University Challenge’s Barto Joly de Lotbiniere gets Twitter talking again with the ‘poshest-ever name’

The student was practically upstaged by teammate Sam Smith who revealed his family has its own coat of arms

(BBC)

University Challenge never fails to get viewers’ weeks off to a good and sturdy start, whether it be by giving us quirky fashion, unique hairstyles, educating us on degrees we never even knew existed - or keeping them entertained with probably the poshest name ever.

The latter saw Twitter practically head for a meltdown on Monday night after history student at the University of York, Barto Joly de Lotbiniere - full name Bartolomeo Cuthbert Joly de Lotbinière - made yet another appearance on the popular quiz show, with his name only just about managing to fit on the panel in front of him.

Competing against St Catherine’s College at the University of Cambridge, host Jeremy Paxman led viewers into the unknown and set an ominous tone for the game ahead: “Tonight’s teams are both standing on a precipice, with one foot resting on air, each having lost their first quarter final match.”

After introductions, Twitter just couldn’t handle it anymore:

And if things couldn't get more posh, Mr Joly de Lotbiniere’s fellow teammate, the more conventionally-named Sam Smith - a chemistry student originally from Guernsey - just about stole the limelight after revealing his family had its own coat of arms, begging the question: “What about Barto?”

According to York Vision - the student newspaper Mr Joly de Lotbiniere is currently editor-in-chief of - the 20-year-old from Kensal Rise in North-West London has become York’s most eligible bachelor.

Having already beaten Manchester, and both Christ’s College and Peterhouse at Cambridge, the York team is now set to head into the semi-finals after trouncing St Catherine’s 180 to 115 on Monday, so we haven’t seen the last of Barto Joly de Lotbiniere quite yet.