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Christmas University Challenge
GenreQuiz show
Presented byJeremy Paxman (2011–2022)
Amol Rajan (2023–)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series10
Production
Production locationsGranada Studios (2011–2012)
MediaCityUK (2013–)
Running time30 minutes
Production companyGranada Television
Original release
NetworkBBC 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 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.

From December 2023 onwards, Amol Rajan took over from Jeremy Paxman as host of the Christmas version of the long-running student quiz. The current holders are Middlesex University.

Series

2011

2011 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of York 120 125 University of Manchester 245 19 December 2011
Durham University 60 135 University of Edinburgh 195 20 December 2011
Magdalen College, Oxford 130 85 University College London 215 21 December 2011
University of Warwick 225 50 University of Sheffield 275 22 December 2011
Trinity College, Cambridge 225 80 University of St Andrews 305 24 December 2011

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Edinburgh 35 265 University of Warwick 300 25 December 2011
Magdalen College, Oxford 105 160 Trinity College, Cambridge 265 26 December 2011

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Warwick 60 235 Trinity College, Cambridge 280 27 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

2012 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Bristol 135 140 University of Leeds 275 17 December 2012
Newcastle University 120 110 Loughborough University 230 18 December 2012
New College, Oxford 240 160 London School of Economics 400 19 December 2012
University of Liverpool 165 140 Cardiff University 305 20 December 2012
Newnham College, Cambridge 155 110 University of Nottingham 265 21 December 2012
University of Exeter 125 165 University of Glasgow 290 31 December 2012
University of Birmingham 115 195 University of East Anglia 310 1 January 2013

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
New College, Oxford 220 125 University of Liverpool 345 2 January 2013
University of Glasgow 115 150 University of East Anglia 265 3 January 2013

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
New College, Oxford 205 110 University of East Anglia 315 4 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

2013 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Reading 85 185 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 270 20 December 2013
University of Kent 100 160 Lancaster University 260 21 December 2013
Keele University 140 95 Aberystwyth University 235 23 December 2013
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 255 65 Christ Church, Oxford 320 26 December 2013
St Hugh's College, Oxford 125 95 University of Stirling 220 27 December 2013
University of Leicester 125 60 University of Sussex 185 30 December 2013
King's College London 105 185 University of Southampton 290 31 December 2013

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Emmanuel College, Cambridge 185 105 University of Southampton 290 1 January 2014
Lancaster University 145 180 Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 325 2 January 2014

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Emmanuel College, Cambridge 140 175 Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 315 3 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

2014 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford 195 45 University of Warwick 240 20 December 2014
University of Hull 205 25 Newcastle University 230 23 December 2014
King's College, Cambridge 160 150 Royal Holloway, University of London 310 24 December 2014
University of Edinburgh 235 45 University of Leeds 280 25 December 2014
Trinity Hall, Cambridge 195 120 Balliol College, Oxford 315 26 December 2014
University of York 135 110 University of Surrey 245 29 December 2014
Manchester Metropolitan University 145 75 Goldsmiths, University of London 220 30 December 2014

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford 145 175 University of Hull 320 31 December 2014
University of Edinburgh 135 165 Trinity Hall, Cambridge 300 1 January 2015

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Hull 65 215 Trinity Hall, Cambridge 280 2 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

2015 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University College London 155 80 University of Birmingham 235 20 December 2015
Oriel College, Oxford 135 140 Trinity College, Cambridge 275 21 December 2015
University of Manchester 195 35 University of East Anglia 230 22 December 2015
Christ's College, Cambridge 90 140 University of Essex 230 23 December 2015
University of Exeter 130 220 Magdalen College, Oxford 350 24 December 2015
University of Aberdeen 90 185 University of Sheffield 275 28 December 2015
Durham University 140 130 London School of Economics 270 29 December 2015

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Manchester 105 160 University of Sheffield 265 30 December 2015
University College London 100 195 Magdalen College, Oxford 295 31 December 2015

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Sheffield 60 230 Magdalen College, Oxford 290 1 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

2016 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Manchester 55 185 St Anne's College, Oxford 240 19 December 2016
University of Kent 245 35 University of Sussex 280 20 December 2016
City, University of London 145 35 Newcastle University 180 21 December 2016
SOAS University of London 85 175 University of Leeds 260 22 December 2016
University of Edinburgh 115 60 St Catharine's College, Cambridge 175 23 December 2016
Magdalene College, Cambridge 65 225 St Hilda's College, Oxford 290 25 December 2016
University of Bristol 70 75 University of Nottingham 145 26 December 2016

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Kent 130 140 University of Leeds 270 27 December 2016
St Anne's College, Oxford 75 165 St Hilda's College, Oxford 240 28 December 2016

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Leeds 55 160 St Hilda's College, Oxford 215 29 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

2017 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Durham University 35 220 Keble College, Oxford 255 24 December 2017
Selwyn College, Cambridge 145 90 University of St Andrews 235 26 December 2017
York University 70 150 University of Southampton 220 27 December 2017
University of Leicester 45 175 University College London 220 28 December 2017
St John's College, Cambridge 155 40 St Edmund Hall, Oxford 195 29 December 2017
Queen Mary University of London 110 60 Cardiff University 170 1 January 2018
Brunel University London 45 155 University of Reading 200 2 January 2018

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Keble College, Oxford 160 105 St John's College, Cambridge 265 3 January 2018
University College London 125 130 University of Reading 255 4 January 2018

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Keble College, Oxford 240 0 University of Reading 240 5 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

2018 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Brasenose College, Oxford 100 150 University of Bristol 250 24 December 2018
University of Westminster 130 100 University of East Anglia 230 25 December 2018
Pembroke College, Cambridge 85 150 King's College London 235 26 December 2018
St Catherine's College, Oxford 130 135 Peterhouse, Cambridge 265 27 December 2018
University of Exeter 110 85 University of Birmingham 195 28 December 2018
University of Sheffield 90 115 University of Manchester 205 31 December 2018
University of Edinburgh 120 160 London School of Economics 280 1 January 2019

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Bristol 205 100 King's College London 305 2 January 2019
Peterhouse, Cambridge 215 60 London School of Economics 275 3 January 2019

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Bristol 125 190 Peterhouse, Cambridge 315 4 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

2019 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Leeds 205 55 Clare College, Cambridge 260 23 December 2019
Birmingham City University 75 160 Wadham College, Oxford 235 24 December 2019
Guildhall School of Music and Drama 120 165 University College London 285 25 December 2019
University of Liverpool 75 150 University of Hull 225 26 December 2019
Royal Holloway, University of London 70 130 University of Sussex 200 27 December 2019
Trinity Hall, Cambridge 180 85 St Peter's College, Oxford 265 30 December 2019
University of Warwick 80 115 Imperial College London 195 31 December 2019

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Trinity Hall, Cambridge 25 215 Wadham College, Oxford 240 1 January 2020
University of Leeds 205 45 University College London 250 2 January 2020

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Wadham College, Oxford 130 235 University of Leeds 365 3 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

2020 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Christ's College, Cambridge 50 180 St John's College, Oxford 230 21 December 2020
University of Manchester 175 30 Queen's University Belfast 205 22 December 2020
The Courtauld Institute of Art 150 100 Goldsmiths, University of London 250 23 December 2020
University of Nottingham 145 70 University of Sheffield 215 24 December 2020
University of Central Lancashire 60 170 Loughborough University 230 26 December 2020
Durham University 90 65 Downing College, Cambridge 155 28 December 2020
New College, Oxford 110 60 University of Reading 170 29 December 2020

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
St John's College, Oxford 135 180 The Courtauld Institute of Art 315 30 December 2020
University of Manchester 140 70 Loughborough University 210 31 December 2020

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
The Courtauld Institute of Art 150 90 University of Manchester 240 1 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

2021 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Edinburgh 160 125 University of Leicester 285 20 December 2021
University of Winchester 95 130 University of Bradford 225 21 December 2021
University of Bristol 95 125 King's College, Cambridge 220 22 December 2021
London School of Economics 75 130 Hertford College, Oxford 205 23 December 2021
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge 130 145 St Anne's College, Oxford 275 24 December 2021
Birkbeck, University of London 125 30 University of Portsmouth 155 27 December 2021
University of Kent 115 95 Goldsmiths, University of London 210 28 December 2021

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Edinburgh 145 125 University of Bradford 270 29 December 2021
Hertford College, Oxford 155 95 St Anne's College, Oxford 250 30 December 2021

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Edinburgh 235 95 Hertford College, Oxford 330 31 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

2022 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
SOAS University of London 75 155 Balliol College, Oxford 230 19 December 2022
University College, Oxford 75 110 University of Glasgow 195 20 December 2022
Durham University 45 200 University of York 245 21 December 2022
Exeter College, Oxford 150 70 Queen Mary University of London 220 22 December 2022
University of Hull 135 35 University of the West of England 170 23 December 2022
University College London 85 115 University of Aberdeen 200 26 December 2022
University of Bristol 125 105 Cardiff University 230 27 December 2022

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of York 100 155 University of Hull 255 28 December 2022
Balliol College, Oxford 215 125 Exeter College, Oxford 340 29 December 2022

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
University of Hull 70 165 Balliol College, Oxford 235 30 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

This year, there were only 6 first-round matches due to one episode being removed. This was after complaints were received from two contestants where they felt their accessibility requirements were not met during filming.[1] The contestants have not been named nor their institution other than being colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. The rest of the series was broadcast as normal.

2023 results

First Round

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
King's College London 155 120 City, University of London 275 18 December 2023
Royal Holloway, University of London 170 95 University of East Anglia 265 19 December 2023
University of Dundee 75 185 Bangor University 260 20 December 2023
Corpus Christi College, Oxford 265 80 University of Edinburgh 345 21 December 2023
Imperial College London 110 80 University of Liverpool 190 22 December 2023
Middlesex University 175 115 University of Leeds 290 26 December 2023

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Royal Holloway, University of London 160 180 Corpus Christi College, Oxford 340 27 December 2023
Bangor University 85 195 Middlesex University 280 28 December 2023

Final

Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Corpus Christi College, Oxford 80 175 Middlesex University 255 29 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 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.

References

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

External links

University Challenge
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