The beloved BBC quiz programme Only Connect has returned to television screens with a fresh series, once again presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell.

The popular show features teams battling it out in a competition to discover links between seemingly unconnected clues.

During the opening episode of the latest series, broadcast on Monday evenings on BBC Two, viewers were left baffled after apparently spotting an "error" within moments of the quiz programme beginning.

Addressing one team, Victoria enquired: "What is the connection between these, apparently random, picture clues?" as an image of Ronnie O'Sullivan flashed up on screen.

This was swiftly followed by a photograph of Rocket Raccoon, prompting the contestants to rapidly identify the link as the word 'rocket', reports Wales Online.

Victoria confirmed their answer was accurate, before revealing the remaining two images to complete the puzzle, displaying an illustration of Stephenson's Rocket alongside a picture of rocket leaves.

Nevertheless, home viewers remained convinced that the illustration shown did not depict Stephenson's Rocket.

Taking to social media, one fan raged: "First mistake on the new series of @BBC #OnlyConnect. This is LOCOMOTION not Stephensons ROCKET @VictoriaCoren," accompanied by a screenshot of the illustration.

Another Only Connect enthusiast commented: "Standards are slipping Robert," whilst someone else declared: "And on the very first question too!

"Came here to the #OnlyConnect trending comments to see this! I got the answer in two, but if I'd needed a third this would have thrown me," commented one viewer.

Another viewer chimed in on X: "#onlyconnect Probably says more about me than anything else, but the picture of Stephenson's Rocket in round one tonight wasn't Stephenson's Rocket. It was Puffing Billy. I shall now go back to looking for my life down the back of the sofa."

Since its inception in 2008, Only Connect has become a staple for quiz show enthusiasts.

The show consistently ranks as BBC Two's most viewed programme of the week and is typically broadcast between Mastermind and University Challenge, forming part of the channel's extensive quiz night.

The Express has reached out to the BBC for a response.

Only Connect continues on BBC Two at 9pm on Monday and episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer