University Challenge 2020–21

Last updated

The 50th series of University Challenge began on 13 July 2020 on BBC Two and ended on 5 April 2021. [1] It was won by the University of Warwick for the institution's second title. [2] [3]

Contents

COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, University Challenge took a six-month hiatus from filming episodes. Recording resumed with the highest scoring losers play-offs, with contestants now separated by perspex screens and wearing ear-pieces to allow them to hear their teammates. The show also relaxed the rule that banned students from competing if they completed their degree during the recording of the series. [4] [3]

The University of Manchester and three Oxford colleges – Merton, Balliol and Corpus Christi – all fielded reserves when filming resumed.[ citation needed ]

There were no debutant institutions in this series, with all institutions having appeared at least once previously. However this was only the second appearance of the Royal Academy of Music, having last been seen back in 1999.

Results

First round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Glasgow 200145 University of Exeter 34513 July 2020
University of Leicester 125180 Durham University 30520 July 2020
Linacre College, Oxford 140210 The Open University 35027 July 2020
Imperial College London 155190 University of Strathclyde 3453 August 2020
University of Reading 50295 Birkbeck, University of London 34510 August 2020
Balliol College, Oxford 150135 Clare College, Cambridge 28517 August 2020
University of Bristol 135175 Corpus Christi College, Oxford 31024 August 2020
Darwin College, Cambridge 90255 University of St Andrews 34531 August 2020
University of York 100170 King's College London 2707 September 2020
Merton College, Oxford 21040 Wolfson College, Cambridge 25014 September 2020
Royal Academy of Music 50220 St John's College, Cambridge 27021 September 2020
University of Warwick 255105 Wolfson College, Oxford 36028 September 2020
University of Edinburgh 155200 University of Manchester 3555 October 2020
Magdalene College, Cambridge 170130 University College, Oxford 30012 October 2020

Highest scoring losers play-offs

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Imperial College London 160155 University of Exeter 31519 October 2020
Linacre College, Oxford 125155 University of Edinburgh 28026 October 2020

Second round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Imperial College London 18090 University of St Andrews 2702 November 2020
University of Manchester 100135 University of Strathclyde 2359 November 2020
Merton College, Oxford 90190 University of Warwick 28016 November 2020
University of Edinburgh 145165 Durham University 31023 November 2020
St John's College, Cambridge 155200 Balliol College, Oxford 35530 November 2020
University of Glasgow 90175 King's College London 2657 December 2020
Corpus Christi College, Oxford 115185 Magdalene College, Cambridge 30014 December 2020
The Open University 95205 Birkbeck, University of London 3004 January 2021

Quarterfinals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Magdalene College, Cambridge 240140 Birkbeck, University of London 38011 January 2021
Balliol College, Oxford 14595 King's College London 24018 January 2021
University of Strathclyde 115155 Durham University 27025 January 2021
Imperial College London 120200 University of Warwick 3201 February 2021
Magdalene College, Cambridge 160200 University of Warwick 3608 February 2021
King's College London 95265 Imperial College London 36015 February 2021
Balliol College, Oxford 17575 Durham University 25022 February 2021
Birkbeck, University of London 105135 University of Strathclyde 2401 March 2021
Imperial College London 200100 Durham University 3008 March 2021
Magdalene College, Cambridge 185125 University of Strathclyde 31015 March 2021

Semifinals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Imperial College London 135160 University of Warwick 29522 March 2021
Magdalene College, Cambridge 27050 Balliol College, Oxford 32029 March 2021

Final

Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Warwick 195140 Magdalene College, Cambridge 3355 April 2021

Spin-off: Christmas Special 2020

First round

Each year, a Christmas special sequence is aired featuring distinguished alumni. Out of 7 first-round winners, the top 4 highest-scoring teams progress to the semi-finals. The teams consist of celebrities who represent their alma maters.

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

Standings for the winners

RankTeamTeam captainScore
1 St John's College, Oxford John Lanchester 180
2 University of Manchester Ade Edmondson 175
3 Loughborough University Kate Fox 170
4 The Courtauld Institute of Art Jacky Klein 150
5 University of Nottingham Levison Wood 145
6 New College, Oxford Lucy Cooke 110
7 Durham University Sarah Keith-Lucas 90

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 winning The Courtauld Institute of Art team of Tim Marlow, Lavinia Greenlaw, Jacky Klein and Jeremy Deller beat the University of Manchester team of David Nott, Juliet Jacques, Ade Edmondson and Justin Edwards.

References

  1. "University Challenge Series 27, Episode 1". BBC Online . Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. Gaskell, Jacob (5 April 2021). "Magdalene College, Cambridge defeated by Warwick in the University Challenge Grand Final". thetab.com. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rich, Caleb (6 April 2021). "'No group hugs!': the University Challenge final – reviewed by last year's winner". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. "University Challenge Series 27, Episode 15". BBC Online . Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.