[Flux]

Well, that is just plain wrong.

Couldn't they simply get the host to read out the clue with a "What is" or "Who is" and then the contestant could then give a straight answer - or is that deviating too far from the format?

The core format is the concept of being given an answer and working out what the question is, so it wouldn’t be deviating as much as changing the whole concept

I believe originally it was played with genuine questions and answers which would make sense if you switched them around, but the US version has slowly evolved (IMO through sloppy “clue” writing) to this position where the “What is/Who was” addition is rather arbitrary. It annoys me too, and I had hoped the UK version would take the opportunity to rectify it by making sure the “clues” responded to actual “responses”.

I do enjoy the show though, and I think Stephen Fry is the perfect host. They could have done with sticking to the shorter format though - it drags on with the extra round.