University Challenge fans have found a new favourite in the form of the ‘intense’ new contestant Eric Monkman.

Becoming an instant Twitter sensation, the Canadian, who is studying Economics at Wolfson, Cambridge was lauded for his ‘passionate’ answers to Jeremy Paxman’s questions on Monday night’s show.

After a rather exuberant introduction, Monkman proceeded to deliver each answer with impressive levels of enthusiasm.

“First question and Monkman already great value. #UniversityChallenge,” wrote one viewer on Twitter just minutes into the episode.

“I like how Monkman gives all his answers as if talking to a slightly deaf elderly relative #UniversityChallenge,” wrote another.

‘Monkmania’ seemed to build as the show progressed, with one viewer writing:

“Monkman is potentially my favourite tv personality ever #monkman #wolfson #UniversityChallenge.”

“I can't remember what life was like before Monkman,” wrote another.

Others saw potential for more Monkman on our screens, writing: “we need Monkman on the next Big Brother or Love Island or oh God just something. FIRST DATES. YES. FIRST DATES.”

“MONKMAN, destroyer of WORLDS knows the ANSWER, has no INSIDE VOICE and he wants you to KNOW THAT. #UniversityChallenge,” posted someone else.

Even host Paxman couldn’t help giving a hint of a smile when he shouted out “Stephen” at the top of his voice after one question.

Move over, Oscar Powell.

Best TV dramas 2016 29 show all Best TV dramas 2016 1/29 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky 2/29 Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV 3/29 Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures 4/29 Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers 5/29 The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO 6/29 Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV 7/29 Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV 8/29 Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky 9/29 One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit 10/29 Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh 11/29 The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem 12/29 The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC 13/29 Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC 14/29 Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC 15/29 Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series 16/29 Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky 17/29 The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms 18/29 Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV 19/29 Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day 20/29 Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem 21/29 Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO 22/29 American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox 23/29 Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall 24/29 The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries 25/29 War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins 26/29 Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian 27/29 Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC 28/29 Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire 29/29 Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series 1/29 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky 2/29 Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV 3/29 Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures 4/29 Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers 5/29 The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO 6/29 Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV 7/29 Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV 8/29 Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky 9/29 One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit 10/29 Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh 11/29 The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem 12/29 The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC 13/29 Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC 14/29 Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC 15/29 Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series 16/29 Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky 17/29 The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms 18/29 Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV 19/29 Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day 20/29 Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem 21/29 Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO 22/29 American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox 23/29 Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall 24/29 The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries 25/29 War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins 26/29 Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian 27/29 Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC 28/29 Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire 29/29 Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series

Follow @StandardEnts for more entertainment news.