At that stage in the game we'd slipped behind - the questions hadn't really been kind to either team, as the low final scores testify - and in fact there had been quite a few questions where nobody had a clue; I think they even cut a couple from the televised programme in the end. Anyhow, I could sense time was running out and was prepared to jump the gun a bit in an attempt to claw back some points. When I heard "frosty mist" (or whatever the question was) the answer leapt out at me - I'd been studying Middle Scots poetry and there had been plenty of hoary beards and the like there. Unfortunately, while I frantically jammed the buzzer, Señor Paxman continued with "... and poet-" and I knew I was missing a trick. "Hoar" was all I had in the barrel, so I went with it regardless - although it immediately occurred to me that that term has a rather less poetic homophone... In the end the opposition had a steal with the Coleridge reference, whilst I was, appropriately, left with an albatross about my neck! Still, it's been quite amusing to see the social media reaction - I suppose I knew it was never going to pass without comment - and perhaps I've got a decent shout for the next series of Celebrity Big Brother (is that still on?). Paxman hasn't been in touch, but he's had worse in his day, I'm sure! Well done to Trinity, too - I look forward to seeing how far they ended up progressing.
