UNIVERSITY Challenge host Jeremy Paxman and viewers were left aghast when it appeared a contestant thought Ireland was in the Baltic sea.
Joe Boyle, a University of Edinburgh student, was captaining the university's team against the University of Durham on Monday's episode of the popular collegiate quiz programme.
Joe Boyle was captaining the University of Edinburgh team. (Picture: BBC)In the picture round, contestants were told if they guessed the correct answer, their team would be awarded 10 points.
They were then shown an image of a small island in the Baltic sea between Finland and Sweden.
Aland, the small Finnish island appeared to be mislabeled as Ireland by contestant Joe Boyle. (Picture: BBC)Mr Boyle, a Brighton native who is studying Ecology and Environmental Science at the Scottish university, buzzed in to answer.
Viewers, as well as host Paxman, were left dumbfounded as it appeared Mr Boyle labelled the island as "Ireland".
Host Jeremy Paxman was left visibly aghast as he, along with viewers, thought contestant Joe Boyle mislabeled a baltic island as Ireland. (Picture: BBC)While initially people took to Twitter to voice their shock at how he so wrongly mixed up the location of Ireland, it became clear Mr Boyle actually meant "Åland", the Finnish island.
The two islands sound remarkably similar, leading to the much documented confusion on Twitter.
What an amadán!! Paxman's face though 😂😂😂😂 #UniversityChallenge https://t.co/uNjwdJaLPH
— Mary (@Mc1988) September 12, 2016
Did he just say Ireland or am I having a stroke? #UniversityChallenge
— David Keevill (@TheKeevillDead) September 12, 2016
Well done @EdinburghUni in last night's #UniversityChallenge - apart from the Ireland identification!
— Dr John MacAskill (@thepotterells) September 13, 2016
Ireland? Really, Edinburgh?! #UniversityChallenge
— Carrie Griffin (@CarrieGrif) September 12, 2016
I have been informed Boyle was saying Åland not Ireland. Much better. I can calm down now. #UniversityChallenge
— Siobhán very little context (@Siobhan2culture) September 12, 2016
Did he think Ireland was off the coast of Sweden? Or did I mishear? #UniversityChallenge
— Emily (@emmyl_13) September 12, 2016
Ireland?! Someone's not being asked back to Edinburgh in the autumn #UniversityChallenge
— Michael Mills (@call_me_kenneth) September 12, 2016
Did Boyle actually just say Ireland was an island in the Baltic Sea!? You're better than that, Edinburgh! #UniversityChallenge
— Patrick Jack (@pdjack16) September 12, 2016
Got 2 questions right on #UniversityChallenge tonight. And I know where #Ireland is (hint: beside England).
— Luke Rodgers (@lukerodgers90) September 12, 2016
See More: BBC, Featured, Ireland, Jeremy Paxman, University Challenge
