Christmas University Challenge

Last updated

Christmas University Challenge
Genre Quiz show
Presented by Jeremy Paxman (2011–2022)
Amol Rajan (2023–)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series10
Production
Production locations Granada Studios (2011–2012)
MediaCityUK (2013–)
Running time30 minutes
Production company Granada Television
Original release
Network BBC Two
Release19 December 2011 (2011-12-19) –
present
Related
University Challenge

Christmas University Challenge is a British quiz programme which has aired on BBC Two since 19 December 2011. It is a spin-off from University Challenge that airs daily over the Christmas period, and features teams of noteworthy alumni from British universities competing in the same format as the parent show.

Contents

Amol Rajan replaced Jeremy Paxman as host from December 2023. The current holders are Durham University.

Series

Key

2011 results


First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of York 120125 University of Manchester 24519 December 2011
Durham University 60135 University of Edinburgh 19520 December 2011
Magdalen College, Oxford 13085 University College London 21521 December 2011
University of Warwick 22550 University of Sheffield 27522 December 2011
Trinity College, Cambridge 22580 University of St Andrews 30524 December 2011

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Edinburgh 35265 University of Warwick 30025 December 2011
Magdalen College, Oxford 105160 Trinity College, Cambridge 26526 December 2011

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Warwick 60235 Trinity College, Cambridge 28027 December 2011

The 2011 series was won by Trinity College, Cambridge whose team of Robin Bhattacharyya, Daisy Goodwin, John Lloyd, and Edward Stourton beat the University of Warwick's team of Vadim Jean, Daisy Christodoulou, Christian Wolmar and Carla Mendonça.

2012 results


First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Bristol 135140 University of Leeds 27517 December 2012
Newcastle University 120110 Loughborough University 23018 December 2012
New College, Oxford 240160 London School of Economics 40019 December 2012
University of Liverpool 165140 Cardiff University 30520 December 2012
Newnham College, Cambridge 155110 University of Nottingham 26521 December 2012
University of Exeter 125165 University of Glasgow 29031 December 2012
University of Birmingham 115195 University of East Anglia 3101 January 2013

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
New College, Oxford 220125 University of Liverpool 3452 January 2013
University of Glasgow 115150 University of East Anglia 2653 January 2013

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
New College, Oxford 205110 University of East Anglia 3154 January 2013

The 2012 series was won by New College, Oxford whose team of Rachel Johnson, Patrick Gale, Kate Mosse and Yan Wong beat the University of East Anglia's team of John Boyne, Razia Iqbal, David Grossman and Charlie Higson.

2013 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Reading 85185 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 27020 December 2013
University of Kent 100160 Lancaster University 26021 December 2013
Keele University 14095 Aberystwyth University 23523 December 2013
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 25565 Christ Church, Oxford 32026 December 2013
St Hugh's College, Oxford 12595 University of Stirling 22027 December 2013
University of Leicester 12560 University of Sussex 18530 December 2013
King's College London 105185 University of Southampton 29031 December 2013

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Emmanuel College, Cambridge 185105 University of Southampton 2901 January 2014
Lancaster University 145180 Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 3252 January 2014

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Emmanuel College, Cambridge 140175 Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 3153 January 2014

The 2013 series was won by Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge whose team of Quentin Stafford-Fraser, Helen Castor, Mark Damazer and Lars Tharp beat Emmanuel College, Cambridge and their team of Hugo Rifkind, Mary-Ann Ochota, Simon Singh and Rory McGrath.

2014 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford 19545 University of Warwick 24020 December 2014
University of Hull 20525 Newcastle University 23023 December 2014
King's College, Cambridge 160150 Royal Holloway, University of London 31024 December 2014
University of Edinburgh 23545 University of Leeds 28025 December 2014
Trinity Hall, Cambridge 195120 Balliol College, Oxford 31526 December 2014
University of York 135110 University of Surrey 24529 December 2014
Manchester Metropolitan University 14575 Goldsmiths, University of London 22030 December 2014

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford 145175 University of Hull 32031 December 2014
University of Edinburgh 135165 Trinity Hall, Cambridge 3001 January 2015

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Hull 65215 Trinity Hall, Cambridge 2802 January 2015

The 2014 series was won by Trinity Hall, Cambridge whose team of Tom James, Emma Pooley, Adam Mars-Jones and Dan Starkey beat the University of Hull and their team of Rosie Millard, Malcolm Sinclair, Jenni Murray and Stan Cullimore.


2015 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University College London 15580 University of Birmingham 23520 December 2015
Oriel College, Oxford 135140 Trinity College, Cambridge 27521 December 2015
University of Manchester 19535 University of East Anglia 23022 December 2015
Christ's College, Cambridge 90140 University of Essex 23023 December 2015
University of Exeter 130220 Magdalen College, Oxford 35024 December 2015
University of Aberdeen 90185 University of Sheffield 27528 December 2015
Durham University 140130 London School of Economics 27029 December 2015

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Manchester 105160 University of Sheffield 26530 December 2015
University College London 100195 Magdalen College, Oxford 29531 December 2015

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Sheffield 60230 Magdalen College, Oxford 2901 January 2016

The 2015 series was won by Magdalen College, Oxford whose team of Robin Lane Fox, Heather Berlin, Louis Theroux and Matt Ridley beat the University of Sheffield and their team of Sid Lowe, Nicci Gerrard, Adam Hart and Ruth Reed.


2016 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Manchester 55185 St Anne's College, Oxford 24019 December 2016
University of Kent 24535 University of Sussex 28020 December 2016
City, University of London 14535 Newcastle University 18021 December 2016
SOAS University of London 85175 University of Leeds 26022 December 2016
University of Edinburgh 11560 St Catharine's College, Cambridge 17523 December 2016
Magdalene College, Cambridge 65225 St Hilda's College, Oxford 29025 December 2016
University of Bristol 7075 University of Nottingham 14526 December 2016

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Kent 130140 University of Leeds 27027 December 2016
St Anne's College, Oxford 75165 St Hilda's College, Oxford 24028 December 2016

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Leeds 55160 St Hilda's College, Oxford 21529 December 2016

The 2016 series was won by St Hilda's College, Oxford whose team of Fiona Caldicott, Daisy Dunn, Val McDermid and Adèle Geras beat the University of Leeds and their team of Louise Doughty, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Kamal Ahmed and Steve Bell.


2017 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Durham University 35220 Keble College, Oxford 25524 December 2017
Selwyn College, Cambridge 14590 University of St Andrews 23526 December 2017
York University 70150 University of Southampton 22027 December 2017
University of Leicester 45175 University College London 22028 December 2017
St John's College, Cambridge 15540 St Edmund Hall, Oxford 19529 December 2017
Queen Mary University of London 11060 Cardiff University 1701 January 2018
Brunel University London 45155 University of Reading 2002 January 2018

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Keble College, Oxford 160105 St John's College, Cambridge 2653 January 2018
University College London 125130 University of Reading 2554 January 2018

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Keble College, Oxford 2400 University of Reading 2405 January 2018

The 2017 series was won by Keble College, Oxford whose team of Paul Johnson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Katy Brand and Anne-Marie Imafidon beat the University of Reading and their team of Anna Machin, Martin Hughes-Games, Sophie Walker and Pippa Greenwood.

2018 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Brasenose College, Oxford 100150 University of Bristol 25024 December 2018
University of Westminster 130100 University of East Anglia 23025 December 2018
Pembroke College, Cambridge 85150 King's College London 23526 December 2018
St Catherine's College, Oxford 130135 Peterhouse, Cambridge 26527 December 2018
University of Exeter 11085 University of Birmingham 19528 December 2018
University of Sheffield 90115 University of Manchester 20531 December 2018
University of Edinburgh 120160 London School of Economics 2801 January 2019

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Bristol 205100 King's College London 3052 January 2019
Peterhouse, Cambridge 21560 London School of Economics 2753 January 2019

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Bristol 125190 Peterhouse, Cambridge 3154 January 2019

The 2018 series was won by Peterhouse, Cambridge whose team of Dan Mazer, Mark Horton, Michael Howard and Michael Axworthy beat the University of Bristol and their team of Philip Ball, Laura Wade, Misha Glenny and Iain Stewart.

2019 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Leeds 20555 Clare College, Cambridge 26023 December 2019
Birmingham City University 75160 Wadham College, Oxford 23524 December 2019
Guildhall School of Music and Drama 120165 University College London 28525 December 2019
University of Liverpool 75150 University of Hull 22526 December 2019
Royal Holloway, University of London 70130 University of Sussex 20027 December 2019
Trinity Hall, Cambridge 18085 St Peter's College, Oxford 26530 December 2019
University of Warwick 80115 Imperial College London 19531 December 2019

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Trinity Hall, Cambridge 25215 Wadham College, Oxford 2401 January 2020
University of Leeds 20545 University College London 2502 January 2020

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Wadham College, Oxford 130235 University of Leeds 3653 January 2020

The 2019 series was won by the University of Leeds whose team of Jonathan Clements, Henry Gee, Richard Coles and Timothy Allen beat Wadham College, Oxford and their team of Jonathan Freedland, Tom Solomon, Anne McElvoy and Roger Mosey.

2020 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Christ's College, Cambridge 50180 St John's College, Oxford 23021 December 2020
University of Manchester 17530 Queen's University Belfast 20522 December 2020
The Courtauld Institute of Art 150100 Goldsmiths, University of London 25023 December 2020
University of Nottingham 14570 University of Sheffield 21524 December 2020
University of Central Lancashire 60170 Loughborough University 23026 December 2020
Durham University 9065 Downing College, Cambridge 15528 December 2020
New College, Oxford 11060 University of Reading 17029 December 2020

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
St John's College, Oxford 135180 The Courtauld Institute of Art 31530 December 2020
University of Manchester 14070 Loughborough University 21031 December 2020

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
The Courtauld Institute of Art 15090 University of Manchester 2401 January 2021

The 2020 series was won by The Courtauld Institute of Art whose team of Tim Marlow, Lavinia Greenlaw, Jacky Klein and Jeremy Deller beat the University of Manchester and their team of David Nott, Juliet Jacques, Adrian Edmondson and Justin Edwards.

2021 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Edinburgh 160125 University of Leicester 28520 December 2021
University of Winchester 95130 University of Bradford 22521 December 2021
University of Bristol 95125 King's College, Cambridge 22022 December 2021
London School of Economics 75130 Hertford College, Oxford 20523 December 2021
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge 130145 St Anne's College, Oxford 27524 December 2021
Birkbeck, University of London 12530 University of Portsmouth 15527 December 2021
University of Kent 11595 Goldsmiths, University of London 21028 December 2021

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Edinburgh 145125 University of Bradford 27029 December 2021
Hertford College, Oxford 15595 St Anne's College, Oxford 25030 December 2021

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Edinburgh 23595 Hertford College, Oxford 33031 December 2021

The 2021 series was won by the University of Edinburgh whose team of Catherine Slessor, Thomasina Miers, Miles Jupp and Phil Swanson beat Hertford College, Oxford and their team of Soweto Kinch, Elizabeth Norton, Adam Fleming and Isabelle Westbury.

2022 results

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
SOAS University of London 75155 Balliol College, Oxford 23019 December 2022
University College, Oxford 75110 University of Glasgow 19520 December 2022
Durham University 45200 University of York 24521 December 2022
Exeter College, Oxford 15070 Queen Mary University of London 22022 December 2022
University of Hull 13535 University of the West of England 17023 December 2022
University College London 85115 University of Aberdeen 20026 December 2022
University of Bristol 125105 Cardiff University 23027 December 2022

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of York 100155 University of Hull 25528 December 2022
Balliol College, Oxford 215125 Exeter College, Oxford 34029 December 2022

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Hull 70165 Balliol College, Oxford 23530 December 2022

The 2022 series was won by Balliol College, Oxford whose team of Elizabeth Kiss, Andrew Copson, Martin Edwards and Martin O’Neill beat the University of Hull and their team of Katharine Norbury, James Graham, [a] Sian Reese-Williams and Graeme Hall. This was the last Christmas special to be hosted by Jeremy Paxman after 11 years.

  1. ↑ As the opening weekend of Graham's musical Tammy Faye clashed with the recording of the Final, Sarah Peverley took his place.

2023 results

There were only six first-round matches due to one episode being removed. This was after complaints were received from two contestants who felt their accessibility requirements were not met during filming. [1] Neither the contestants nor their institution have been named, other than being colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. The rest of the series was broadcast as normal.

First Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
King's College London 155120 City, University of London 27518 December 2023
Royal Holloway, University of London 17095 University of East Anglia 26519 December 2023
University of Dundee 75185 Bangor University 26020 December 2023
Corpus Christi College, Oxford 26580 University of Edinburgh 34521 December 2023
Imperial College London 11080 University of Liverpool 19022 December 2023
Middlesex University 175115 University of Leeds 29026 December 2023

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Royal Holloway, University of London 160180 Corpus Christi College, Oxford 34027 December 2023
Bangor University 85195 Middlesex University 28028 December 2023

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Corpus Christi College, Oxford 80175 Middlesex University 25529 December 2023

The winning Middlesex University team consisted of David Heathcote, Lola Young, Heather Phillipson [a] and David Hepworth, who beat Corpus Christi College, Oxford and their team of Francesca Happé, Michael Cockerell, Alex Bellos and Steve Waters.

  1. ↑ Originally Dan Renton Skinner was the team captain, but he was unable to make the recordings of the semi-finals/final, so Heather Phillipson took over as captain, and David Heathcote took his place as a team member.

2024 results

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Warwick 35265 Durham University 30023 December 2024
Worcester College, Oxford 155105 University of Bristol 26024 December 2024
Manchester Metropolitan University 110135 University of Brighton 24526 December 2024
Leeds Trinity University 100115 University of Nottingham 21527 December 2024
University of Southampton 125150 Churchill College, Cambridge 27529 December 2024
Emmanuel College, Cambridge 95175 Queens' College, Cambridge 27030 December 2024
University of St Andrews 13065 London School of Economics 19531 December 2024

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Durham University 12085 Worcester College, Oxford 2051 January 2025
Churchill College, Cambridge 95105 Queens' College, Cambridge 2002 January 2025

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Durham University 125120 Queens' College, Cambridge 2453 January 2025

Snatching victory on the final starter-for-ten, the winning Durham University team consisted of Liz James, Tracey MacLeod, Carla Denyer, and Sophia Smith Galer, who beat the Queens' College, Cambridge team of John Zarnecki, Stephanie Merritt, Jenny Kleeman and Richard K. Morgan.

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References

  1. ↑ "University Challenge: Christmas episode axed after ableism complaints". BBC News. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
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