LONDON -- The current series of BBC Two quiz show University Challenge has already caused one national outcry -- remember the deeply shocking moment when that guy wore a vest on the show last month? -- but the programme may well have gone and outdone itself with last night's episode.
It all started when the contestants were being introduced, and Queen Mary University student Kate Lynes revealed her impressively niche choice of subject.
An MD in what now? #UniversityChallenge https://t.co/wIBAVVkoye— Matt Park (@mattpark) October 5, 2015
Obviously this is University Challenge we're talking about so there wasn't so much as a single titter from the contestants or studio audience, but Lynes herself did smile in a way that suggested she may have been expecting some sort of reaction.
Had she checked Twitter, she wouldn't have been disappointed.
Some people weren't sure they'd heard correctly.
Is she studying sphincter preservation? #universitychallenge— adrians_mole (@modchick61) October 5, 2015
'Sphincter preservation'? Surely not...#universitychallenge— Tom Rawstorne (@Rawsty) October 5, 2015
Many people got so distracted they completely forgot about the show.
((Yes - it was “sphincter preservation” - I wound back and listened again)) #universitychallenge— Dave Jones (@WelshGasDoc) October 5, 2015
I spent so long reading about sphincter preservation that I missed the first few questions. #UniversityChallenge— robbingham (@robbingham) October 5, 2015
Eventually, the jokes started.
I don't know about anyone else, but I thought #sphincterpreservation had a nice ring to it #universitychallenge— Matt Wing (@mattwingwriter) October 5, 2015
Apparently #SphincterPreservation was the focus on #universitychallenge It does have a nice ring to it. Should there be a colon in there?— NinaBeana (@GinaThomasson) October 5, 2015
"What shall we call the course?" "Sphincter Preservation?" "That has...." "DON'T!!" "....a nice ring to it." "Get out!" #universitychallenge— The Media Blog (@TheMediaTweets) October 5, 2015
Has anyone been brave enough to google 'sphincter preservation' yet? #universitychallenge #sphincterpreservation— stuwaldy (@stuwaldy) October 5, 2015
Many people seemed delighted by the interruption.
I don't usually care what's trending, but if "sphincter preservation" isn't trending then Twitter has failed. #UniversityChallenge— Robert (@StartPlayer) October 5, 2015
I'm making a Sphincter Preservation Society T-shirt tomorrow and no mistake. #universitychallenge— Scott Balcony (@balconyshirts) October 5, 2015
Finally, Queen Mary University actually had to intervene to clear things up.
Twitter: stop giggling about @QMUL PhD in #SphincterPreservation. It's vital research. Read: http://t.co/wcFYgkNMdi. #UniversityChallenge— QMUL English & Drama (@QMULsed) October 5, 2015
Yep, it turns out Sphincter Research is actually a real PhD research topic, and one that's crucial in the fight against rectal cancer.
If there's one thing you can say about University Challenge, it's that you always learn something new.