Every season of Only Connect ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of Only Connect!

Lapsed Psychologists v Knitters

Crossworders v Birkbeck Alumni

County Councillors v Ombudsmen

Science Writers v Travel Writers

Edinburgh Scrabblers v Solent Scrabblers

Urban Cyclists v Country Walkers

Bankers v Bookkeepers

Cricket Supporters v IT Supporters

County Councillors v Science Writers

Crossworders v  Edinburgh Scrabblers

Bankers v IT Supporters

Lapsed Psychologists v Country Walkers

Crossworders v  Science Writers

Bankers v Lapsed Psychologists

Crossworders v Lapsed Psychologists

Three lads from the Cambridge Quiz Society battle a trio of Oxford Librarians.

Cambridge Quiz Society v Oxford Librarians

Three maths graduates take on a team of wordsmiths, one of whom is an avid proofreader.

Mathematicians v Wordsmiths

Three lovers of history square up to a trio of Welshmen devoted to their national game.

History Boys v Rugby Boys

Three chess players take on a team who write puzzles for charity in the connections quiz.

Chessmen v Charity Puzzlers

Three mathematicians pit their skills against the wits of the Cambridge Quiz Society.

Mathematicians v Cambridge Quiz Society: Semi-Final

Three chess players pit their wits against the brawn of the Rugby Boys.

Chessmen v Rugby Boys: Semi-Final

Three chess players take on three mathematicians in the battle for third place.

Chessmen v Mathematicians: The Competition for Third Place

We discover what connects Spock, Lisa Simpson, Brachiosaurus and Adolf Hitler.

Cambridge Quiz Society v Rugby Boys: The Final

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

A team of three civil servants with a shared love of Radio 4's The Archers pit their wits against a trio of music lovers who between them perform or enjoy everything from pub rock to choral sung mass.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from AC battery to compass wrench to glass hammer to long stand.

Archers Admirers vs Music Lovers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

The Polymaths pool their disparate skills in chicken husbandry, musical theatre and urban geography to challenge the brainpower of the Strategists, a team unified by their love of sophisticated strategy board games.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, including Cakes and Ale, The Dogs of War, Brave New World and The Darling Buds of May.

Polymaths vs Strategists

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three members of the Brighton and Hove (Actually) Gay Men's Chorus square up to a trio of postgraduates of Brasenose College, Oxford.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random.

Choir Boys vs Brasenose Postgrads

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three philosophy students pit their wisdom against a trio of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy fans.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random.

Philosophers vs Hitchhikers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three neuroscientists hailing from Australia, South Africa and Canada scrum down against the intellectual brawn of three rugby fans, as they compete to draw together the connections between many disparate elements that, at first glance, seem utterly bereft of associations.

So what connects cream, quotation marks, tennis matches and yellow lines?

Neuroscientists vs Rugby Fans

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three former flatmates and graduates of Exeter University pit their wits against a news producer, a civil servant and an IT consultant who share a passion for fine food. Who will win the battle as they compete to draw together the connections between things, which, at first glance, seem utterly random?

Exeter Alumni vs Gourmands

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

A team of insurance professionals face off against a trio of committed gamblers. Who will win the battle as they compete to draw together the connections between things, which, at first glance, seem utterly random - such as Prince of Darkness, Bambi, Grocer and Tarzan?

Insurers vs Gamblers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three senior managers from a national bookstore face off against a team drawn together by their love of London's retro bowling alleys.

Who will win the battle as they compete to draw together the connections between things, which, at first glance, seem utterly random?

Booksellers vs Bowlers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the first of the quarter-finals, three fans of the Archers radio series take on the combined knowledge of three flatmates who all met up at Exeter University. They compete to draw together the connections between things, which, at first glance, seem utterly random - from Castor and Pollux to Brahma to Yoshi to Orville the Duck.

Archers Admirers vs Exeter Alumni

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the second of the quarter-finals, three postgraduate students from Brasenose College, Oxford, pit their wits against a trio of Douglas Adams fans who call themselves the Hitchhikers, in honour of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

They compete to draw together the connections between elements which, at first glance, seem utterly random: P J Tracy, Nicci French, Ellery Queen and Grant Naylor.

Brasenose Postgrads vs Hitchhikers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the third of the quarter-finals, three studying for their PhDs at Oxford set out to challenge the brainpower of the strategists, a team unified by their love of sophisticated strategy board games. They compete to draw together the connections between things, which, at first glance, seem utterly random - from maypoles to horse racing to spoken theatre to mince pies.

Neuroscientists vs Strategists

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the last of the quarter-finals, three committed gamblers take their chances against a team unified by their love of ten-pin bowling. They compete to draw together the connections between things, which, at first glance, seem utterly random - from birdsong to breakout to shotgun to takeover.

Gamblers vs Bowlers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the first of the Semi Finals, three lovers of the pastoral world of Radio 4's The Archers face new opponents.

How will they respond to the threat of cavalier risk-taking from a team of confirmed Gamblers? They'll compete to draw together the connections between elements which at first glance seem utterly random, including purple dye and the Jules Rimet trophy.

Archers Admirers vs Gamblers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the second semi-final, three fans of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy lock horns with the cunning of the Strategists, a team bound by their love of obscure European board games.

They'll compete to draw together the connections between elements which at first glance seem utterly random.

Hitchhikers vs Strategists

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the series final, cunning and tactics combine with logic, recall and tangential inspiration, as three committed Gamblers resist the temptation to take too many risks and the Strategists fight the impulse to err on the side of caution. Whose approach will win out in this battle of the giants?

They'll compete to draw together the connections between elements which at first glance seem utterly random, from Captain Scarlet to Reg Cox to Marty Hopkirk to Arnold J Rimmer.

Gamblers vs Strategists

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

A team of three old university pals with a shared love of exotic foods and fine dining pit their wits against a trio of Ulstermen from the Northern Ireland Court Service.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from USS Constitution to Edmund II to Cromwell's cavalrymen to Raymond Burr.

Epicureans vs Courtiers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

The Wright family from Leeds pool their knowledge of IT, Electrical Engineering and Mexican cinema to challenge the brainpower of the Urban Walkers, a team unified by their love of taking extended inner city hikes across various European capitals.

The Wrights vs Urban Walkers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

A doctor, a teacher and an accountant with a shared passion for radio square up to a trio of professional taxomomists - three women who make companies more successful through their precise use of language.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random.

Radio Addicts vs Taxonomists

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three stalwarts of the Camden music scene (including the man who discovered Blur) pit their wit and wisdom against a husband, wife and pal who share a love of geocaching, the craze for treasure-hunting using GPS.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Mao to David Hume to Casanova to Philip Larkin.

Brit Poppers vs Geocachers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three fantasy writers, captained by a man who has written for Doctor Who, lock horns with a trio of bridge players, each with post-grad qualifications from Oxford University.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from monocaine to the helmet of Perseus to Siegfried's cloak to James Bond's Aston Martin.

Fantasy Writers vs Bridge Players

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three friends who originally met through British Mensa pit their wits against a team drawn together by their love of TV blogs and forums.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from mice to Madeleine to Gabriel.

Mensans vs Bloggers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three dedicated hill walkers from Derbyshire face off against a family threesome of husband, wife and brother-in-law.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Race for Life to the Sanctuary Spa to the Oaks Stakes to the Orange Prize for Fiction.

Mountain Men vs In-Laws

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

Three men joined by their enthusiasm for real ale confront two maths graduates and a pharmacist who are a regular fixture at their local pool hall.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Pugachev's Cobra to Split S, Cuban Eight and Barrel Roll.

Alesmen vs Pool Sharks

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the first of the quarter-finals, three old chums from university days who share a passion for fine dining take on the combined knowledge of three Oxford graduates with a love of bridge.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Agamemnon to Jim Morrison, Marion Crane and Jean-Paul Marat.

Epicureans vs Bridge Players

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the second quarter-final, the Wright family of mum, dad and daughter return to pit their wits against a trio of committed bloggers who met on TV gossip forum sites.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Unloose to Debone, Irregardless and Inflammable.

Wrights vs Bloggers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the third quarter-final, a doctor, a teacher and an accountant with a unifying love of the radio return to challenge the brainpower of three Camden-based lynchpins of the British music industry.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Rachel Stevens to Newfoundland dog, Stalin and Donald Duck.

Radio Addicts vs Brit Poppers

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the last quarter-final, a family team featuring a patent lawyer, a graphic designer and a business analyst return to the field of conflict to take their chances against a trio unified by their love of authentic cask-conditioned ales.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from early return from transportation to destroying a fishpond, sacrilege and treason.

In-Laws vs Alesmen

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the first semi-final, three lovers of luxurious wines and exotic dishes set aside their shared passion to address the challenge of the combined wits of the Wright family.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which at first glance seem utterly random, such as completing the sequence: 1950: Soap; 1952: Tea; 1953: Cream, eggs, sweets, sugar; ????

Epicureans vs Wrights

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the second semi-final, three lovers of authentic beer lock horns with the cunning of a team bound by their love of the airwaves.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which at first glance seem utterly random, from Norman Conquest begins to Stella Artois brewery founded to Great Fire of London to ????

Alesmen vs Radio Addicts

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In this play-off between semi-final losers, the Wright family combine their wits to take on the mental firepower of the alesmen in a last battle for glory.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random - from I, Libertine to Venus on the Half-shell to the Tales of Beedle Bard to Fly Fishing.

Wrights vs Alesmen

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital.

In the series finale, cunning and tactics combine with logic, recall and tangential inspiration as three committed gourmands set aside their love of fine foods to concentrate on the job in hand - battle for victory over the radio addicts, a team with the diverse combined knowledge of a doctor, a teacher and an accountant.

They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random.

Epicureans vs Radio Addicts

A trio of social networkers who met online take on three committed vegetarians. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from the Barghest of Yorkshire to the Mail on Sunday's political column to Winston Churchill's depression to Gnasher.

Social Networkers vs Vegetarians

A father, son and daughter-in-law square up to three postgraduate chemistry students from Oxford University. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from French nuclear tests in 1960 to the Krzysztof Kieslowski film trilogy to the Luxembourg flag to the Minis in The Italian Job.

Edwards Family vs Inorganic Chemists

A team of professional analysts with degrees in modern languages, English and maths pit their wits against a trio of editors who delight in their meticulous attention to detail. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Ho to Beetlejuice to I Divorce You to White Rabbits.

Analysts vs Editors

Three running enthusiasts play three colleagues from a creative engineering company

Joggers vs Technologists

Three online football team managers take on a team who love historical things.

Fantasy Footballers vs Antiquarians

Three Listener crossword fans play a trio of choristers from Sheffield University

Listeners vs Steel City Singers

Rowers vs Linguists

Three aficionados of the Scottish rock music scene pit their wits against three members of an executive council trade union group. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Isabelle Dinoire to Tycho Brahe to the Maid in the Garden to the Sphinx.

Rock'n'rollers vs Trade Unionists

Three online pals take on a trio of history buffs in the first of the quarter-finals. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from elephant to hippopotamus to Mississippi to one thousand

Social Networkers vs Antiquarians

A team of rowers encounter three fans of the Listener crossword in the second of the quarter-finals. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Steiff to Veuve Clicquot to Deutsche Grammophon to Boddingtons.

Rowers vs Listeners

A father, son and daughter-in-law pit their wits against three members of an executive council trade union group in the third of the quarter-finals. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Little Venice to Silver to Christopher Columbus to The Equator.

Edwards Family vs Trade Unionists

Three professional analysts square up to three colleagues at a creative engineering firm in the last of the quarter-finals. They compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random, from Private Wilhelm to Jelly Babies to Mandrakes to David Sutch.

Analysts vs Technologists

Listeners vs Antiquarians

Analysts vs Trade Unionists

Listeners vs Trade Unionists

Analysts vs Antiquarians

Members of Danny Wallace's Join Me campaign pit their wits against three beer lovers.

Joinees v Draughtsmen

Teams try to connect Desert Attack to MI-5 to Clue to Murder in the Calais Coach.

TEFL Teachers v IT Specialists

A trio of footballers pit their wits against three orchestral players.

Footballers v Second Violinists

A trio of writers pit their wits against three high school teachers.

Wordsmiths v Educators

Three friends who share hearty appetites take on a trio of young mathematicians.

Trenchermen v Numerists

Three Winchester friends pit their wits against a team who have all recently quit smoking.

Wintonians v Quitters

Three professional writers compete against on a trio of friends united by their love of codes and puzzles this week.

Scribes v Ciphers

Three colleagues in an accountancy firm pit their wits against a team of cinema lovers, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Touched by Death, electrocuted by hospital generator, squashed by cartload of underpants and shot by Mr Garrison.

Accountants v Cinephiles

Three beer drinkers take on a trio of mathematicians in the first of the quarter-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Chichester's round the world yacht, Nicholas Breakspear, Henry Bolingbroke and Star Wars: A New Hope.

Draughtsmen v Numerists

A team of committed football fans encounters three film lovers in the second of the quarter-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria if you want to know what connects sachertorte, valrhona chocolate, custard cream biscuits and polo mints.

Footballers v Cinephiles

Three teachers encounter a trio of writers in the third of the quarter-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Sara Lee, Brita, Wendy's and Lily O'Brien's.

Teachers v Scribes

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital. Three friends from Winchester square up to a team united by their passion for reading and writing in this quarter-final, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria if you want to know what connects the 69th Infantry Regiment, Münchner Kindl, Serjeant-at-Arms and the Greek Olympic team.

Wintonians v Wordsmiths

In the first of the semi-finals three football fans take on a trio of beer enthusiasts, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Hercule Poirot 06/08/1975, Tour de France 26/07/2007, Captain Birdseye 07/06/1971 and English cricket 02/09/1882.

Footballers v Draughtsmen

In the second of the semi-finals, a trio of scribes and three wordsmiths fight it out for a place in the series finale, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Yesterday, sewing machine, benzene ring and Kubla Khan.

Scribes v Wordsmiths

In the play-off for third place, a trio of football fans and three writers compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Jed Clampett: 9.5, Artemis Fowl II: 13.5, Scrooge McDuck: 44.1 and Rich Uncle Pennybags: 2.6.

Footballers v Wordsmiths

In the series final and the 100th episode, three writers square up to a trio of beer lovers for the right to be named Series 6 champions. They must draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren if you want to know what connects Marty Feldman's last film, captain of Queen Anne's Revenge, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick and wife-murdering Perrault character.

Scribes v Draughtsmen

Three graduates of Corpus Christi College, Oxford pit their wits against a trio of cat lovers, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects the Green Knight, electric toothbrush, Kryten and Worzel Gummidge.

Corpuscles v Cat Lovers

Three map lovers take on a team from Wales, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects Civilization V, Chicken Wire, Graphite Crystal, and Blockbusters board.

Cartophiles v Celts

A trio connected by their love of all things French take on three festival attendees, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects Hirst's 'Cupric Nitrate', Mr Tumble's bag, Pudsey's bandage, and Twister mat.

Francophiles v Festival Fans

A trio of GPs square up to three fell walkers, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects Injun Joe's body, Roquefort cheese, Dead Sea Scrolls, and troglodytes.

General Practitioners v Fell Walkers

Two teams who lost their first heats return for another chance at making the semi-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects prom video, holiday armadillo, Princess Leia fantasy, and fake Monica.

Corpuscles v Cartophiles

Three GPs and a trio of festival fans return for a second chance at making the semi-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects Freda Fry, Metropolis, Gromit, and 4'33".

General Practitioners v Festival Fans

The Celts and the Cat Lovers, both first-round winners, return in the hopes of securing a place in the semi-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects Felicity, California with the Forbidden City, Jerusalem on the Mappa Mundi and Mecca.

Celts v Cat Lovers

The Francophiles and the Fell Walkers, both first-round winners, return in the hopes of securing a place in the semi-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects Mali, Guinea to Ireland, Ivory Coast to Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro to Poland, Monaco.

Francophiles v Fell Walkers

Festival Fans v Cat Lovers: Quiz show in which links must be made between seemingly random things. A trio of festival fans take on three cat lovers in a bid to make the semifinals.

Festival Fans v Cat Lovers

Three map lovers and a trio of fell walkers return to try to make it to the semi-finals, competing to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random. So join Victoria Coren Mitchell if you want to know what connects orphans in Oliver Twist, tropical storms, Sue Grafton detective novel series and series of QI.

Cartophiles v Fell Walkers

Celts v Festival Fans: Quiz show in which links must be made between seemingly random things. In the first of the semi-finals, a team from Wales take on a trio of festival fans.

Celts v Festival Fans

Francophiles v Cartophiles: Quiz show in which links must be made between seemingly random things. In the second semi-final, three Francophiles square up to a trio of map lovers.

Francophiles v Cartophiles

Francophiles v Celts: In the series finale, the Francophiles take on the Celts in a bid to be named champions. They try to find connections between things which seem utterly random.

Francophiles v Celts

Lasletts v Pilots: A family team take on a team of three airline pilots.

Lasletts v Pilots

The fiendishly difficult quiz show in which two teams of three contestants have to find the connection between seemingly unrelated clues, where patience and lateral thinking are as vital as knowledge.

The Best Seasons of Only Connect

The Best Seasons of Only Connect

Season 10

Season 13

Season 20

Season 17

Season 7

Season 1

Season 3

Season 14

Season 19

Season 2

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 8

Season 9

Season 11

Season 12

Season 15

Season 16

Season 18