The first of a run of Only Connect festive editions had a cheese and wine party theme. But Victoria Coren Mitchell has pointed out that the show was pre-recorded and it was not intended to be a satirical comment on recent allegations about the Conservative government.

Coren Mitchell tweeted before the broadcast: "“Nadolig llawen!” I shout merrily at six people who don’t know what I’m on about. Yes, it’s ONLY CONNECT SPECIALS week! We kick off tonight with a Christmas ‘cheese and wine’ special, which, let’s be clear, was not intended to be satirical when we recorded it."

Which probably explains why there are no topical jokes about this subject. Though it didn't stop social media making the jokes for them during the transmission. Jon Dexter tweeted: "I love that @VictoriaCoren is having a business meeting #OnlyConnect."

Coren had a platter of cheese and a carafe of red wine on her desk and repeatedly tucked into it during the programme.

It seemed to go down well with viewers. Deutsche Mikey tweeted: "Loving Victoria’s feasting and celebrating tonight! #onlyconnect #onlyconnectchristmas."Alex McMillan noted: "Christmas is that wonderful time of the year when @VictoriaCoren fully commits to the bit.Only a true professional could eat this much cheese during the recording. #onlyconnect"

@solexon21 tweeted: "@VictoriaCoren is living her best life on #onlyconnect just now. I am in awe & very jealous. Lics your best life queen."

When asked on Twitter why they chose this as a theme Coren Mitchell replied: "If it were up to me, that would be the theme every week."

Although you can't please them all. Ian Jacobsen tweeted: "Quite repulsive watching @VictoriaCoren stuffing her face with food on #onlyconnect."

The questions also followed the theme - one of the connections, for example, was four accompaniment to cheese.

And there were plenty of Christmas songs too.

After the broadcast Coren Mitchell tweeted: "Wow I really seem drunk, don’t I? I normally hide it better" and "would have offered the platter round, of course. If it weren’t for the covids. For safety, I was OBLIGED to have it all myself."

The second special, on Tuesday, December 28, BBC Two, 8pm, has a different theme: Victoria Coren Mitchell tweeted: "Tonight's Only Connect special has a theme of THE BIRDS AND THE BEES. I would like to make clear, which I failed to do during the recording, that a "Jonathan" is a type of apple. Any discussion of taste and texture should be heard with that in mind."

Only Connect, BBC Two, 8pm. Picture of Victoria Coren: BBC