University of Leeds to Make a Comeback on University Challenge After 13-Year Hiatus
A University of Leeds team is making a long-awaited return to a classic student quiz show.
For the first time in 13 years, the University will be represented in this year’s televised rounds of University Challenge.
In an episode to be broadcast at 8.30pm tonight, the Leeds team take on their counterparts from Edinburgh.
The team is captained by Alexander Tan (BSc Computer Science), who is joined by Finn Thompson (LLB Law), Jayan Patel (MSc Mechatronics and Robotics) and Ingrid Marvin (PhD Media and Communications) with Callum Ormerod (MPhys Physics) as reserve.
I’m looking forward to seeing them put their skills and knowledge to the test on one of the UK’s toughest and long-running TV quiz shows.
Professor Jeff Grabill, University of Leeds
Before this year, the most recent appearance from Leeds came in the 2011/12 series, when the team defeated Goldsmiths, London before bowing out to Clare College, Cambridge in round two.
Leeds’ best performance came in reaching the semi-finals of the 2002/03 series, losing to Cranfield, although our alumni team was triumphant in the 2019 Christmas special.
The University competed in the first ever televised episode of University Challenge in 1962.
The show will be broadcast in the Old Bar at Leeds University Union (LUU). An LUU spokesperson said: “The students and the staff at Leeds University Union are excited to tune in to University Challenge on Monday evening.
“After a competitive qualifying process, we know the team is very proud to be representing the University of Leeds on the television broadcast. We wish them the best of luck.”
Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education at the University of Leeds, said: “Congratulations to our team of students for making it through to the series. I’m looking forward to seeing them put their skills and knowledge to the test on one of the UK’s toughest and long-running TV quiz shows. We’ll all be rooting for them!”
The first-round match will be aired on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer at 8.30pm.