Being a bloke, I'm pre-programmed to take sides. I'll take sides over almost anything. Football matches which feature two teams that I don't support; Which make of guitar is the best; Two people running for a bus; picking sides in quiz shows. Now, taking sides doesn't merely mean favouring one side, but either really really really rooting or actively despising a side. Last night, watching University Challenge (BBC Two, Monday, 1 December, 8pm), in a face-off between Edinburgh University and Corpus Christi of one of those posh colleges from Cambridge or Oxford (who actually cares which one, apart from those that attended?), I became completely enveloped by my hatred for the captain of Corpus Christi. She was called Trimble and she smugged one off all over me.
Related: More University Challenge on TV Scoop
When you're watching University Challenge, it's nigh on impossible not to be impressed by the sheer volume of knowledge that these little chumps have. A lot of them look like keyboard players from progressive rock bands, others look like they haven't had enough sunlight and others look like they've never had the nerve to so much look at their own genitalia. Sometimes, you get one so brain-rupturingly irritating and smug that you actively will science to invent a screen that you can reach through and punch those inside.
Not for some time have I been so angry at a complete stranger as I was with this Trimble character. Each answer was met with a smug-grin or a cocky smirk. My normally placid girlfriend ended half-poetically seething "Not a friend did she own at school" before physically turning her back on the screen so she didn't have to bear this odious little smug-specimen. Now for those of you who think that this is sour graped jealousy on my part, think again. I love seeing these spods having a rare moment in the sun. God knows they got bullied enough at school. They probably still are. Their prowess in the exam room is their only way to flex a muscle. Being one for the underdog, you encourage these social-retards on from your remote position.
However, when you're dealing with a Trimble, you just know that they've sneered at thick people... and by 'thick', I mean people who don't know as much as her, which is virtually everyone, her own team included. Trimble even had the gall to dribble a patronising "Oh well done!" to one of her team-mates when they got a question right. She's the library dwelling intellectual equivalent of a stroppy flair footballer.
She will, of course, end up in a job that sees her earning a million times what I'll ever earn in my life... however... would I ever want a pint with her? Nope. I'd be in the long queue trying to get away. She could easily win University Challenge on her own, but I get the feeling she may well celebrate alone as well. I want to lose this baggage of hating just about every single Oxbridge student ever, but when faced with one who more than lives up to the worst kind of stereotype, I take a million steps backward and regress to some snotty nosed braying urchin. I'd better stop there or I'll start feeling guilty about this article and that wouldn't do for a thicko like me.
**UPDATE**
Due to people not noticing that there's other articles regarding this, which are much more pleasant, please be directed to The Lame Apology Which No-One Read and A Review Of The Final. Mof.
I remember her from the early rounds. Argh! Still, her patronising manner is nothing compared to Paxman's. I love the way he rolls his eyes when it's a popular music round and someone gets something correct.
I wanted the team with the punk to win (King's College) until they knew nothing about butterflies. I'm nothing if not fickle.
Hated her! Really got quite angry! (I may have even twittered my anger last night). I only started watching because Eastenders is creepy, but I spent half an hour shouting at the telly.
She didn't even get all of the questions right! Wrong and smug!
I agree that she comes across as smug, patronising, and with a healthy sense of her own intellectual superiority. These characteristics ae common in establishments such as hers.
However, she clearly IS very knowledgeable, and clearly enjoys herself on the show. Fine. And she is also a mite sexy.
I, by the way, am an Edinburgh graduate...
That's probably just her natural facial expression. Or she doesn't know whether to smile fully or keep a straight face, so it comes out looking slightly like a smirk. You can't judge people by how they look on TV.
Actually, she's VERY sexy. And I hate to say it, but the smug look really does it for me.
I loved 'tasty Trimble'. Intelligent and with well brushable hair. Can't wait to see her in the next rounds.
Well did you see her tonight? Much calmer - and more nervous. What is her first name? Bet it is Gertrude?
mmm - Did you see her tonight? She is sexy! She was different tonight - more nervous. I wonder what her name is? Could it be Gertrude?
She was cheeky. Posh and superior, yet innocent. I know many places where I know more than her [post moderated].
We have been watching this horse-toothed snob for the last number of weeks. she ruins university challenge every time she is on it with her 'better than thou' attitude and all the above characteristics you have mentioned.
This weeks she actually laughed at the religiously themed bonus questions because they were so easy. Disgusting, ingracious behaviour. I wish her parents bible-bashed her a bit round the head before setting her loose on TV audiences. She ruined my already crappy Monday evening.
What she needs is a bad kebab about an hour before the final. Lets see how clever she is when it's coming out of both ends!
By the way She's deffo a V.
[post moderated]
Seems like a nice girl but.
I thought Trimble was fantastic. Fabulous brain. She had an incredible breadth of knowledge. She virtually won the competition on her own. What a stunning looker too. Very sexy. And a gorgeous smile. With normal luck she will go on to conquer the world. I wish her every success in everything she does. How pitiful are the poor morons above who are devastated by their own pathetic jealousy.
Is she related to Trimble the neurologist? Anyone out there know her first Name?
Can't stand the smug cow... She can revel in her own intelligence for all I care. One day she may realise that modesty ain't so bad!
her name is Gail. - Grab this - Gail Trimble .....
..... came to Oxford from the Lady Eleanor Holles School (an independent day school in London), where she sat A levels in Latin, Greek, Maths and English Literature:
" I chose to study Classics at university mostly because of the variety. Already at school in Latin and Greek I could combine language work with studying different kinds of literature, and I liked the idea of being able to study philosophy, history, art and even philology (though at the time I wasn't too sure what that was) all within one degree. I applied to Oxford simply because it's the best place in the country to do Classics; I liked the fact that the course was four years long and covered such a vast amount (even in comparison with Cambridge), and the wide variety of options, and I looked forward to being taught by various important people in Classics!"
Gail is now in the third year of her four-year degree, and it continues to match the high expectations she had when she applied. The variety is as great as she thought, but it isn't just academic:
"This is an incredibly fulfilling and stretching degree, involving different ways of thinking for the different subjects within it. I've been particularly inspired by the Mods courses on the Aeneid and Thucydides and the West, and all of Mods Logic and Greats Logic and Language. But the best academic experiences tend to be completely unexpected: lectures on Plato's Symposium on Monday afternoons in the summer, given in a remote room somewhere in the orchards in Worcester, where we would hear brilliant thoughts on Plato as the sun streamed in and ducks walked past the window quacking; or the Greek metre classes which turned into discussions of musical technique and attempts at verse composition over a gin and tonic. I've also got a lot out of being a part of the college choir and involved in college drama productions (including producing one on the Edinburgh Fringe). There's the chance to sing in choirs of a very high standard, and generally to meet lots of intelligent, talented people and make some extremely valuable friendships."
Just watched University Challenge tonight and saw Exeter slaughtered by Corpus Christi, I mean Trimble, as the rest of the team were surplus to requirements. I was fascinated by her, and I must admit that I found her sexy.
Your hate piece seems less about her than about your own feelings of inadequacy. Try and remember that your failings are not her fault.
I love that this woman causes such a reaction.
Didn't you guys see Jeremy Paxman shocked that she laughed at the questions yesterday? Because they were too easy! That's not very humble, that's smug.
Being clever isn't something people should hide. And shows like University Challenge celebrate this. But contestants like Trimble, who seemed to patronise her fellow team members don't seem to enter into the spirit of things. Mastermind would be a great place for her, a team show, where it's not all about her isn't the place for her.
I thought she was just embarrassed that she knew it all--fair play to her I say. And while I'm here, I might as well mention the girl on the Exeter team (Limmer?): you all would, you know you would.
After watching the show I was impressed by Trimble's mental agility and I decided to google her - thats how I found this article. She's to be congratulated on her abilities.
I agree with Sheepdip and Dan; she was fantastic. She's a one-woman knowledge factory and seemed refreshingly modest about her enormous intellect.Well done to her.
She has talent. Sadly, whoever produced this journalistic triumph does not and on some level he probably knows this and that ladies and gentleman is why he is such an angry little man.
I like Trimble too, and was blown away by her performance against Exeter - she got no less than fifteen starters correct (I'm not bluffing).
Anyway, if you want a game show contestant who is seriously dislikeable, look no further than CJ de Mooi from Eggheads.
Why all the hate - she's good at general knowledge and isn't afraid of showing it. Should she get all the questions wrong just to make the rest of you feel better? As for smugness I'd say she comes across as a bit awkward and self-conscious. If she was smug she'd have come back with a more assured response when Paxman had a go at her for laughing.
And yes she is attractive in a blue stocking sort of way. The new Joan Bakewell?
Gail Trimble strikes me as a very fine young lady. Amazingly bright, beautiful in a scholarly sort of way and well spoken. I find it very sad that all these inverted snobs out there cannot find anything better to do that pour out all this hate for no reason other than their own bitter jealousy. Gail rocks. For me the perfect girl!!
The aim of the game is to win !!!!
I too am definetly in the Tasty Trimmble fan club. I'm only watching UC because she is on. Some of the idiots above seem to think that only teams composed of morons like themselves should be allowed to compete.
And why does the moderator of this thread allow such disgraceful sexual comments? LG.
Watching Corpus Christi Trimble now. It's inspiring to see such intelligence. Jealousy of knowledge is a sad, sad thing. Oh.... and I also think she's cute.
Wow I just saw Trimble and her team on tele last night against St John's Oxford. I can honestly say I have never seen an urchin of such intolerable smugness as that foul Trimble mess. The way her face lights up and then contorts in mock surprise when she answers a question and gets it right, makes me want to rip out any of my senses that can be subjected to such a display of self appreciating arrogance in intelligence.
Gail is my tutor at Corpus and she is to be admired for her intelligence displayed during the show. It is shocking that people should comment on a woman's appearance when what is being tested is intelligence. This just shows that though women are now able to achieve just as much, if not more, academically, they still face ridiculous sexism from people who apparently feel threatened by the fact that it is possible to be both attractive and intelligent. Some people who have commented above should get off blogging sites and open a book.
hominum causa intellegendi estimandum est
Wow I just saw Trimble and her team on tele last night against St John's Oxford. I can honestly say I have never seen an urchin of such intolerable smugness as that foul Trimble mess. The way her face lights up and then contorts in mock surprise when she answers a question and gets it right, makes me want to rip out any of my senses that can be subjected to such a display of self appreciating arrogance dipped in her own sense of intelligence.
I thinks she is briliant and such a welcome change from the bimbo society that our poorly educated nation seems to crave through reality TV. I didn't find her smug, sometimes she was genuinely surprised that a stab at an answer was correct - thats just tactics (and how you win in life). Good on her and I hope they win the final too!!!!
I think she is fantastic! Not at any point in any of the rounds have I thought she was smug. I thought when she has a guess and knows she has got it wrong she smiles to hide the embarrassment. I also think her 'well done' comments are completely genuine. Her sheer volume of knowledge is amazing and I really hope her team win!
The green eyed monster comes out so obviously in these messages...as if you have enough time on your hands to write something about someone who has done nothing wrong except be intelligent? Get a life!
Go Trimble...go!
With alarming predictability, my 'apology' was ignored in favour of getting irate.
http://www.tvscoop.tv/2009/02/tv_review_unive_11.html
Mof
Gail Trimble is utterly fabulous!
I will admit to harbouring a little envy with regards to her erudition - and downright jealousy on account of the fact that my school never taught latin - but what I feel mostly is admiration. Technically, I 'ought' to be rooting for Cambridge, but I think it would be wonderful if Corpus Christi, Oxford won this time.
I disagree that Miss Trimble is patronising or smug - she has a passion for her subject and a love of acquiring knowledge. Why should this be seen as negative? Displaying one's talents is not synonymous with contemptuous towards others. I doubt very much that Miss Trimble was trying to show off or to belittle her team mates - she just loves what she does.
You're a bigger person than I first thought. Apologies take guts...well done.
I think she's fab. Even in this day and age, UT is still a very male-oriented programme, so it's nice to see a female contestant slaughtering everyone in her path. I'd go for a pint with her at the drop of a hat.
She is the captain of her team. She is an excellent player, who would doubtless top any statistical measures of ability on the show. She tells her team-mates well done when they do well. That is what good captains do. Many of her answers are good educated guesses. She is happy to hear when they are right. She looks happy for this reason. When she gets something wrong she is disappointed, and so looks disappointed. She is feeling confident when things are going well, so she looks confident.
That is, I think, all there is to it.
The persona that people appear to have, after heavy editing, when their sole purpose is to answer general knowledge questions in a brightly lit studio, is not a good or reliable indication of them or their personality.
Oh dear. I think a lot of people here are missing the point by a very long way.
Firstly, I have to address "Student at Corpus Christi" (7 posts back). Bringing up sexism in this argument is quite possibly one of the most ridiculous and irrelevant points in this discussion. Not once did anyone attribute her smugness to be a result of being female, nor did anyone challenge the female capacity for education. Your 'point' was nothing more than weak, dated drivel and has no place in this discussion. Had Trimble possessed a Y chromosome and acted in the same way I would still be venting my spleen on the situation.
The fact of the matter is that University Challenge does indeed unearth many bright young talents every week, all clearly very gifted in their subjects. However, most of them do not display this knowledge in the same arrogant, self righteous and smug fashion in which Ms. Trimble does. Agreed, she does have a vast array of knowledge, but compare this to Stephen Fry's performance of the 1970's - humble, modest and as part of a team. Twice last night Trimble did not know the answer to a question, and even when her colleague supplied an educated guess (which turned out to be correct) she disregarded it and proceeded with her own, wrong, answer.
Unfortunately, the writer of this article has not expressed himself particularly well, opting for extreme rudeness instead of a calculated argument, leaving him open to attack - fair enough. But also @Lawrence O'Reilly (10 posts back) - where exactly were these so-called sexual comments? I tracked back through the entire page and couldn't find any, maybe you could enlighten me?
Hate is such a strong word - I do not 'hate' Ms. Trimble, nor am I denying her incredible span of knowledge. However, compared with her fellow contestants, both male and female, her attitude comes across as unnecessarily smug and obnoxious, especially when dismissing colleagues correct answers. Had one of her more mild-mannered colleagues had her level of intelligence rather than her, I'm sure this debate would not have surfaced.
One last thing, as everyone seems to be commenting on it - no, I do not in any way find her attractive, and I'm confident that even if I did, it would not change my opinion of her in any way.
Thanks for your post Alasdair. It really is incredible to read some of the comments that don't make it onto the site (I will not publish comments of an insulting or a sexual nature), it really makes you scratch your head. Trimble is a student, no doubt a very good one, and also an amazing contestant on University Challenge. The end.
We have started a Trimble fan club in the office , she makes a great screen saver !
WE LOVE TRIMBLE (the new Carol Vorderman ?)definitely the thinking mans crumpet
As someone who, unlike the rest of you, has actually met Gail - we sang in a choir together for several years - I would like to say that she is an extremely nice, kind person who would be mortified at the thought that anyone would find her smug, condescending, or snobbish. If I know her, the faces she was pulling in the Exeter match were very English ones of embarrassment over doing too well, rather than triumphalism. Can I humbly suggest that you try actually spending time with someone and talking to them in person, rather than just watching a few TV shows, before you make your personal judgments?
As somebody who won 'University Challenge' himself many years ago, and now earns a humble crust scripting high-end quiz shows (not including UC), I would also like to say that she is one of the best contestants they've ever had on that show, male or female, and that you should be celebrating her achievements, not sniping at her.
In any case, whatever her character, I can't believe you'd be saying these things if she was displaying the same level of skill and dominance in athletics, say, or football, Please get over your own inverted intellectual snobberies and appreciate someone who can do such a difficult thing at such a very high level of achievement.
Thanks for posting Stephen. I think you post says it all. To be fair to Mof, he write a follow up piece (www.tvscoop.tv/2009/02/tv_review_unive_11.html) and I did something today on seeing Gail in action for the first time (www.tvscoop.tv/2009/02/trimble_watch_l.html). She really was impressive.
I watched, 'University Challenge' last night and I am pleased to say that yet again my heart-throb did not disppoint. The lovely Gail Trimble was on top form as ever. Definitely the perfect woman for me!
Alasdair, I too have just checked back through the earlier posts and cannot find the sexual comments I was referring to.
I did nitice that some have been moderated so I'm presuming they have rightly been removed.
It seems that some people find her smug, others, including myself, don't.
Quite clearly, if she wasn't so bright and intelligent then this debate would never have started.
Perhaps Corpus Christi should have picked a lesser talent so as not to over shadow the rest of the team. But then they probably wouldn't be in the final.
Do some men simply feel threatened by a bright, attrtactive youg lady?
She got 15 starter q's correct last week, (and one wrong), and 12 correct, (one wrong), this week.
Her nearest rival got 4 correct.
Lets face it, she is head and shoulders above the rest. Even when the questions aren't on her prime subjects she is still able to figure out the answer really quickly.
I'd like to see her on 'Who wants to be a Millionaire'.
Plus, I bet she is totally charming in person.
She is accused of being smug, but for me, if you want to see 'smug' look no further than Mathew Yeo, the captain of the Manchester team.
I found him particularly annoying and their whole performance very tedious in their semi final match. Every bonus question became a 2 minute debate.
Can't wait for the final and hope Corpus Christi thrash them. LG.
"Hot Lips" Trimble
I think she is absolutely fantastic. I hadn't seen her before the semi, but by the end of the match she had me gasping in admiration. She might win any match on her own. Brilliant, she looks. Smug? Never. Lovely sounds more like it. Adorable even. Would I go out with her if I had the chance? You bet I would - she's wonderful!
We agree with Tinnderbox (and with Rick & Rich and all other right thinking people): Trimble is fantastic; a credit to a once great nation. We are hosting a Gail Trimble victory party next Monday.
The problem with Alisdair's post is that he writes of Gail Trimble as 'arrogant', 'smug' and 'obnoxious' as if these were all established facts of her personality, when they are really no more than his own interpretation of the expressions and manner of someone he doesn't know.
I don't know her either, and I don't see any of these traits at all. I see only an extremely bright and knowledgeable person under pressure to answer questions, enjoying it when she gets them right, frustrated (but still good-humoured) when she gets them wrong. That this general view is supported by two people who DO know her, one of whom has known her for years, suggests people really ought to consider just how well they actually know a person before they vent their spleen on them.
Great to see plenty of other Trimble lovers on here, she should be a role model not sneered at. I'm a prog rock fan so I enjoy displays of brilliance and virtuosity (just a shame the Thijs van Leer lookalike on the other team had to lose).
Manchester for the title!
Someone has told us that Gail is Rick Wakeman's niece. She is also an excellent speller and has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
The reaction vs the fragrant Ms Trimble is redolent of the virulent anti-intellectualism which infects society. She is both ubersmart and attractive in the same way that Suzie Dent garlands Countdown. Personally, I don't think she and her Corpus will win: Manchester have greater depth on their bench. That said, we should be celebrating Ms Trimble and her tribe; the alternative is the further bonfire of the vanities that is Chantelle Houghton and her ilk.
what is it with these achievers? Every time i turn on my TV there's another one being good at something that I can't do. Like when that skinny woman won the marathon - did you see that smile and wave she did? What a bitch, rubbing it in our faces, all that 'oooh look at me run better than you, you with your rubbish cubicle job that you hate and that chip on your shoulder about going to an unremarkable redbrick university.' Yeah i never needed no posh education. I went to a comprehensive and used to beat up the students who were brighter or less bitter than me. Why haven't they stayed down?
Thank you to all the people that are sticking up for Gail in these posts. The point of University Challenge is in a way to find 'the best of the best'. Before a team even gets onto TV there are preliminary rounds to find the teams with the best knowledge to make sure the TV rounds are exciting! And certainly within Oxford there are inter-collegiate competitions to find the best teams within the colleges. I'm a friend of Gail's and I've been on quiz teams with her and yes she is very clever and I think she should be allowed to show this. To be fair if you don't want to feel stupid and a 'non-achiever' then you probably shouldn't watch UC! Some people really work at gaining knowledge and should be allowed to demonstrate what they know. As a TV-quiz winner myself (Test The Nation - Know Your Planet) its a great feeling to be able to prove yourself!
Well said Cassandra Sedgwick. It is a pity that you did not write the article as it would have been more balanced. The gender and race card are always an easy way out of a debate.
I've not seen any of the editions of UC where Corpus Christi have played, but I would agree with the comment that it's unfair to make a statement about someone's character based on your perception of their behaviour in that sort of environment. Also, an old saying springs to mind - "Concept governs percept" - if you have a chip on your shoulder about academics and intellectuals, maybe you will be more likely to perceive arrogance and smugness?
What the hell are some of you moaning about? She is very, very bright, and given her intellect and the fact that she is on television (not easy to be 'natural' there I guess) quite unassuming it seems to me. I don't share her gender, her background, her education, nor her age group (I'm 60) but I think it is teriffic to see someone of that age excell. Sometimes she will answer a question with such speed that it gives me a jolt, even if I half know the answer.
Good god there are enough bloody half-wits on television in any one week to last me another three lifetimes. And to all those bitching about her I'd say firstly, give her a break she is still a young woman, and secondly spend your energies sharpening your own minds. Try and match her not disparage her.
I've known her for years and Lawrence O'Reilly is right - in person she's totally charming, and kind and funny. Nobody less smug or arrogant in the world.
She laughed when Paxo asked her about the 'Aeneid' because if you study Latin it's the first book they tell you about. It was relief, 'I definitely know this one'.
I'm not on a national quiz, because I'm not as interested in stuff as Gail is, or, let's face it, as smart. But if I was, and I got the answer to a question right, I'd probably smile in a tense kind of way, and if my teammate got it right I'd probably say well done.
I guess if you are a bit shy and on telly for the first time, you don't automatically know how to work it like Paris Hilton.
Corpus Student,
Do you realise how out of touch you sound? You accuse people of feeling like they are a "non-achiever" or even "stupid" when watching University Challenge. By saying this and then stating that you are a friend of this Trimble character doesn't exactly put you and Little Miss Smug Smile in a good light. Luckily I know people that go to Oxford University or else I'd develop an idea that you are all self-loving snobs.
Yes, Trimble is bright and has a lot of general knowledge, but to me she seems fairly bland. She looks like she would sob if someone cut more than two inches off her hair. She may have exam/ quiz skills but does she have any social skills?
As for "proving yourself" why don't you actually get a job instead of dossing about at uni for a ridiculous amount of years.
Dear me Darn - can you really spell out what your problem is with Gail Trimble. "By saying this and then stating that you are a friend of this Trimble character doesn't exactly put you and Little Miss Smug Smile in a good light" how does that follow? "seems fairly bland" - mmm, do you understand what UC is about? "She looks like she would sob if someone cut more than two inches off her hair." is this funny? Are you sure or is this just a slightly weird opinion? "does she have any social skills?" I don't know - do you? Is this a criticism or are you suggesting she hasn't? "why don't you actually get a job instead of dossing about at uni for a ridiculous amount of years" Ah, do you have aproblem with students, Do you hate them? Do educated people threaten you? Lots of questions Darn - especially, why don't you like Gail Trimble?
I can't help but notice that all the comments by people her hate her seem to based on instant reactions to how she "looks" and "seems". The comments that are more positive, actually seem to be based on more than just a knee-jerk reaction. The criticisms meanwhile sound like bullying the swot at school because he/she wants to amount to something.
Some criticisms also seem to be based on a hatred of anyone intelligent. The Trimble-hating comments also seem to be the comments that are less intelligently written.
Obviously we all enjoy hating people we see on TV. I even used to especially stay in on Saturday until Stars in Your Eyes was on, just to see how long it would take Matthew Kelly to say something that made me want to violently punch him in the face until his his nose caved in.
On the whole, I think she's nice enough. She doesn't look smug to me, to me she smiles in a self-deprecating, embarrased way. She is obviously very intelligent. I usually would say that intelligent people make preferable company to thick people. Most comedians (Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson, Ricky Gervais, Peter Kay etc etc) know a lot and would be good to have a beer with.
The evil Trimble, I suspect would be all right if you met her. She could of course be Beelzebub's hell-whore, sent to bring ruin to smug Middle-Englishness.
Basically though, I'd probably give her one
This lady is impresssive. I would buy her a gin and tonic anytime. The comments from the people that know her are revealing. Why the hate stuff? I detect the academics of envy. All this means I am rooting for CC (CC - 300+ students, Manchester - 32000+).
You bunch of sneering [post moderated]. You should all be embarrassed for aiming such hatred at a yonug woman based on, frankly, virtually [post moderated] all.
you really are a [post moderated]. trimble is great - i'm sure this has already been said but its undeniably true, the only reason people hate on her is BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN. remember Kaufman? he attracted way less bile and he was genuinely arrogant, rather than endearingly self-deprecated/slightly embarrassed at kknowing so much.
Lay off The Trimble! She's a smoking hot minx with those sturdy, yeoman like thighs itching to clamp you in their embrace. Keep working it babes. Mwahh, mwahh!
Trimble 4 Grumble!
I see some massive inferiority complexes here. What do these people expect the woman to do in a quiz show - sit around and say 'After you Cyril' when a question comes up to which she knows the answer? Vulgar abuse suggests that the inferiority complexes are based on the reality that these people really are inferior - hard cheese!
Why no hate for Jade Goodey? Where's your blog about that then? Now Jade really IS a patronising racist [post moderated] who has brought nothing of benefit to the country and finishes her wretched life whoring her cancerous death round the media.
Your rant is what would have been called an "epic fail" last year - your jealousy doesn't even try to hide itself in your last paragraph.
I am truly appalled at the hate-filled and completely unjustified remarks made on this site against poor Gail Trimble. It is quite unreasonable to judge from the brief answers a University Challenge team captain gives that her manner is "smug". Where these anti-intellectual bigots saw smugness I saw only bubbly excitement and modesty in Gail's manner. I hope she is not easily upset by fools. I can only assume the perpetrators of these remarks - clearly from the Ross/Brand school of charm - are just jealous of a stunningly talented individual who is clearly miles out of their puny league.
I think you'll find that Manchester: 'Yeo' is even nerdier
Tough titty pal. Her deserved victory has now made her famous around the country for being staggeringly brainy.
Meanwhile this post of yours has earned you a different sort of reputation online... one for being a mean-minded scrotum.
Your post and the vitriolic comments that have followed exhibit the worst kind of inverse snobbery against anyone who shows a modicum of intelligence. Leave this blameless girl alone and take your inferiority complex elsewhere.
Why is it that people hate this girl so much? If she's that annoying then turn over to another channel. I think she's great and obviously very clever. A good answer to the critics was her team's win tonight. Good luck to her!
what a bunch of negative peasants posting here about GT, I'm pleased she showed you scum suckers the way home...... too funny
Ms Trimble and her team did superbly well, and I would like to recommend her for a position on either a) the FSA or b) as non executive director of any of our remaining major banks. It seems unlikely that she would be presented with a new and interesting way of making money without also being able to see the flaws in it.
Beats me why there are people here criticising the smarter folk when we're currently suffering as a nation from the lack of same!
Whatever Trimble is or is'nt what I find totally nauseating is the BBCs fauning attitute towards her..Womans Hour, Pm on Radio 4 and the 6pm news on BB1...Its clear they wanted her to win hence the cleverly loaded questions for her during the last few rounds of the final. I presume she is just what that load of Oxbridge pricks at the BBC want in a contestant...borderline attractive with a posh voice. Personally I think that it is about time that the show limited the number of Oxbridge colleges that are allowed to take part..perhaps reduced to one team just lake every other university in the country
Well done to the smart and sexy Trimble.
"However, when you're dealing with a Trimble, you just know that they've sneered at thick people.."
Alternatively, "when you're a Trimble, you just know that you've been sneered at by thick people..."
Only in Britain, only in the area of intellectual ability, must someone apparently hide their intelligence. Sportsmen and women may revel in their ability, artists and professionals may extol each others' virtues, but if you're clever, best you make excuses for your intelligence lest the blogosphere take vengeance.
In a quiz show the contestants get asked questions. If they know the answer they get points and points mean prizes. It's that simple. Just because Trimble knows a lot more than you do, it does not follow that she is bound in honour to get questions wrong just to protect your fragile ego. If you cannot accept this very simple fact then watch Weakest Link instead where even a total idiot will know most of the answers. Resentful enviousness like yours would be better kept concealed.
Reading some of these posts, am amazed this country still includes the word 'Great' in Great Britain, for there is nothing great in the snide and petty jealousies so willfully exhibited here. After all, this country has such put-down phrases as "too clever by half," "clever-clogs" and the ever-endearing "my my, aren't we a clever little [enter noun, usually 'madam']." We really must be a sad nation of thickos to castigate anyone with fine general knowledge. Well done GT - scientia vincit omnia!
In measured opposition to the people who are venting the realisation of their own shortcomings on Gail Trimble,can I encourage you just to celebrate someone who is bright, someone who must make her parents proud, and someone who probably hasnt got many bad bones in her body. All the lass has done is be very good at an intellectual quiz. Should you not be venting your fury at the uneduacated masses who bleed the wealth of the nation?, or dare I say the architects of the state education system which produces them?. Well done to the whole Corpus Christi team.
Just a hello to the knowledge-hating pratt who wrote the original. Without people like Trimble, we'd still be living in caves, where you'd still find fault that some smart-arse has tamed a thing called "Fire".
You're a [post moderated].
Envy is a serious fault. It distorts every viewpoint that the envious have. Anybody who is better, works harder or is richer got there by sheer luck - the envious never had such luck - nor the guts, brains or determination to succeed.
I would guess that most of the critics are men who feel threatened by a clever woman, quite rightly.
Stupid and envious people should watch one of the easier quizzes like "Are You Smarter Than a 10-year Old?"
Hat's off to Gail Trimble - she is smarter than me.
For all you teenage begrudgers who sit there not understanding half of the words being used in the questions this girl can answer and for that reason alone have campainged against this girl, you should be tied down over benches, your arses bared and the skin flaied from your arses repeatedly with a razor strop.
I love reading the majority of these postings, they remind me of why the UK is such a pit of ineptitude and mediocrity. All the whining and hatred directed at this lady, (who has done nothing but make the most of her intelligence and through hard work achieve great success) shows the modern British culture for what it is; a testimony to decline and hate.
Hate those who achieve, hate those who aspire and hate those who have what you don't have. All of those countries like the US and OZ you look at so patronisingly and smugly, looking down at them for their base tendencies like patriotism, and ambition, a love of country, driving ambition and the drive to emulate not to tear down. That which you no longer have.
You are all a joke, and the best part is the whole world knows it!
With luck and if she has sense she will leave with the 250 000 people per year, with skills who leave these rotting shores and go to a post and a place that celebrates her gifts and leaves the rest of you who wouldn't qualify to get into these other countries to live in a ever declining nation that was once the envy of the world for its endeavour and aspiration.
Liberals, dole bludgers, whiners and jobsworths is all that you will have left, because it s who you all are!
I think we know what is going on here it is a simple case of male inferiority as you feel thretened by such a mind, i bet if she had been clever and sexy no one would have complained they bwould have been queing to pat her on the back
You know, this is all a bit rubbish. I often sit in front of the telly and take a dislike to people, both male and female, even though I don't know them in real life. It's what TV is all about, surely. It's there to inform, to entertain and to provoke opinion.
I'm ambivalent towards Gail Trimble. I didn't see her in the early rounds, and when I did I thought she was just like any other university student that appeared on the show – intelligent, geeky, and probably a bit dull. Still, you have to bow down to her superior recall and answering ability.
Hate is a strong word, but having read some of Mof's stuff before I'm pretty sure that the use of the word was for headline purposes only. I think his argument is fair enough, I don't necessarily agree or disagree with it but please... all these newspaper people proclaiming that the coverage is mean and this and that. Come on! Not everyone is liked by everyone all of the time, and it's not as if TV reviewers or the red tops aren't 'mean' to other people on a daily basis (oooo, look at how fat/ugly/spotty/sweaty/thin he/she is!). The newspaper articles seem to be asking whether this 'anti-intellectualism' is endemic and pandemic in the UK, but I note that The Sun and Daily Mail were quick to point out that she failed to answer some of their questions. Their articles had an air of 'not so clever now are you? about these articles. Who's sneery now?
I think Mof's opinion is just as valid as anyone else's and it's equally valid to come out in support of Trimble too. Let's not forget how all this started – someone took a dislike to someone on a quiz show. Big deal. A bit of debate on a student who appears on a quiz show is fun and entertaining, but some of the coverage has gone a bit far now.
Wow, this post is bringing out the thick people in force. Whatever made them so chippy?
I think I agree with you Tone. I find it amazing that it has all attracted so much publicity, but great for University Challenge and the sales of the quite good book/movie Starter for Ten I'm sure. It seems completely random and I'm sure she will be glad when she can get on with her real life. Personally I think there is something quite annoying about her, but, hey, if I knew as much as her people would no doubt find me annoying. Come to think of it they do find me annoying and I don't know half as much as her! I don't get this sex symbol stuff at all but each to their own.
I find it quite sad that there are so many people out there that are irritated (or should I say jealous!) by somebody elses intelligence. Trimble may look as if she smiles when getting an answer correct, but wouldn't you. I have met the lady in question and I can assure you that she is far from arrogant, she is purely confident as she has every right to be having seen her performances on University Challenge. Those of you that say you are angred or irritated by her should aske yourselves why? Does your lack of intelligence really make you so blind!!
Having heard that Gail Trimble has been widely slagged off on blogs like this one, I came here expecting the worst, scores of comments that were saturated with bile and envy. Instead I have been vastly encouraged that the majority of comments have been supportive of a clever young woman. Perhaps this isn't such a dumbed-down country after all!
I thought Gail Trimble was a delight. Sure, somewhat "jolly hocky sticks," but I rather like that, and with a great breadth of knowledge.
There are too many ignorant chavs in our society, and way too much personal bitching in our culture now.
Three cheers for a charming bright girl who deserves her success. Her detractors should (and doubtless will, because they have no higher spirations)remain in their primordial gloop, and hopefully suffer the fate of the dinosaurs. The ignorant and stupid should not inherit the earth!
This writer who for his own safety is too cowardly to put his name to the piece, has written the most retarded, chippy, w@nkerish article I have ever read. Actually it's not an article, it's a polemic on class war. Get a real job. Move to Russia. Just get out of my mind.
I hate smart people, too. Especially when they are women.
Morons.
Lets take the post of Siany as an example of the self loathing inverted snobbery exhibited on this board.
Siany apparently only watched University Challenge because she turned over from Eastenders. Well I think its fair to say she and most of you will end up doing not much in life. Mentally by abusing this womans intelligence you have already sub conciously told yourself this.
Gail has the temerity to be clever. So what if she looks a bit smug, considering she has more brain cells than most of you haters put together and then some, I think she has every right?
Poor Gail, clever and has her [post moderated] together. Exactly the person to vilify, right? Jeez.
Face it, you hate her because she is clever. Thats it. She is holding a mirror up to the vacuous paper thin knowledge than most of you come out of school with.
I fear for our nation. Vilifying intelligent, what the hell is that about. I hope her and many like her dont be put off by the mass movement of low IQ snobbery here. Because if our brightest are then our country is going to have scientists and doctors of Jade Goody level, which most of you I suspect worship.
Sad sad sad.
It's nice to see the support for someone who's good looking and smart in the comments here.
As for the haters, just because you're stupid doesn't mean you should share your stupidity with everyone else.
It sounds as though your girlfriend is definitely jealous. Anyone who is pretentious enough to actually say things like "not a friend did she own at school" is in no place to judge Trimble's behaviour.
The detrimental comments about someone who's simply clever sicken me. They're an indication of how much certain sections of society villify anything or anyone of substance these days. It's no wonder the cuntry is in the mess it's in! STOP WATCHING IF YOU CAN'T STAND IT YOU MORONS!!!
Hate her hate her hate her!! What a smug b*tch. I found myself willing her to lose! I don't get how anyone didn't feel the same rise of boiling angry hate.
And bull to villifying intelligence - I loved the phd geeks from the quarter finals. That's intelligence, and I like to think I'm pretty intelligent too. Its the pure 'im so great attitude' I don't like. Arrogance is an awful thing
Mr Blogger you're a success. Your tide of gratuitous unpleasantness, aimed at someone whom you've never met and about whom you know nothing, and the equally unpleasant comments that settled on it (like flies on a t*rd) have actually formed the news, at least as far as the Daily Wail is concerned. You're a one-man news story!
Pretty cool.
you and your girlfriend sound like charmers!
now you've gone and upset all the uneducated chavs...
did rubbish at school eh? that must be a real regret...
ha ha ahahahahahahahahhahahahaa
"I became completely enveloped by my hatred for the captain of Corpus Christi"
On the basis of this, I'd be joining the long queue trying to get away from you.
Hyperbole is a writer's tool, and a right. But you've bullied (not critiqued) somebody (and not somebody's performance) in a public forum, where your victim has no easy way to respond.
If you are regretting this now that you're being been identified as a bully and a boor, then that's a reaction that would be appropriate.
I totally agree with P Phillips.
Well done to Gail & Co.Lets now start a thread on that really smug, 'pat you on the back for getting one right Yeo'.
My only regret is that I missed Gail in the earlier rounds. Anyone happen to have a recording I could borrow?
Was she always the captain? I am sure that the first time I saw her she wasn't.
I hope that she doesn't dissappear into some dusty old academic position. We need to see more of her! LG.
We have really got to stop looking at this website. It's famous for .. nothing at all.
My verdict: those defending Trimble are of course right, but those attacking her are the more entertaining posters. And University Challenge is, after all, just another TV entertainment. Stomping on the tall poppies of TV Land is fun - it doesn't have to be fair.
Gail Trimble re-awakens all those librarian
fantasies I had as a lad.
I must go for a lie down.
>
Well I'm certainly sneering at the writer of that nasty little piece.
If Gail was a man rather than a woman, we wouldn't even be having this debate. I think she is great and you should all get over yourselves.
Yeah I have to say I don't really get all the hate for her. It's not really all that entertaining to attack her either, simply because there are much more worthy targets :-/