Our hair-o! TV Freya is a cut above style critics
IT is one of the toughest quiz shows on TV, so when undergraduate Freya Whiteford appeared on University Challenge, she might have imagined viewers would focus on her ferocious intellect.
The scientist answered questions on kinetic energy, the work of Glaswegian satirist Armando Iannucci and the clouds on Saturn’s moon Titan.
Yet despite helping her team through to the next round, there was only one talking point following the BBC show – her hair.
Miss Whiteford, a physics and astrophysics student from Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, was on the Glasgow University team that defeated students from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, by 200 points to 175. But Miss Whiteford, 20, drew more comments for her hair than her excellent performance.
Members of the public soon took to social media to point out celebrity lookalikes. Some, such as musicians Joni Mitchell and Elkie Brooks, were common.
However, there were crueller comparisons such as cartoon character Captain Caveman and singer Ozzy Osbourne.
After the show Miss Whiteford, daughter of BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bill Whiteford, commented that the attention contained more than a trace of sexism.
She said: ‘This probably says something about the added scrutiny that comes with being “The Girl” on an otherwise male squad – I didn’t make the team for being female.’
Miss Whiteford had clearly anticipated that her hair might catch the nation’s attention and before the show was broadcast she took to Twitter to warn viewers.
She tweeted: ‘I’m Freya and I will be your Glasgow rep for this episode.
‘I’m the one people will tell to get a haircut if that helps.’