Korfballers return for a very special one-off sports special.
Episode 26
Family Special: Lasletts v Meeples
Dec 20, 201830m
The Lasletts and Meeples return for a special family edition.
Episode 27
Quiz Special: QI Elves v Inquisitors
Dec 25, 201830m
The QI Elves and Inquisitors compete in a special edition of the quiz.
Episode 28
Travel Special: Globetrotters v Eurovisionaries
Dec 30, 201930m
Two former teams with a connection to travel return.
Episode 29
Happy Hour Special: Alesmen v Cosmopolitans
Jan 1, 202030m
Two former teams with a connection to drinks return for a happy hour special.
Episode 30
Education: Clareites v Beaks
Jan 2, 202030m
Two former teams with a connection to education return for a special.
Episode 31
Champion of Champions: Verbivores v Escapologists
Jan 3, 202030m
Series 12 champions the Verbivores take on series 13 champions the Escapologists.
Episode 32
Christmas Special: Edwards Family v Wrights
Dec 29, 202030m
Two favourite family teams from previous series return for a family-themed Christmas special.
Episode 33
North and South Special: Scunthorpe Scholars v Oxonians
Dec 30, 202030m
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.
Episode 34
Doctors Special: Medics v Gallifreyans
Dec 31, 202030m
Six favourite contestants from previous series return for a one-off special themed around doctors.
Episode 35
Music Special: Festival Fans v Choristers
Jan 1, 202130m
Two favourite teams from previous series return for a very special musical episode.
Episode 36
Christmas Special: Turophiles v Corkscrews
Dec 27, 202130m
Two favourite teams from previous series return for an evening of cheese, wine, and Christmas quizzing.
Episode 37
The Birds and the Bees Special: Birdwatchers v Beekeepers
Dec 28, 202130m
Two teams from previous series – the Birdwatchers and the Beekeepers - return for a special episode.
Episode 38
Cold Special: Nordiphiles v Apres Skiers
Dec 29, 202130m
The Nordiphiles and Apres Skiers return for a very special and chilly episode.
Episode 39
Champion of Champions: 007s v Puzzle Hunters
Dec 30, 202130m
Series 15's champions, the 007s, take on Series 16's champions, the Puzzle Hunters.
Episode 40
Christmas Special: Polyhymnians v Channel Islanders
Dec 23, 2022
It's Christmas (special) time! Mistletoe and wine, boughs of holly, jolly teams from yesteryear oozing Christmas spirit and eager to tuck into some delicious questions.
Episode 41
Mystery Special: Endeavours v Whodunnits
Dec 26, 2022
It’s a mystery-themed special, and two teams emerge from the mists of time to attempt to solve a series of mysterious puzzles.
Episode 42
Love Special: Part-Time Poets v Romantics
Dec 27, 2022
In this love-themed special, two teams from previous series have been lured out of retirement by the prospect of some lovely questions.
Episode 43
Champion of Champions: Dicers v Data Wizards
Dec 28, 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).
Episode 44
Christmas Special: Relatives v Muppets
Dec 19, 202328m
A special festive edition, where two family teams return for a yuletide battle of wits.
Episode 45
Fashion Special: Dandies v Peacocks
Dec 20, 202328m
TMDB rating 6.0TMDB
Two fashionable teams from yesteryear return to strut their stuff.
Episode 46
Boxing Special: Wrestlers v Arrowheads
Dec 26, 202329m
TMDB rating 10.0TMDB
There’s been a mix-up, but never mind: two ‘sporting’ teams from previous series have returned to fight it out.
Episode 47
Politics Special: Politicians v Activists
Dec 28, 202328m
Previous contestants return – professional politicians, including a real, live Conservative MP (correct at time of recording), face a team of activists.
Episode 48
Royal Special: Vikings v Antiquarians
Dec 23, 202429m
Two teams from previous series return for a battle royal, and the questions are as tricky as ever.
Episode 49
Christmas Special: Mothers Ruined v Godyn Family
Dec 24, 202429m
It’s Christmas, and two family teams return for Only Connect’s most Christmassy Christmas special yet.
Episode 50
Books Special: Orwellians v Jillies
Dec 26, 202429m
Two teams from previous series, both taking their names from giants of literature, face fiendish, bookish questions.
Episode 51
BBC Special: Bankers v Science Writers
Dec 27, 202429m
TMDB rating 6.0TMDB
Teams from the first series return to celebrate 60 years of BBC Two.
Episode 52
Transatlantic Special: Cinephiles v Harlequins
Dec 30, 202429m
TMDB rating 7.0TMDB
Anything and everything relating to the ‘special relationship’ is on the cards, as two British quizzers and their US captain take on a British captain and his two US teammates.
Episode 53
Single Special: Brews v Irregulars
Dec 31, 202429m
TMDB rating 6.0TMDB
It’s the ‘single special’, celebrating singles, solos, and everything that comes in groups of one.
Episode 54
Sounds Special: Record Collectors v Jukeboxers
Jan 1, 202530m
TMDB rating 5.0TMDB
Two teams from previous series return, but there’s a twist to the format – nearly all the questions are audio only.
Episode 55
Champion of Champions: Strigiformes v Thrifters
Jan 2, 202529m
It’s everyone’s dream to be a champion, and it’s every champion’s dream to beat another champion. Now is their chance.
Episode 56
The Only Connect Pub Quiz: Hopsters v Taverners
Dec 23, 202529m
Charge your glasses, it’s the Only Connect Pub Quiz! The format has been tweaked, and the budget has been blown on several packs of pork scratchings.
Episode 57
Christmas Special: Whitcombes v Gardners
Dec 24, 202529m
It’s Christmas, and two families from series gone by have battled traffic jams and rail replacement bus services to come together and play an exasperating game.
Episode 58
Law Special: Cartophiles v Harmonics
Dec 30, 202529m
The law is under the spotlight in this episode. As indeed is a judge’s wig, which turns out to be surprisingly itchy.
Episode 59
Third-Place Play-Off Play-Off Special: Poptimists v Ramblers
Dec 31, 202529m
Ever wondered who would triumph if the winners of the third-place play-off from one series took on the winners of the play-off from another?