University Challenge viewers were left in awe last night as a contestant casually solved a complex maths question with what seemed like a guess in the ‘most insane’ answer ever given on the BBC Two show.
Newcastle University captain Jonathan Noble seemed to be taking a stab in the dark as he rattled off a series of numbers in response to quizmaster Jeremy Paxman hurrying his team up.
But, incredibly, Noble’s rushed six digit answer to the question ‘If 1:1 is the second row of Pascal’s triangle, what is the seventh row?’ was correct, drawing shocked gasps and applause from the studio audience.
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Newcastle had seemed stumped by the follow up question, with teammates Molly Nielsen and Jack Reynard taking several seconds to confer before being put under pressure and pushed by Paxman.
With his head bowed, Noble concentrated on formulating the correct reply by himself. But despite the precision of Noble’s response, his decision to hold back his answer until urged to by Paxman had the effect of making it come off as less assured.
But as confirmation came the extraordinary answer was right and he allowed himself a brief smile of victory, it became clear Noble’s contribution was one of the most stunning ever seen on the series, which first aired on TV in 1962.
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“Some very, very impressive maths there!” reflected Paxman moments later as Newcastle’s victory over Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam College was confirmed, beating them by 205 points to 65.
Viewers agreed, with one observer on Twitter hailing Noble’s miraculous answer as “the TV moment of the week” and “the most impressive answer ever”.
Another joked the captain had hit upon the right answer by reading out his telephone number.
How did he do that? Didn’t understand the question #noble #genius #UniversityChallenge
— Julie Griffith (@JulieA57) April 2, 2018
Noble is the man!!! #UniversityChallenge
— Steve pope (@Stevepo08951670) April 2, 2018
Noble you legend! Where did that Pascal’s triangle answer come from. You even shocked yourself! #universitychallenge
— Sally Barfoot (@SallyBarfoot) April 2, 2018
#UniversityChallenge #UniversityChallenge Brilliant from the Newcastle captain there! Read out his phone number on the maths question and it was right!
— Taz (@MrTazzman32) April 2, 2018
“His team deserved to win on that answer alone,” added @Imtherealanon.
“What the [bleep]?” said @deadbloke. “Watched this for decades. That was the most insane answer yet!”
I started to write it down and he still beat me. I am in awe!! #Noble #UniversityChallenge #idol
— Kylie Rolfe (@Loobrush99) April 2, 2018
However, despite viewers’ flabbergasted reactions – “I nearly fell off my chair” – some wondered whether Noble may have been employing a little gamesmanship.
Btw, Noble plays his cards very close to his chest, but I suspect he knew that Pascal’s Triangle answer straight away, played for time and then appeared to pluck it out of nowhere. Great TV either way. #UniversityChallenge
— Paul Carey Jones (@paulcareyjones) April 2, 2018
With an answer like that, Newcastle deserved the points – dramatic pause or not.
Who knew? #UniversityChallenge
Well done #Newcastle
Here’s that triangle: pic.twitter.com/kFX10s6P1x— Briar (@brikes) April 2, 2018
University Challenge in on BBC Two, Mondays at 8.30pm.
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