Only Connect viewers spot a glaring error in opening question of new BBC series

The new series of Only Connect got off to an unexpectedly awkward start on Monday night after eagle-eyed viewers spotted what appeared to be the wrong locomotive in one of the show’s opening questions.

The BBC Two quiz, hosted by Victoria Coren Mitchell, returned on Monday, July 21, 2025, with the first episode of its latest series. The programme is known for testing contestants on connections between apparently unrelated clues, but this time viewers found themselves examining one of the clues rather than simply solving it. The episode is listed as Series 21, Episode 1, featuring the teams Whitley Baes and Caraxians.

The answer was Rocket, but the picture caused confusion

Early in the episode, Victoria presented a set of picture clues and asked the contestants to identify their connection.

The first image showed snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan, whose nickname is “The Rocket”. The next was Rocket Raccoon, the Marvel character.

With two clues pointing towards the same word, the contestants quickly identified the answer as rocket.

Victoria confirmed they were correct before revealing the remaining clues. Among them was an image presented as Stephenson’s Rocket, followed by a picture of rocket leaves.

For the contestants, the connection was clear. For some viewers watching at home, however, something about the locomotive image immediately looked wrong.

Viewers said it was not Stephenson’s Rocket

Social media users quickly began pointing out that the locomotive shown on screen appeared to be Locomotion No. 1, rather than Stephenson’s Rocket.

One viewer posted that the image was “LOCOMOTION” rather than Stephenson’s Rocket, while another joked that standards were already slipping.

Others admitted they had recognised the answer from the first two clues but said the incorrect image could have caused problems had they needed another clue.

One viewer wrote on X that the picture labelled as Stephenson’s Rocket was actually Puffing Billy, although other discussions and subsequent references to the incident identified the locomotive as Locomotion No. 1. A later discussion of the programme also specifically described the image as Locomotion Number 1.

The distinction matters to railway enthusiasts because these are different early locomotives. Locomotion No. 1 was one of the Stephenson-designed locomotives used on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, whose first run took place on September 27, 1825. Stephenson’s Rocket, meanwhile, was built in 1829 and designed by Robert Stephenson for the Rainhill Trials.

The real Stephenson’s Rocket

Stephenson’s Rocket is one of the most recognisable early steam locomotives. The Science Museum Group records the locomotive as having been made in 1829 in Newcastle upon Tyne, with Robert Stephenson listed as its designer.

The locomotive was built for the 1829 Rainhill Trials and became famous for its performance there. Historical sources note that Rocket was subsequently modified during its working life, meaning its appearance changed over time.

Locomotion No. 1 belongs to an earlier stage of railway development. It was the first locomotive used on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which opened in 1825. The National Railway Museum has also documented the history and modifications of Locomotion No. 1.

A rare slip for the quiz show

The apparent mistake quickly became a talking point among Only Connect fans, particularly because it appeared in the very first question of the new series.

The programme has built a reputation among quiz enthusiasts for its demanding questions and attention to detail. Since launching in 2008, it has become a regular fixture on BBC Two and is traditionally part of the channel’s quiz-night line-up alongside Mastermind and University Challenge.

A later discussion of the incident reported that the issue reached the letters page of the Radio Times. According to that account, an Only Connect producer acknowledged the error and said the production team normally verifies material several times before it appears on screen, while accepting that human error had occurred.

That response offered some closure to viewers who had spotted the problem almost immediately. It also confirmed that the locomotive shown was not simply an unusual depiction of Stephenson’s Rocket, but an identification error.

Fans noticed within minutes

For most viewers, the mistake did not prevent them from solving the connection. Ronnie O’Sullivan and Rocket Raccoon made “rocket” relatively accessible before the disputed locomotive image appeared.

Still, the speed with which viewers identified the problem demonstrated just how closely some Only Connect fans follow the programme’s clues.

The new series continues on BBC Two at 9pm on Mondays, with episodes available to watch on BBC iPlayer.