Victoria Coren Mitchell breaks cover after sparking ‘sexism’ row with BBC Only Connect remarks over co-star

Victoria Coren Mitchell was recently accused of a “sexist” comment following a quip she made at the end of the quiz show she hosts, Only Connect, on Monday.

Coren Mitchell, 52, presenters the famously difficult quiz show and usually bids a jokey farewell at the end, but attracted some strong criticism after signing off the latest episode.

In her ending monologue, Coren Mitchell alluded to an ongoing joke about how much she loves former politician and GB News presenter, Michael Portillo.

“Coming up next on BBC Two is another episode in that wonderful series sponsored by the RSPB, where celebrities look after birds before handing them on to other celebrities to raise awareness of struggling avian numbers,” she began.

She continued: “I have so enjoyed watching the big names of BBC Two passing their feathered dependents onto other presenters that I’ve decided to join in myself.

“Tonight, I will eagerly be taking several swallows from Michael Portillo.” The risque joke sparked a lot of backlash online, with many commenting the presenter had gone “too far”.

While a flurry of disgruntled comments filled social media, Coren Mitchell seemed to ignore the remarks.

However, she broke her cover on Wednesday when she responded to an unrelated tweet applauding her.

“Wonderful quizzing AND an excerpt of a choose-your-own-adventure novel! It really *is* Christmas. You’re spoiling us #onlyconnect @VictoriaCoren Victoria Coren Mitchell,” one X user penned.

Responding, the writer and presenter wrote: “Ohhhh but wait! EIGHT new Christmas specials starting on the 23rd…”

Ohhhh but wait! EIGHT new Christmas specials starting on the 23rd… 🎁

— Victoria Coren Mitchell (@VictoriaCoren) December 18, 2024

Many fans soon took to the comments to express their excitement over the promise of upcoming epiosdes.

“EIGHT! Tis the season to be jolly indeed!” one shared.

Another echoed: “EIGHT!? *swoons in hieroglyphs,*” while another posted: “Every day is Quizzy Monday (almost). Looking forward to seeing if I do better or worse after a glass or two of Christmas Spirit.”

“I got one question right this week – very proud of myself,” another shared.

Someone else admitted: “I was trying to work out if they were new or repeats – mind you I still wouldn’t remember the answers if they were the latter…”

Thankfully for Coren Mitchell, it seems most have forgotten about the controversial remarks made at the start of the week.

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At the time though, many swarmed social media to state they were “traumatised”.

However, one viewer had a complex view, calling the comment a “pretty near the knuckle innuendo” that they had no problem as racy humour was “part of being British”.

Her comments about the 71-year-old presenter weren’t the first of their kind, with Coren Mitchell recently stating to The Guardian: “‘My Only Connect persona – who is very like me, but just different enough to maintain sanity – is always talking about Michael Portillo.

“He’s perfect for her. Dark, enigmatic, faintly Spanish… Knowledgeable, quirky, with hints of a sexually adventurous past…

“I once ended a show by saying, ‘I’m going to hurry back to my dressing room where I hope to find Michael Portillo, sitting naked atop a crate of rioja, challenging me to wrestle him off.'”