University Challenge has sparked vicious backlash from viewers who believe host Amol Rajan pulled an ‘unfair’ stunt and ‘robbed’ a player of a correct answer.

On Monday night’s episode, four students from St Andrews went up against four UCL students to battle it out for a place in the BBC final.

However, fans defended St Andrews player Rosas when Amol Rajan refused to give him a point after he hesitated before giving the right answer.

Amol, 41, told the students he needed ‘two answers promptly here’, before asking: ‘Of the seven SI-based units from which all other units may be derived, which two have capitalised symbols because they are named after scientists?’

UCL player Prabhakar buzzed in but quickly retracted, saying: ‘No, sorry.’

Amol then pᴀssed the question to St Andrew’s but told them they may not confer with eacH๏τher.

University Challenge has sparked vicious backlash from viewers who believe host Amol Rajan (pictured) pulled an ‘unfair’ stunt and ‘robbed’ a player of the correct answer

However, fans defended St Andrews player Rosas when Amol Rajan refused to give him a point after he hesitated before giving the right answer

Rosas only stalled for two seconds but Amol interrupted him just as he finished giving the answer

Rosas buzzed in and said: ‘Kelvin and…Ampere.’

He only stalled for two seconds, but Amol interrupted him just as he finished giving the answer.

He said: ‘No I’m afraid if you answer you’ve got to answer straight away. It was Kelvin and Ampere, but you took too long to answer.’

Rosas threw his arms in the air and looked defeated as the game continued.

One fan on social media site X, wrote: ‘Rosas got the answer right there he barely paused – def should have been allowed that point it can make all the difference! NOT fair!’

Another said: ‘Rosas was Robbed!’

A third posted a basketball meme referencing a player who was robbed and said: ‘Rosas tonight #UniversityChallenge’.

UCL player Prabhakar originally buzzed in but quickly retracted, saying: ‘No, sorry’

Unfortunately for team St Andrew’s the extra point would not have saved them anyway, as they trailed 105 to UCL’s 215

Unfortunately for team St Andrew’s the extra point would not have saved them anyway, as they trailed 105 to UCL’s 215.

Last month, Amol threw his head down on the desk in despair after both teams from St Andrews and Cardiff University failed to recognise the classic hit Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay.

And fans of the quiz show took to X to express their disappointment in the contestants: ‘Absolutely fair enough Amol. Staggering and deeply disturbing.’

Another penned: ‘For that level of ignorance, they deserve to be sittin’ in the dock of the Old Bailey.’

University Challenge is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.