A student from Glasgow has become a cult hit after giving an excitable and intense performance on University Challenge last night.
Johnny Gibson, who studies history at Oxford University’s Magdalen College, had viewers gripped from the moment he introduced himself.
The popular BBC quiz show sees students from top universities come together to battle-it-out in a series of rounds constructed of difficult academic questions.
Team captain Gibson, however, stole the show with his choice of wardrobe in a warm studio and his very upbeat performance which had people wondering whether he had had too much energy drink before getting in front of the camera.
Are you watching #UniversityChallenge? Crikey, that Gibson's a live wire isn't he? Positively FIZZING with brains.
— Michael Moran (@TheMichaelMoran) August 14, 2017
When you take 4 pro plus and drink several Red Bull's waiting to go on TV.#UniversityChallenge
— University Challenge (@UniversityChal) August 14, 2017
pic.twitter.com/a2ilwTIvFm
— Michael Moran (@TheMichaelMoran) August 14, 2017
I LOVE GIBSON I CLAIM HIM #UniversityChallenge
— sofia is seeing h (@signofhetime) August 14, 2017
Mum: You loved him because he had a turtleneck on; didn't you?
— Jess P (@Ribenarain) August 14, 2017
Honestly I couldn't fault her logic.#UniversityChallenge #Gibson pic.twitter.com/9m95WlclLd
That’s it Gibson - get shouting these answers out! THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE!! #UniversityChallenge
— Callum Davies (@Callumundo) August 14, 2017
"Bloody hell, his head's going to explode" - Mum on Gibson #UniversityChallenge
— Rachael Lewis (@RachieSambora) August 14, 2017
Behind the scenes footage of #Gibson preparing for #UniversityChallenge pic.twitter.com/YqDGXB7mAv
— Anna Sexton (@AesTw) August 14, 2017
Gibson, with his flickering tongue surely has amphetamines hidden in his polo neck #UniversityChallenge pic.twitter.com/CyPI37cwvs
— Colin Welch (@colinwelch) August 14, 2017
Tonight I will be using shots of Gibson from Magdalen College to indicate my mood #UniversityChallenge pic.twitter.com/wCriJZpZ8k
— David Lewis (@davidclewis) August 14, 2017
is Gibson descended from a long line of cat burglars #UniversityChallenge
— c a r a (@ssempreliberaa) August 14, 2017
#UniversityChallenge Gibson from Oxford channelling the Herr Flick look from Allo Allo #oohrene
— Gdisc Karaoke (@GDisckaraoke) August 14, 2017
Some were also left wondering about his accent.
Gibson. Glasgow!? Where's your accent? #UniversityChallenge
— Grace Lindsay (@gracemalindsay) August 14, 2017
With an accent like that, I'm struggling to believe Gibson has even been to Glasgow. #UniversityChallenge
— Ibrahim Banks 👑 (@TheShowOff85) August 14, 2017
Well, Gibson, I've never heard such an English accent on a Glaswegian before... #UniversityChallenge
— Debbie (@Deborah_Deborah) August 14, 2017
#universitychallenge when Gibson says "from' Glasgow he meant to say "owns". How do you live in Glesgie and not have an accent
— Brian Crosbie (@Crosbie1Brian) August 14, 2017
Gibson needs to calm his Glaswegian accent, harder to understand than @watsontv after a bottle of buckie
— Steve Dickinson (@LancsM) August 14, 2017
Hope everyone can hear through and understand Magdalen - Gibson's thick Glasgow accent...#UniversityChallenge
— David Whyte (@Soulstorm99) August 14, 2017
Gibson was also compared to former Cambridge contestant Eric Monkman who also found fame for his overly-eager demeanour.
#UniversityChallenge Gibson, there's only one , that's the #Monkman pic.twitter.com/BypkKHow3l
— Johnny Toobad (@poppa1138) August 15, 2017
Magdalen Gibson is the next Eric Monkman #UniversityChallenge
— Ben Fisher (@Bfishermufc2) August 14, 2017
GIBSON IS THE NEW MONKMAN IM CALLING IT #UniversityChallenge
— Ibrahim Banks 👑 (@TheShowOff85) August 14, 2017
@UniversityChal
— ITS RICH🙌🙌!!!🎸🎸 (@Chardrocknroll) August 14, 2017
Is Gibson this years MONKMAN...he has some big boots to fill
Monkman’s appearance on the quiz show was such a sensation he will host his own Radio 4 show with fellow contestant Bobby Seagull.
As if we hadn’t already fallen hard for our Johnny, his Facebook page says: “My perfect experience would be reading a P G Wodehouse novel, listening to Frank Sinatra, watching a 1950s Alfred Hitchcock film, or eating sticky toffee pudding with custard. That says it all.”
Don’t ever change, son.
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