As an experiment I decided to properly check one of the new 90's episodes. I chose episode 463 Lindisfarne because my old episode is timed at 29:30 and the new version is 28:40. That is quite a difference so I thought I'd start with that one.
I played the two episodes simultaneously and noted the difference any time an edit was made.
Here is what I found.
1) The applause has been shortened by a couple of seconds. This occurs between every round, but never during the actual round itself. The applause is not cut between the last round and the scores being read out.
2) In the 'Old Masters' round there is a very bizarre edit. At one point Derek pauses very slightly between words while he is speaking. This pause is removed. I re-listened to this bit several times and there is no mistake. The pause (of about one second) is removed. Astonishing.
3) This is the most severe edit. Graham Norton begins the 'Stout' round by talking for 15 seconds about how Gloria Hunniford is not stout. This is a direct reference to a joke Graham made earlier in the episode. The entire (and very funny) 15 second reference to Gloria is GONE.
4) The final edit is also in the 'Stout' round. Derek is talking about President Clinton at the stout factory and his voice tails off into a mumble. The mumble is shortened by a couple of seconds.
I must say that, aside from the Gloria Hunniford edit, I would never have noticed any of these cuts had I not been listening to both episodes at the same time.
I suppose we had better be careful. It could be the case that all of the episodes with shorter running times have been meddled with.
Chris.