New York Times is accused of ripping off hit British game (again)! Victoria Coren Mitchell slams US publication as it launches new game…that looks eerily similar to her hit BBC show Only Connect
- Both games contain four-by-four grids of words you have to link into groups
- New app ‘Connections’ was launched on Monday and has been mocked by fans
Victoria Coren Mitchell has slammed the New York Times after they created a game that looks suspiciously like a segment from her hit quiz show Only Connect.
The new app ‘Connections’ shows a four-by-four grid of apparently random words that you have to bring together into four linked groups.
But it has been compared to the BBC show’s Connecting Walls – where competitors are faced with a four-by-four grid of apparently random words that they have to bring together into four linked groups.
The online game – created by the newspaper’s Associate Puzzle Editor Wyna Liu – was launched on Monday and joins their fleet of successful apps, including Wordle.
But taking to social media Mrs Coren Mitchell, 50, mocked the creation, saying: ‘Do you know this has been a TV show in the UK since 2008?!
The new game has been compared to BBC show Only Connect’s Connecting Walls
The new app ‘Connections’ shows a four-by-four grid of apparently random words that you have to bring together into four linked groups
Victoria Coren Mitchell replied to the creator’s post, slamming the new app
The online game – created by the newspaper’s Associate Puzzle Editor Wyna Liu (left) – was launched on Monday and joins their fleet of successful apps, including Wordle. But taking to social media Victoria Coren Mitchell, 50, mocked the creation
READ MORE: Five words, five guesses… look familiar? Online puzzle game ‘Wordle’ that’s taking the internet by storm… bears striking resemblance to 1980s game show favorite LINGO
A 2020 reboot of Lingo starring Adil Ray has also been described as looking similar to Wordle
‘It’s so similar I guess you must do?’
Others rallied to support the presenter, with former contestant Kat Brown commenting: ‘Er, I was on the TV show of this game just this year. THE EIGHTEENTH SEASON of this show.’
Senior writer for Only Connect Mike Turner added: ‘If you need a hand at all, I’ve written over 750 of these for Only Connect.’
And Rob Hunt joked: ‘What are you going to invent next – the crossword?’
The famously challenging quiz show – which first aired in September 2008 – has run for 436 episodes on BBC Four and BBC Two.
Ms Liu – who has previously worked as a jewellery maker and a freelance crossword constructor – has been flooded with comments pointing out the similarity since she posted her new project on social media.
Thanking her fellows, she said: ‘Very excited to share the game I’ve been working on, Connections! I’ve loved making it, and hope you enjoy playing.’
New York Times also run a game called Digits – which has been compared to Countdown’s numbers game.
But jokers were quick to hit back – with broadcaster Andrew Hunter Murray laughing: ‘Does this mean my new TV format “Just The Consonants” is also problematic?’
Ms Liu – who has previously worked as a jewelry maker and a freelance crossword constructor – has been flooded with comments pointing out the similarity since she posted her new project on social media
Only Connect fans have taken solace in the game not being as difficult as the famously challenging quiz show
Only Connect- which first aired in September 2008 – has run for 436 episodes on BBC Four and BBC Two
Players fight it out to connect as many groups of words as possible within the time limit
Another joked: ‘No, this is… er… Solely Connections, a very different thing.’
And Kate Daubney added: ‘It was my very first thought when I saw it! It’s Only Connect’s Wall!’
It comes after hit game Wordle – which was bought by the New York Times for a seven-figure fee in 2022 – was mocked for its similarities to 1980s game show Lingo.
Josh Wardle, who lives in Brooklyn and graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London in 2006, created the game Wordle to play with partner Palak Shah, before opening it up to the world.
With an player-base of more than 300,000, competitors would take turns to guess a five letter word – the same premis as the US and UK show, which was revived on ITV in 2020.
But supporters of Mrs Coren Mitchell were consoled after they found the New York Times’ attempt paled in comparison to Only Connect’s tricky walls.
Adrian Bailey said: ‘The one clear difference with this one is it’s really easy by comparison.’
Another – called Gillian – commented: ‘Similar but a *lot* easier.’
Barney Durrant added: ‘At least they dumbed it down for the US market, as there doesn’t appear to be any ambiguous words that could fit into more than one category.’
Sheena Lewis added: ‘I’ve just tried today’s, very easy. You should tune into BBC Two on Mondays for some tips.’
And Adam Chown laughed: ‘Literally the same thing.’
The New York Times has been contacted to comment.
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