BBC Only Connect contestant Danielle Cope responds to backlash as Victoria Coren Mitchell offers support: ‘I am loud!’

Danielle Cope has responded directly to the criticism surrounding her appearance on BBC’s Only Connect, after the Al Frescans captain became the focus of online discussion following the opening episode of the new series.

The health and wellbeing practitioner appeared on the quiz show alongside her teammates as they faced The Midlanders, with Victoria Coren Mitchell returning to host the latest series.

Cope’s lively personality quickly made an impression. She openly celebrated the team’s appearance on the programme and brought plenty of energy to the episode, which ultimately ended in victory for the Al Frescans.

The team defeated The Midlanders 28-18.

But after the episode aired, much of the online conversation turned towards Cope herself and her conduct during the programme. She later addressed the reaction on X, acknowledging that she had been surprised by the amount of attention directed at her.

Danielle Cope addresses the criticism

Cope took the comments in a self-deprecating spirit rather than ignoring them altogether.

Writing on X, she said she was surprised to discover that so many of the posts about the episode were focused on her.

She then described herself as a “loud, fat, confident woman” and joked that perhaps she should be proud of having annoyed so many people. Cope also admitted that she herself had cringed at “99%” of what she had said during the episode.

Her response also addressed one particular moment that had attracted attention: her pronunciation of “hornèd viper”.

Cope said she found it amusing that some viewers had interpreted the way she said the phrase as pretentious when, in her view, it was simply intended as silliness.

She finished by saying she was pleased to have made an impression and helped the new series get off to a lively start, adding that she was looking forward to watching the programme normally the following week.

The episode, titled Al Frescans v Midlanders, aired on 12 August 2024 as the opening heat of the show’s 20th series.

Victoria Coren Mitchell comes to her defence

Cope’s comments soon drew supportive responses from other Only Connect viewers, many of whom encouraged her not to worry about the criticism.

Among those offering support was the programme’s host, Victoria Coren Mitchell.

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Coren Mitchell responded warmly to Cope, telling her to stop worrying and describing her as a “gorgeous creature”.

She also sought to put the reaction on social media into perspective, writing: “Social media isn’t real, it’s just a place people go to shout things.”

Coren Mitchell went on to praise Cope as “clever and fun” and said that viewers loved her, adding a heart emoji to the message.

Cope replied by thanking the presenter and agreeing with her assessment.

“Thanks so much Victoria, you’re totally right!” she wrote. “I’m not letting it get to me.”

The exchange offered a public show of support from the host after Cope had become the subject of criticism following her television debut.

Only Connect viewers rally around Danielle

Coren Mitchell was not the only person defending Cope.

Several viewers joined the conversation to tell the contestant that they had enjoyed her appearance and could not understand why her personality had provoked such a strong reaction.

One viewer described Cope as “marvellous” and said that everyone appearing on Only Connect was part of what made the programme what it was.

Another wrote that Cope had not annoyed them at all, saying they were unable to understand why anyone would have been irritated by her.

A third viewer offered a particularly enthusiastic assessment, telling Cope that she had been terrific and suggesting that there was a reason the series had opened with her team.

The viewer said Cope’s personality had come through the screen, while also praising her intelligence and appearance.

A memorable start to the new series

The controversy came as Only Connect returned for its 20th series, with Coren Mitchell once again at the helm.

The long-running BBC quiz returned on Monday 12 August 2024, with new teams taking on the show’s famously difficult questions and connection puzzles. Radio Times confirmed ahead of the launch that Coren Mitchell would return to host the milestone series.

For Cope, however, the opening episode became about more than the team’s 28-18 win.

Her energetic appearance quickly became one of the most discussed aspects of the episode, prompting criticism from some viewers but also a wave of encouragement from others.

Rather than allowing the backlash to dominate the experience, Cope chose to respond publicly, acknowledge the more uncomfortable moments herself and make light of the reaction.

With support from Coren Mitchell and a number of Only Connect viewers, she made clear that she intended to move on and enjoy the programme as a viewer when the next episode arrived.

The Al Frescans’ victory therefore marked only part of the story from the opening episode. Cope’s personality, her response to the reaction and the support that followed became another memorable part of the show’s return.