Mastermind: someone needs pulling up for allowing last night's closing interview to air

[shadypines]

Last night's episode was won by a young female contestant, not sure of her age, perhaps early 20's? I presume no one in their right might would bat an eyelid or question that a show could be won by a young woman, I certainly wouldn't.

I was rather miffed then (putting it politely) that this young woman ( I am forgiving her, she's young etc) felt the need to say in her closing interview 'people would be surprised/would not expect me to be intellectual as a young woman' and the genius producer chose to broadcast it unedited or giving guidance during the interview, or perhaps they did and that's why she came out with this shocking statement.

I was speechless, in what universe would people not expect a woman to be intellectual? What archaic message is this giving to girls/women out there, not to mention the boys/men?

It's no wonder the female University Challenge contestants get online abuse. Give me actual strength

[shadypines]

right mind not might!

[Retrievemysanity]

I didn’t see it but was she meaning more because of her age rather than the fact she’s a woman?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

She might have said it in response to something John Humphrys said and they've kept it in.

John Humphrys is a cunt.

[SeasonFinale]

She meant as someone of her age as part of the show is general knowledge and often as we have seen what we consider to be "standard" general knowledge younger people haven't heard of.

[theliverpoolone]

It always amazes me how little 'standard' general knowledge the celebrities (of any age/gender) who go on it have. The questions seem quite dumbed-down for them too, but most of them do abysmally on the general knowledge round.

[shadypines]

It really did sound like she meant equally that she is young AND female. It could have easily been changed to 'someone' or person rather than people being surprised because she is female. You know it sounds wrong/bizarre when you subsitute the word 'woman' for 'man' or 'girl' for 'boy' ,and replay the sentence in your head. You don't hear these phrases with a male connection as everyone knows what an utterly stupid opinion it would be!

[Iwishihadariver]

I think she also said it was because she was bleach blonde...there was me thinking it was one of those silver grey dyes. Shows you what I know about fashion.

[Beeziekn33ze]

It sounded like she had been timewarped back into the 1960s to me.