0:00:03 > 0:00:05University Challenge
0:00:05 > 0:00:06has been baffling students
0:00:06 > 0:00:10and delighting audiences for the past 52 years.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Hello and welcome again...
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Over 43 series, more than 1,000 teams have gone
0:00:15 > 0:00:19head-to-head in a bid to be crowned the brightest scholars in Britain.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Trinity, you're the champions.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24For the first time in the programme's history, we followed
0:00:24 > 0:00:27the journey of the students from initial team selection...
0:00:27 > 0:00:30And the captain of our team is James Gerbrandt.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33..to the moment they walk onto the iconic studio floor.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37- Fingers on the buzzers. - Here's the first starter for ten.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41Each year, only 28 teams qualify to compete in the televised series
0:00:41 > 0:00:44and tonight we'll be finding out which institutions have
0:00:44 > 0:00:46what it takes to make the grade...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48It's sort of the calm before the storm, I guess.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Obviously, there's quite a lot of nerves there.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54..and become the University Challenge class of 2014.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56PHONE RINGS
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- Oh, here we go.- Oh, my God! Wah!
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Guys!
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Last time, we followed over 130 teams on their mission to secure
0:01:05 > 0:01:09a coveted place in this year's series of University Challenge.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13- They formed their strongest squad... - ALL: Jeremy!
0:01:13 > 0:01:16..honed their quizzing skills
0:01:16 > 0:01:19and endured a tough audition hoping to impress the producers,
0:01:19 > 0:01:24to bag one of those 28 places in the class of 2014.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Pens down, if you will.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28- Tonight, we'll find out which teams have succeeded... - PHONE RINGS
0:01:28 > 0:01:30..and who will have to wait for another year.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Oh, my goodness!
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Yes!
0:01:34 > 0:01:35High-five time!
0:01:35 > 0:01:39We'll lift the lid on how teams train to become match fit...
0:01:39 > 0:01:40Buzz! Cheap?
0:01:40 > 0:01:43- Mate!- I don't know! You looked at me like I was supposed to know!
0:01:43 > 0:01:46..reveal the face that goes with the voice of University Challenge...
0:01:46 > 0:01:48I don't think people realise that
0:01:48 > 0:01:50the voice-overs are done live in the studio.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53I think they probably reckon it's edited in afterwards.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Trinity, Drnovsek Zorko.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59..and we uncover the man behind the myth that is Mr Jeremy Paxman.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Oh, my God - there he is, there he is!
0:02:01 > 0:02:03(Do you have any answers?)
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Do you know, I have!
0:02:05 > 0:02:07But I'm not going to give them to you now!
0:02:07 > 0:02:11I hadn't realised just how low and smoky Paxo's voice is.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13I was very impressed!
0:02:13 > 0:02:15It's so low and hot chocolaty!
0:02:19 > 0:02:22After a three-week audition tour, travelling to eight cities
0:02:22 > 0:02:26and meeting over 130 teams, it's decision day
0:02:26 > 0:02:29for the University Challenge production team.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31They have the gruelling task of casting
0:02:31 > 0:02:35just 28 institutions to represent the nation's student population.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38The producers have a casting system that takes into account
0:02:38 > 0:02:40a number of criteria.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43We've put all our applications into categories.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47We then concentrate on the teams that have scored best.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49We give teams a grade - A, B, C, D,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52depending on how well they did in their score
0:02:52 > 0:02:53and also a combination of that
0:02:53 > 0:02:55with how they came across in their interview with us.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59So we have a rough threshold below which
0:02:59 > 0:03:02we pretty much automatically discount a fair number of teams
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and we'll lose a good 60 or so teams because of that.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11They've got a good score, but is it good enough?
0:03:11 > 0:03:13We've got to lose one of these, haven't we?
0:03:13 > 0:03:16With a score like that, it's just a bit too low for us
0:03:16 > 0:03:17to consider them, really.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- Now, that's a good score.- Yeah.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- Agreed? BOTH:- Yeah. - There we go.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30This is our final 28, guys. This is Series 21.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33It's going to be a pretty damn good series.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38And so the time has come.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Students from over 130 institutions across the nation eagerly await
0:03:42 > 0:03:44the production team's decision.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Have they made the grade
0:03:46 > 0:03:50and gained a coveted place on University Challenge?
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Only time will tell and the nerves
0:03:53 > 0:03:55are starting to show.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Don't say anything disparaging!
0:04:00 > 0:04:03I'm feeling a bit nervous and apprehensive about things,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07but hopefully...we'll do well.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09It's sort of the calm before the storm, I guess.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11There's quite a lot of nerves there.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Very, very nervous.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I can't take the pressure.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Last year, the interview seemed to go much better than this year
0:04:18 > 0:04:20and we didn't get through, so I'm...
0:04:20 > 0:04:22quietly confident,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24but I don't know really how to gauge it!
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Our chances of making it on are pretty high, I think!
0:04:30 > 0:04:32My mum, though, is incredibly stressed and tense...
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- Oh!- She phones me up and Skypes me like, every day,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37saying, "Have you heard yet? Have you heard?"
0:04:37 > 0:04:41A lot of the students have wanted to be in the show for years
0:04:41 > 0:04:43and are just so excited
0:04:43 > 0:04:46to get on and represent their University on Uni Challenge.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48It's an absolute privilege to work on a show
0:04:48 > 0:04:49that garners that reaction.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55One of the teams awaiting their fate is Trinity College, Cambridge.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Home to over 1,000 students,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Trinity is the largest of the Cambridge colleges.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04They have been University Challenge series winners on three occasions
0:05:04 > 0:05:06and are the current holders of the trophy.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Trinity, you're the champions, well done.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16So the pressure is on this year's team to defend their title.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20First up, third-year physicist Matthew Willetts,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23mathematician, Michael Dunkirchen,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27their captain, chemistry student Hugh Bennett,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30fourth-year classicist Claire Hall
0:05:30 > 0:05:32and mathematics student Aled Walker.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39And so the team gather together to await the all-important phone call.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43The nice thing is, on the test that we did, if any individual
0:05:43 > 0:05:45member of the team gets the answer right,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48it counts as the team getting it right, and there were quite a few
0:05:48 > 0:05:51times throughout when I thought, "This is a really good system!"
0:05:51 > 0:05:54"I'm not going to get this question, but someone else will. It'll be fine."
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Anyone know any good jokes?
0:05:57 > 0:05:59NERVOUS LAUGHTER
0:06:00 > 0:06:03PHONE RINGS
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- Hello?- 'Hello, Hugh?'- Hi, hello.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Hi, it's Olivia calling from University Challenge.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13'All I want to start off by saying is we have seen around 130 teams
0:06:13 > 0:06:15'whilst we were away on tour
0:06:15 > 0:06:19'and the calibre for this series was especially high,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22'it was really above and beyond what we could have thought.'
0:06:22 > 0:06:25In this instance, guys, I just want to say...
0:06:25 > 0:06:28X Factor pause...
0:06:30 > 0:06:31'Congratulations to all of you,
0:06:31 > 0:06:35- 'because you've made it onto the show, well done!'- Oh, great!
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Fantastic! That's great news.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40'I'm glad that you're pleased.'
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Yeah! That's brilliant, yeah. Thanks so much.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46It's been a pleasure, we're looking forward to it. Thanks.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- Thanks, OK. Bye.- 'All right, Hugh, bye!'- Bye!
0:06:50 > 0:06:53The first 20 seconds were really emotionally manipulative,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56like, "The quality of teams was very high...
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- "We had a great time talking to you..."- We were just, like...
0:07:00 > 0:07:02"No, no, no, we're out..."
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Well, we're thrilled about that, yeah.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10So Trinity have achieved their goal and are set to defend their title.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13What does all this good news actually mean for the students?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15What have they got to look forward to
0:07:15 > 0:07:17with their appearance on the show?
0:07:17 > 0:07:19- Come ON!- Sorry!
0:07:20 > 0:07:24For many, this experience will be the start of lifelong friendships.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26We didn't know each other beforehand,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29I don't think we'd have met if it weren't for University Challenge,
0:07:29 > 0:07:30but we got on well, we had a great time.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34Quite a lot of our families came and watched us, friends and family,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37so all our friends and family got to know each other, too.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40We're still in touch now, which is really nice.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It was fun. It was really fun
0:07:43 > 0:07:46and I really did enjoy to represent my university at something I love.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53You just become friends, you know. They're my friends now.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56We go out to the pubs in the week
0:07:56 > 0:08:00and go and do a pub quiz every now and then, maybe. But... Yeah.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Now, it's time for Sheffield,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Sussex, London School of Economics and Political Science,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10the Courtauld Institute of Art
0:08:10 > 0:08:13and Pembroke College, Cambridge to learn their fate.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Ohhh! Ooh!
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- Hello, there - is that James? - Hi, yeah.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Hi, Jonathan, it's Clare here, from University Challenge.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We've been making our decisions over the last week or so...
0:08:24 > 0:08:27So first of all, I want to start off by saying
0:08:27 > 0:08:30'it was an absolute pleasure meeting you.'
0:08:30 > 0:08:31'We've seen a huge number of teams
0:08:31 > 0:08:34'and the standard's been really high this year.'
0:08:34 > 0:08:37It was very difficult for us to get it down to just 28.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41In this instance, I just want to say a massive congratulations...
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Oh!
0:08:44 > 0:08:45That was so mean!
0:08:48 > 0:08:51I'm very pleased to be able to tell you that we would like to have
0:08:51 > 0:08:52Sussex on the show this series!
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- Really?- Yes, really!- Oh, wow! OK!
0:08:56 > 0:08:58'We'd love to have you'
0:08:58 > 0:08:59on the show this series.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Oh, wow - that's great news, thank you very much!
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Oh, my goodness!
0:09:04 > 0:09:05Oh, wow!
0:09:05 > 0:09:09- We're on the show?- 'Yes!'- No!
0:09:09 > 0:09:12We're on! Are you being serious?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14- Are you sure you got that right, yes?- 'I'm positive.'
0:09:14 > 0:09:16I'm sorry, I'm shocked!
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I've watched the show from when I was about five or six,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25I've always wanted to participate.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Wow. I wasn't expecting that!
0:09:28 > 0:09:30We're on!
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- You should have been cooler about it!- I can't be cool!
0:09:32 > 0:09:36"Whatever. Always knew I'd be on."
0:09:36 > 0:09:38HIGH-PITCHED: That's exciting!
0:09:41 > 0:09:44For third-year medical student Carl Lam, it's been a long journey
0:09:44 > 0:09:46since he single-handedly put together
0:09:46 > 0:09:50the Churchill College, Cambridge team and now it's time to find out
0:09:50 > 0:09:53if all the hard work has paid off.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Shameful!
0:09:55 > 0:09:56Pretty nervous,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59but it won't be the end of the world if we don't make it.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02It WILL be the end of the world if we don't make it!
0:10:02 > 0:10:05We HAVE to get through, basically!
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Just get in the first round. I don't think we have aspirations to win...
0:10:10 > 0:10:13LINE RINGS
0:10:13 > 0:10:15- PHONE RINGS - OK, phone call.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17'I'm just ringing with the outcome'
0:10:17 > 0:10:19of the application process.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22As you know, we saw a huge number of teams this year,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25'I think we saw well over 130. Your application'
0:10:25 > 0:10:27was strong. We really enjoyed the interview with you
0:10:27 > 0:10:30and you did score well on the test, but unfortunately,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32'the standard this year in Cambridge was just so high
0:10:32 > 0:10:35'that you guys missed the cut, I'm afraid. I'm very sorry.'
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Thank you, no problem at all.
0:10:36 > 0:10:37- 'Thank you. Bye.'- OK, bye.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41That's a tough phone call to make.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Oh, well. Better luck.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48We tried our best. Fair enough, the competition was really high.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51I don't think our expectations were too high, so...
0:10:51 > 0:10:53No, you haven't seen the last of Churchill!
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- Back again next year, guys. - Sounds good.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58So, it's disappointing news for Churchill College, Cambridge,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00but at the other end of the country,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04is the metaphorical sun shining on the University of Manchester?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11It's the largest single-site institution in the UK
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and their previous teams are joint championship title holders
0:11:14 > 0:11:16with Magdalen College, Oxford,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19winning the series an incredible four times.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25This year's team consists of team captain John Radcliffe
0:11:25 > 0:11:27studying chemical engineering.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Charlie Rowlands a first-year genetics
0:11:30 > 0:11:31and Chinese language student.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35Edmund Chapman, currently reading a PhD in literature.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Mhairi Hindle, third-year chemistry student.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42And Matt Stallard, a PhD student reading American studies.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45The team has been put together by an ex-contestant turned coach,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Stephen Pearson, who has been prepping
0:11:47 > 0:11:51the Manchester University entries for the last 16 years.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54It IS Switzerland, yes, for ten points.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Known fondly as the Alex Ferguson of University Challenge,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Stephen's gathered a few of his previous squads as moral support
0:12:01 > 0:12:03as this year's team await their fate.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05OK, everyone - come on.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08We've got previous team members here,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12so hopefully they're rooting for us!
0:12:12 > 0:12:15They want us to get on and maybe somehow that will affect
0:12:15 > 0:12:16the outcome...
0:12:16 > 0:12:19But if we don't get on, they'll just find it really funny!
0:12:19 > 0:12:21They're happy either way, really, I'm sure!
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Being that Manchester have done pretty well on it in the past,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27I don't think that personally makes me feel any more confident.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I think it makes me feel more nervous,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31because we don't want to screw it up.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34We'd just have to walk around campus like this.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37There have been teams in the past which have been really good
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and haven't made it on, so I'm not counting my chickens until we know.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45I'm nervous. I didn't think I would be, but I am.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Obviously, I hope they get on.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48But you never know.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50LINE RINGS
0:12:50 > 0:12:53(Oh, hello.) Hello?
0:12:54 > 0:12:55- 'Hi, is that John?'- It is, hi.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58'Hi, John. It's Clare here from University Challenge. How are you?'
0:12:58 > 0:13:00I'm all right thanks, how are you?
0:13:00 > 0:13:01Not too bad, thank you.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03'I'm very glad to be able to tell you
0:13:03 > 0:13:06'that we would like to have Manchester on the show this year.'
0:13:06 > 0:13:07Awesome!
0:13:07 > 0:13:10CHEERING
0:13:10 > 0:13:14- Thank you very much, Clare. That's good news.- ALL: Wahey!
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Guys, hug time!- Aaah! - It's beautiful!
0:13:17 > 0:13:19'They do take it very seriously'
0:13:19 > 0:13:22at Manchester and it does show through in the teams.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Every year, they put through very strong teams
0:13:24 > 0:13:26and these guys were no exception.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28- Thing is, now we have to do the TV show.- Oh, yeah.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- I'd forgotten about that!- We actually have to be good, as well!
0:13:32 > 0:13:34So, you know, we should learn stuff!
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Yeah!
0:13:35 > 0:13:40The moment you discover you've achieved a place on University Challenge is a time to celebrate
0:13:40 > 0:13:41for every team...
0:13:41 > 0:13:44and so it makes for some ear-piercing phone calls.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47We haul the receiver away from our ears
0:13:47 > 0:13:50because there's generally a lot of screaming and shouting and cheering.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53- Yes!- Yes!
0:13:53 > 0:13:58THEY SCREAM/CHEER
0:13:58 > 0:13:59Oh, my goodness!
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- One of us is dancing!- Samba-ing!
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Sorry, we didn't hear anything you said after the "good news"!
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Oh, for goodness' sake!
0:14:13 > 0:14:16That was a pretty good reaction, wasn't it?
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- We need to practise buzzer stuff though, don't we?- We do!
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Like, "Glover, LSHT".
0:14:21 > 0:14:22Starter for ten!
0:14:26 > 0:14:29All institutions with university status are welcome to
0:14:29 > 0:14:31apply for the show.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34For the Open University, where their students work from home
0:14:34 > 0:14:36and are therefore spread across the entire UK,
0:14:36 > 0:14:40this task of putting together a team is particularly hard.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44Each individual application is fielded by Projects Officer for
0:14:44 > 0:14:47the Students' Association, Jessica Smith, who applies on their behalf.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50We're really hoping this year could be our year
0:14:50 > 0:14:54because the Open University won University Challenge in 1999,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but 15 years on, we still haven't had a team through to the
0:14:57 > 0:15:01televised rounds, so we're really hoping that this will be the year.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04And she's also the one who receives the call to say
0:15:04 > 0:15:07whether or not they've made it onto the show.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Here we go...
0:15:09 > 0:15:10PHONE RINGS
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Hello, Jessica speaking.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16We very much enjoyed the interview that we did with them and decided
0:15:16 > 0:15:20'that this year, we would like to put a team from the OU forward.'
0:15:20 > 0:15:21CHEERING
0:15:25 > 0:15:28That's been very well received, I hear!
0:15:28 > 0:15:33- Everyone's listening in the office! - 'Lovely to speak to you, Jessica.'
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Bye!
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- Told you!- Aaah!
0:15:37 > 0:15:39APPLAUSE
0:15:41 > 0:15:44How exciting! Wendy!
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- We've done it! - We knew this was our year!
0:15:48 > 0:15:51We had the feeling in our bones, didn't we?
0:15:51 > 0:15:53It's quite a lot of organisation,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56coordinating all those people from across the country.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59About 300 students put their names forward to start with
0:15:59 > 0:16:01and to get to these five, and for them
0:16:01 > 0:16:06to actually be through to the show, I can't quite believe it, really!
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Edinburgh University has made more appearances on the show than
0:16:12 > 0:16:15almost any other team, but have never bagged the championship title.
0:16:21 > 0:16:27Hoping that this will be their year are chemistry PhD student Thomas.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Team captain Alex Gapud, a PhD student in social anthropology.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Third-year chemistry undergraduate Innis Carson.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Joe Curran, reading for a PhD in economic and social history...
0:16:40 > 0:16:44and Nico Ovendon, reading a Masters in cultural studies.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49With each university, it's the captain who is told the news
0:16:49 > 0:16:52of the team's fate and Edinburgh is no exception.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55So, we got an e-mail from the producers saying that
0:16:55 > 0:16:59unfortunately, we didn't make the show, which is disappointing,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02but I'm trying to take the positives from it.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Part of my resolution and determination is to,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09in a couple of years' time, come back and not just win it all,
0:17:09 > 0:17:14but actually instil a culture here to Edinburgh where...
0:17:14 > 0:17:17we're the new Manchester, we're the new Magdalen College, Oxford
0:17:17 > 0:17:19and we're actually there to compete
0:17:19 > 0:17:24and to compete seriously as a very serious contender to win it all, every year.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27That's something that I hope to leave behind here.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28So it's bad news for Edinburgh,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31but they're determined to be back next year.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35At the end of the day, we did what we could and I don't think we embarrassed ourselves.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Certainly no regrets about going forward.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Didn't work out this time, but maybe in the future it will, so...
0:17:40 > 0:17:42I think sooner or later,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46the right team will come to just carry Edinburgh to the glory.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Back in the production office, the yeses are coming thick and fast.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56PHONE RINGS
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- Oh, here we go.- Oh, my God!- Guys!
0:17:59 > 0:18:05I just wanted to say congratulations, because you've made it onto the show! Well done.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06Excellent. Love her.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07That's excellent news!
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Congratulations, you're going to be on the next series of the show!
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- Aah!- Blimey!
0:18:14 > 0:18:16- Yes!- We're on!
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- That's pretty cool!- It is, yes!
0:18:22 > 0:18:24You've made five geeks very, very happy!
0:18:25 > 0:18:27High-five time!
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Well done, guys!
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Oh, my God...
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- Thought that was a fail!- My heart is racing!
0:18:43 > 0:18:46One institution desperate to gain a place on this year's series
0:18:46 > 0:18:48are Magdalen College, Oxford...
0:18:48 > 0:18:53four times University Challenge champions, with a lot to prove.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59This year's team hoping to continue the college's illustrious
0:18:59 > 0:19:01history are...
0:19:01 > 0:19:03third-year chemist Chris Savory.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09French and philosophy student, Cameron Quinn.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Captain and chemistry student Hugh Binnie.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Fourth-year classicist Harry Gillow.
0:19:16 > 0:19:17And Tom Mackenzie,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21reading a PhD in classical languages and literature.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25And knowing they have a lot to live up to, the team is starting
0:19:25 > 0:19:27to get nervous as they wait to hear the news.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33I thought we did quite well at the interview.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36But then, I thought we did quite well last year,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- and we didn't get on.- I thought I did terribly on that test.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43I think we're a strong team and that SHOULD be all that counts,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46but there are of course extenuating circumstances.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50The fact that we're all sort of white and middle-class and male...
0:19:50 > 0:19:52A bit boring!
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Currently, I have three signals. - That should be fine.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- No, four signals out of five. - Oh, wow - luxury.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01I thought my signals were only...
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Oh, no, now it's down to three signals out of five. How exciting.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07PHONE RINGS
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- Hello? Hello.- 'As you know,'
0:20:10 > 0:20:14we're getting to around that time where we're telling
0:20:14 > 0:20:18'people whether they're on or not and it's incredibly tight, but that just
0:20:18 > 0:20:22'makes it all the gladder for me to say that you're on the team this year...'
0:20:22 > 0:20:24We're going to be on?
0:20:24 > 0:20:26'You're going to be on, congratulations.'
0:20:26 > 0:20:29That's fantastic! Good news. Thanks for telling us.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31We'll do our best to represent Magdalen well.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Yeeeeeeeeeeah!
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Sh! Sh!
0:20:36 > 0:20:40- I guess we'd better start practising.- Yeah.- Nerve-racking.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE THEME PLAYS
0:20:42 > 0:20:45So, the 28 teams have received the welcome call to say they've
0:20:45 > 0:20:47secured a place on the show.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Now, the hard work really begins and on University Challenge,
0:20:51 > 0:20:56that means preparing for the toughest quiz in Britain.
0:20:56 > 0:21:01You probably can prepare an awful lot for the show, by practising.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03We were all people who were generally interested
0:21:03 > 0:21:04in doing quizzes.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06We'd done things like pub quizzes
0:21:06 > 0:21:07a little bit together.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Oxford has an intercollegiate quiz tournament with some battered
0:21:11 > 0:21:14old buzzers that they send around, so we'd done a little bit
0:21:14 > 0:21:17of that against teams from elsewhere in Oxford.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20The union had a quiz, I think every Sunday night and
0:21:20 > 0:21:24I think we went along to that once or twice and didn't do that well!
0:21:26 > 0:21:29This year's students are continuing the hard work
0:21:29 > 0:21:32of their predecessors, prepping for those killer questions.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Up in Scotland, the University of St Andrews are holding
0:21:39 > 0:21:41one of their regular practices in the common room.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43In terms of preparation for the show,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46the team...we've been practising going through questions,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50trying to emulate the studio environment as closely as possible.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53OK, so three bonus questions on human capacity.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57'We've been trying to have one person ask the rest of us questions'
0:21:57 > 0:21:59in a sort of Paxman-esque manner!
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Um...
0:22:01 > 0:22:03but it's difficult, it really is.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06OK, starter for ten, on the buzzers, please.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09What is the lowest positive integer to contain the letter C
0:22:09 > 0:22:12when it is spelt out as a word in English?
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Good God. Er...
0:22:15 > 0:22:19The history of St Andrews in the show is an interesting one.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22We won it once. Two years ago was the last time the team got through
0:22:22 > 0:22:25to the televised rounds and they were knocked out ignominiously
0:22:25 > 0:22:29by Bangor, so we want to do better than them this time round.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32What name for a bivalve mollusc of the genus pecten,
0:22:32 > 0:22:36and for its distinctive shell, also denotes thin slices of meat or fish,
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- often dusted with flour and sauteed.- Scallop.- Yeah.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42It's scallop.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45We feel like St Andrews has underperformed considering its
0:22:45 > 0:22:49academic standing and I think it's our job this year to right that.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53I think if we won and we brought the trophy back to St Andrews for
0:22:53 > 0:22:55the first time in 31 years,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57they'd probably put on a procession for us!
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- I'm not actually lying when I say that!- I'd like to think so, yes!
0:23:00 > 0:23:04I think we'd be wheeled through town on a float!
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Over 400 miles south of St Andrews,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10the Oxford Brookes team are working to a strict training regime.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Well, we try and practise twice a week
0:23:12 > 0:23:14and so we do past questions.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17I read Dickens in one night
0:23:17 > 0:23:20and Shakespeare in kind of one and a half nights.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21I'm reading the summaries,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24which is helping me with the ones I don't know as well.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26We're trying to cram in as many sessions as we can
0:23:26 > 0:23:28over the next couple of weeks.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31As a consequence of the belief that it was brought to
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Europe by the Crusaders, Syrah,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36the red wine grape of the Rhone Valley, shares its English name
0:23:36 > 0:23:38with which city in Iran?
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- Shiraz.- Yep.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42For so many years,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45we've been sitting at home watching it on the telly, where it's all
0:23:45 > 0:23:49very easy and you can just make as many guesses as you like and think
0:23:49 > 0:23:52you're a bit of a legend whilst you're sitting in your own lounge.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Paxman doesn't scare you from across a TV, does he?
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Now we know we're actually going to be there
0:23:57 > 0:24:00in front of the lights and camera and having to do it for real,
0:24:00 > 0:24:01it's all a bit surreal.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04It's the single word that completes this statement.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08But what is it about University Challenge's questions
0:24:08 > 0:24:10that make them so incredibly hard and unique?
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Reifler, Von Sterneck, compensating,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15torsion and Foucault...
0:24:15 > 0:24:17BELL
0:24:17 > 0:24:19- Pendulum.- Correct.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22The questions have some specific characteristics.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25There's something that we on the production team
0:24:25 > 0:24:27call inherent interest.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29We like the question to be interesting in itself,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32so even if you don't know the answer, when you hear the answer you think,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34"Hm, that's interesting," not, "So what?"
0:24:34 > 0:24:37For heaven's sake, there's enough quizzes on television
0:24:37 > 0:24:39full of stupid questions.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40The questions here are difficult
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and they're intentionally difficult,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46and so the people who can answer them know a lot.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48That's the point of the show.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52In March 2006, which newly formed party led by Ehud Olmert...
0:24:52 > 0:24:53BUZZER
0:24:53 > 0:24:56- Kadima.- Kadima is right.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58My mum said to me when I came off it,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01I was saying, "I can't believe I didn't get this or that one right,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04and she said, "I don't even understand the questions.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07"Don't beat yourself up about not knowing the answer."
0:25:07 > 0:25:10No matter how hard the teams may study,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13their answers don't always come from textbooks.
0:25:13 > 0:25:1510 points for this. The elements
0:25:15 > 0:25:18with the atomic numbers 79, 47 and 82
0:25:18 > 0:25:20are used to determine the suitability
0:25:20 > 0:25:24of a young woman's suitors in which play by...
0:25:24 > 0:25:25BELL
0:25:25 > 0:25:29- The Merchant Of Venice.- Indeed - the gold, silver and lead caskets.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32The things you know are not just exactly things you've read
0:25:32 > 0:25:35or things you've studied but things you've come across on holiday
0:25:35 > 0:25:39with friends and family, and so you do sort of see your life flashing before your eyes.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42When we went up to Manchester on the train from Cambridge,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44we'd been travelling a couple of hours
0:25:44 > 0:25:48and somebody looked out the window and said, "Look at that bent church spire!"
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Somebody else said, "That must be Chesterfield. It's got a bent church spire."
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Somebody else said, "Isn't that a kind of sofa?" "Oh, yes."
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Lo and behold, the first match we were in, the starter was about
0:25:57 > 0:26:00the connection between a particular kind of sofa and a church with a bent spire,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03so the answer was Chesterfield and one of us buzzed in and got it
0:26:03 > 0:26:06so, now and then, life intervenes and gives you an answer,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09but mostly, it's things that you know already.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Over at the board game cafe, St Anne's College are testing the grey matter
0:26:14 > 0:26:15with a lively quiz.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20Tonight, we're doing a quiz and the goal is largely to identify
0:26:20 > 0:26:23the strengths and weaknesses of the different people on the team,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26and also to see what areas we can revise and improve on
0:26:26 > 0:26:28for the future.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33The first European to explore the area was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo...
0:26:33 > 0:26:37St Anne's has about 750 students in its population,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40graduate and undergraduate, and we're going up against universities
0:26:40 > 0:26:43like Manchester, who have 40,000 students to draw from.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45It's a bit intimidating.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I think expectations are quite low.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Our getting on is seen as a great achievement in itself,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53so anything we can do and go further is a bonus.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Working drawings were completed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Architects
0:26:57 > 0:26:59in just two weeks.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01The Empire State Building.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- Yes.- Yes!
0:27:05 > 0:27:09I mean, so far I've just dreamed of being on University Challenge.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I wasn't aiming too high.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14So I'm happy just to be on it.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Winning would be...
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Yeah, beyond anything I've ever thought about.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23With less than two weeks until studio,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26the University of Sheffield team have a more laid-back
0:27:26 > 0:27:27approach to practice.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30I've been told Gail Trimble had toast every morning
0:27:30 > 0:27:32on her way to University Challenge,
0:27:32 > 0:27:36so if that works for her, it works for me. ..No, Alfie.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40It's our first meeting as a team since the interviews
0:27:40 > 0:27:43and we're going to answer some practice questions.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46I think we'll probably terrify ourselves.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Give the common names of the following plants and animals,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50each of which is a homophone...
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Sorry. ..Each of which is a homophone of a name of... Uh!
0:27:54 > 0:27:57..Of the name of a letter... These are really difficult to say!
0:27:57 > 0:28:01So, how are Sheffield feeling about their chances?
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Coming up against the likes of Oxford, Cambridge,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08the traditionally very highly regarded universities,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10is perhaps a little daunting,
0:28:10 > 0:28:12but I'd like to think that Sheffield
0:28:12 > 0:28:15have someone who can throw in everyone
0:28:15 > 0:28:17and we've got a real good chance.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20We've got nothing to lose. If we lose, that's what people expected.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22But if we win, that's really good.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Which farm animal was once known in Ireland
0:28:24 > 0:28:28- as "the gentleman who pays the rent"?- Sheep?
0:28:28 > 0:28:31- No!- I don't know. You're looking at me like I'm supposed to know.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Pig!
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Which traditional British confectionary item is named after Parma
0:28:36 > 0:28:39although it's connection with the city is remote?
0:28:39 > 0:28:42- Nominate Greenwood. - Parma violets.- Correct.
0:28:42 > 0:28:43THEY LAUGH
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Oh, yeah. We're going to win!
0:28:46 > 0:28:48For the last couple of years
0:28:48 > 0:28:50we hadn't qualified for the show at all,
0:28:50 > 0:28:52so we've done better than that.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55We're improving already.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57What we've really got to think about is,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00what we're going to do if we get the question right.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02- Do a Mexican wave across the team. - Yeah.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05How many sides does a triangle have?
0:29:05 > 0:29:07Buzz. Sheffield, Cunliffe. Three.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09- Yeah.- Yeah!
0:29:09 > 0:29:11THEY ALL LAUGH
0:29:14 > 0:29:17The Sheffield team might be concentrating on their celebrations
0:29:17 > 0:29:20but it's not just about answering the questions correctly.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23It's also about technique on the buzzer.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26- Poetry.- Poetry is correct.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28I think, when you watch it on telly,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31you don't fully appreciate the importance of the buzzers, the speed.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Warwick, Christodoulou.
0:29:33 > 0:29:34Zip.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38You could know the answer to every question
0:29:38 > 0:29:40and feasibly end up with no marks, no points,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43because if you don't get to the buzzer in time,
0:29:43 > 0:29:45you don't get the marks for that and, crucially,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48you don't get the opportunity to have a go on the bonuses.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51The technique, really, is to press the buzzer
0:29:51 > 0:29:53when you know that you know the answer
0:29:53 > 0:29:56or think that you know the answer,
0:29:56 > 0:30:00before you've actually reeled it back from the memory fully.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03It's as though your mind starts saying, "Wait a second.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05"I think I might know this." You hear a word or something
0:30:05 > 0:30:08so you buzz and then you've got the time where Roger Tilling says,
0:30:08 > 0:30:12"Manchester, Mitchell," to go through your brain as fast as you can
0:30:12 > 0:30:13and find the answer.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16It's a matter of not minding making a fool of yourself,
0:30:16 > 0:30:18which I have done on occasions.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- Beyond credibility?- No.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25- LAUGHTER - Much simpler - bad character.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28I'm not sure there's a knack, but there must be, I guess.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30I think it's something along the likes of
0:30:30 > 0:30:32knowing what point to buzz, yeah,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35and I don't have a formula.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37It was just kind of an instinct,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40because basically your brain will tell you
0:30:40 > 0:30:44that you know the answer seconds before it's found it.
0:30:44 > 0:30:45"I pressed the fire control
0:30:45 > 0:30:48"and ahead of me rockets blazed through the sky."
0:30:48 > 0:30:51These words appear in which 1963 painting...
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Is it Whaam! ?
0:30:53 > 0:30:55Whaam! is correct, yes.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59And more often than not, you will find it. But often you won't and you look a charlie.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01BUZZER
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Floating voter.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05No. One of you buzz from Magdalen.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07So, the secret of Victory is timing and speed,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10but according to those who've achieved success on the show
0:31:10 > 0:31:12it's not just speed on the buzzer,
0:31:12 > 0:31:14it's also about the way you press it.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18The University Challenge buzzers are kind of large and flat
0:31:18 > 0:31:20and they only buzz downwards.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22BUZZER
0:31:22 > 0:31:23Onan.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26There's a certain amount of give in the buzzer
0:31:26 > 0:31:28and you have to work out where that is
0:31:28 > 0:31:31so if you react a little quicker than the opposition,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33you're already halfway down on the buzzer.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36It's not sounding but you just have that slight advantage.
0:31:36 > 0:31:37BUZZER
0:31:39 > 0:31:41With just over ten days until studio,
0:31:41 > 0:31:44there's plenty of buzzer practice still to do,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46and over at Magdalen College, Oxford,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48the team are taking it very seriously
0:31:48 > 0:31:52as a loss now could prove catastrophic to team morale.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55We're having our first intercollegiate quiz match tonight.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59We're playing Queen's College and, hopefully, it'll go well.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03So the intercollegiate quiz is a tournament that's held
0:32:03 > 0:32:05between the various colleges within Oxford.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07We usually get a good turnout.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09This year we've got 32 teams playing.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13People use the quiz as a chance to practise for University Challenge.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16It's pretty prestigious in its own right
0:32:16 > 0:32:19but, basically, teams want to see this as an opportunity
0:32:19 > 0:32:22to get some practice in before they appear on the show.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25BEEPING We have buzzers set up, just like University Challenge.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27It's basically exactly the same thing
0:32:27 > 0:32:30but without Jeremy Paxman and without Roger Tilling.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34At Manchester University,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37team coach Stephen Pearson is ensuring the team stick to
0:32:37 > 0:32:39their strict training regime.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42We've got a practice match that Stephen's arranged.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44We'll be playing against some of the previous
0:32:44 > 0:32:47famous faces from Manchester.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50We're playing against previous champions, so they are good,
0:32:50 > 0:32:55and when you can beat them, you know you must know your stuff.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57BELL
0:32:57 > 0:32:59BUZZER
0:32:59 > 0:33:03On my team tonight, we've got our normal University Challenge team
0:33:03 > 0:33:06so it's me, Cameron, Chris and Harry.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08Hopefully, we'll be able to put in a good performance
0:33:08 > 0:33:12and get ourselves feeling confident before recording in Salford.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15This is the first time we've played together as a full team
0:33:15 > 0:33:18so it'll be good to see if our dynamic is positive or negative.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20I'm sure it'll be fine,
0:33:20 > 0:33:24but just to make sure everything's working smoothly.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28Fingers on buzzers. Here's your first starter for 10.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31What is the smallest country in Europe
0:33:31 > 0:33:33whose English name ends in "land"?
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- Manchester, Rowlands.- Thailand.- No.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39The plan to steal 4 million of Chinese gold in this film
0:33:39 > 0:33:42originates in the man who died in a Lamborghini Miura.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44- The Italian Job.- Yeah.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Four countries border both India and China.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49One is Burma. Name two... Rowlands?
0:33:49 > 0:33:51- Bhutan and Nepal.- Correct, yes.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55In this country, whose highest point is name for a former leader
0:33:55 > 0:33:58of the Cheka, is home to the Berezina River?
0:33:58 > 0:34:00BUZZER
0:34:00 > 0:34:02- Ukraine.- No.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04..South Korea.
0:34:06 > 0:34:07BUZZER
0:34:09 > 0:34:10Coriolanus.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12- Very good.- Oh, wow.
0:34:12 > 0:34:13No conferring.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19I've got absolutely no idea.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22We've just hit the 26-minute mark there and at end of the match...
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Final score is Queen's 60, Magdalen 340.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28And the scores are 240 to the Oxford Uni team,
0:34:28 > 0:34:30145 to Manchester.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36- It was all right. - The opposition were pretty good.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39That's the toughest team we've played against yet.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41They were on form.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43So Manchester have lost out to the opposition
0:34:43 > 0:34:46and will want to take time to reassess their game.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49Magdalen have enjoyed an emphatic win
0:34:49 > 0:34:51so their confidence remains intact.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55I think we were a bit jumpier than we needed to be in that last game.
0:34:55 > 0:34:56There were ones we got wrong
0:34:56 > 0:34:58where I guess if we'd waited a bit longer
0:34:58 > 0:35:01we could have got it right before the other team got in.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04There were one or two where I wasn't thinking at all
0:35:04 > 0:35:07I probably should have waited before I buzzed.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10I need to practise buzzing, full stop.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13- I think we're on the right track now. - Yes.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16It's going to be just us and Paxo.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18LAUGHTER
0:35:18 > 0:35:21- AS ROGER TILLING:- Reading the questions, Jeremy Paxman.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23Answering them, Magdalen College, Oxford.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26Jeremy might be getting a bit worried at this point.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29I love you, Jeremy!
0:35:34 > 0:35:35Over the decades,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38students have looked to a variety of furry creatures
0:35:38 > 0:35:41and strange talismen to bring them luck on the show.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44This year is no different.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46These two beavers are team mascots.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48They are the emblem of St Anne's College,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51and many people think it's funny that a beaver is associated with
0:35:51 > 0:35:55a former women's college, but in 1913,
0:35:55 > 0:35:57it was adopted to represent the industriousness
0:35:57 > 0:36:00of the female students who would go out and take tutorials
0:36:00 > 0:36:03at other colleges and come back to the hostels where they all lived.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05I think they're quite cute.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08And what have St Andrews got to offer?
0:36:08 > 0:36:11We haven't made a decision on the mascot yet
0:36:11 > 0:36:14but we have reached some consensus on a team costume of sorts,
0:36:14 > 0:36:17as modelled here by lovely assistant Lewis.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19This is our university undergraduate gown
0:36:19 > 0:36:22and we're the only university in Europe to still have one
0:36:22 > 0:36:26and so we really think this'll set us apart.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28- Looks great.- Yeah, looks fantastic.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30There's a system of wearing it.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33If you were a first year, you'd wear it up here.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36We call this the academic striptease, as the gown lowers.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38So you have first year, then second year
0:36:38 > 0:36:42it drops back onto the shoulders. Third year you're faced with the dilemma.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44If you're in arts you wear it off the left.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47If you're in science you wear it off the right.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50By your fourth and final year, you have it round your elbows,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52and you've fully emerged. That's the idea.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56It's very unique and makes St Andrews kind of stand out.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00Of course, there's more than one way to make your team stand out.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04The stegosaurus I impulse bought in a junk shop.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07The shop assistant and I did have a moment of,
0:37:07 > 0:37:09"Why is this so overpriced?"
0:37:09 > 0:37:12but now I've got it I'm hoping it might make it on as the team mascot.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14I'm yet to persuade the others.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17And the University of Sheffield team are also still to decide
0:37:17 > 0:37:19about their mascot.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Alfie the cat would make a wonderful mascot
0:37:22 > 0:37:25but you would never get him to sit still for half an hour.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29Why don't you bring that little pink monkey that you sleep with?
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- LAUGHTER - That's true.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- That's not even a joke. - I can go and get him.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38This is Schweetheart, my little monkey.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41He's probably my best friend. I sleep with him every night.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44I'm not sure how impressed people would be
0:37:44 > 0:37:47if he was chosen as our mascot for the TV!
0:37:50 > 0:37:54It's the countdown to studio, and with just two days to go,
0:37:54 > 0:37:57there's a problem at the University of Manchester.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59Yes, that's right. OK. Thank you.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Thanks. Bye-bye.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05We've heard today that Mhairi was unfortunately had to withdraw
0:38:05 > 0:38:07for the role of being reserve team member
0:38:07 > 0:38:09because of a family bereavement
0:38:09 > 0:38:12so what I've done, I've gone back to the people
0:38:12 > 0:38:15who just narrowly missed out on selection for the team
0:38:15 > 0:38:18when I did the original selection process,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21and I've chosen one of them to be the reserve team member.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24- This is our new reserve. This is James.- Hi.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28And the lucky lad is 3rd-year maths and physics student James Haughton.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31When I woke up this morning, I was thinking of my exam results
0:38:31 > 0:38:34and the Manchester United game.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38I wasn't thinking at all that I'd be part of this now.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41But it's a very pleasant surprise.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44However late it is in the day, James discovers that every student
0:38:44 > 0:38:47who applies to be on University Challenge
0:38:47 > 0:38:50has to take a written test and be interviewed by the show's producers.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53They also have to prove that they are eligible.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55Yeah, so that one's fine.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59The producers said they were happy with my score in the test
0:38:59 > 0:39:02and that I'd be acceptable to have as a reserve.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05So, fingers on buzzers,
0:39:05 > 0:39:06and here's your first starter for 10.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10It's our last practice today. It's good timing for James
0:39:10 > 0:39:12because he just found out this afternoon
0:39:12 > 0:39:15and he's been able to come in for the practice.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19So we get to know his areas of knowledge and that kind of thing.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23Just one question. What's my fee for doing this?!
0:39:23 > 0:39:25Get you a pint!
0:39:25 > 0:39:28Don't say that. We'll have to buy him a pint.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36Finally, the day that all our teams have dreamed off has arrived,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to appear on Britain's
0:39:39 > 0:39:42longest-running and most-respected quiz show,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44University Challenge.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48After six months of planning, auditioning, swotting and quizzing,
0:39:48 > 0:39:52the teams make their way to Salford's Media City.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54This is me, Rosie Thomas,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57the captain of the Brasenose University Challenge team.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01I'm just about to set off on the train journey up to Manchester
0:40:01 > 0:40:03to film University Challenge.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08So we're at Leuchars station now, waiting for the train down...
0:40:08 > 0:40:11to Manchester via Edinburgh
0:40:11 > 0:40:13to meet our destiny.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15Just leaving Sheffield.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18The beautiful Peak District.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21Here's team captain Jonathan Cunliffe.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Ohh-oh-oh.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Are you excited by the tram ride?
0:40:26 > 0:40:29We've got two members of the team from last year,
0:40:29 > 0:40:31Turner and Ben,
0:40:31 > 0:40:36who have come to wish us luck as we head off to the train station.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38So...
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Good luck.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43They've asked me to start filming you guys.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46LAUGHTER AND CHATTER
0:40:46 > 0:40:49We're the team from Leicester.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52We're on our way up to Salford for University Challenge
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- and we're all feeling pretty good about it.- Yay!
0:40:55 > 0:40:58THEY ALL LAUGH
0:41:00 > 0:41:04So we're on the train and we've finally found Russ,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08and Gwen's just doing a last-minute bit of revision.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12And Russ has a couple of questions from previous years,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15- and Louise is here as well. - I feel really self conscious...
0:41:15 > 0:41:18about how we feel about being on the show.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21So perhaps some questions should be asked,
0:41:21 > 0:41:23thrown out by the mysterious voice of Alex over there.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27- Are you guys having fun back there? - Never better.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29- How are you feeling, John? - I'm feeling good.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31I'm feeling ready to smash it.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35- I'm really nervous. - I'm also pretty nervous.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40- Where are we, boys?- Salford.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46What's the song called?
0:41:46 > 0:41:50This song is Winner Takes It All by Abba.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53# The winner takes it all
0:41:53 > 0:41:57# The loser standing small... #
0:41:57 > 0:41:59While the Pembroke College, Cambridge team
0:41:59 > 0:42:03use their journey to practise their singing,
0:42:03 > 0:42:06Trinity College, Cambridge take the opportunity to do some
0:42:06 > 0:42:08last-minute cramming.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13- C Day-Lewis - is he actually related to Daniel Day-Lewis?- Ooh, must be.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19We're about two hours away from filming the actual show itself
0:42:19 > 0:42:22so it's a last-minute chance to learn a few things
0:42:22 > 0:42:24that will definitely not come up
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- because we revised them at the last minute!- Yeah.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28We found, doing past questions,
0:42:28 > 0:42:31that lots of weird questions about dartboards came up,
0:42:31 > 0:42:34about words you can make round a dartboard
0:42:34 > 0:42:36if you interpret the numbers as letters.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38So we've drawn a dartboard
0:42:38 > 0:42:41and we're working out what words you can actually make.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Is it 50 for a bull and 25 for...
0:42:43 > 0:42:45- What's that? - I've never played darts in my life.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49The one thing that we've never really revised
0:42:49 > 0:42:50is the picture rounds
0:42:50 > 0:42:54and so I thought somebody should try to just brush up, quickly,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57on just being able to have a chance of recognising artists.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04Definitely, the main thing is going to be to enjoy this.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07It's great fun to be part of University Challenge,
0:43:07 > 0:43:10to get ourselves on TV with Jeremy asking us the questions
0:43:10 > 0:43:12- and stuff.- The limelight!
0:43:12 > 0:43:15I get these kind of dreams that I'll butt in
0:43:15 > 0:43:18when I think I've got the right answer, and then it's wrong
0:43:18 > 0:43:21and I get chastised by Paxman, it's really embarrassing.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23I don't want it to happen for real.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26And that's one dream that Aled doesn't want to come true
0:43:26 > 0:43:29as, like most contestants before him,
0:43:29 > 0:43:32the thought of facing Jeremy Paxman sends a shiver down the spine.
0:43:32 > 0:43:36- If you buzz in, you've got to answer!- Blah!- Let's have it, please.
0:43:36 > 0:43:40- We don't know.- You've hopped round every century except the right one. It's William III.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42LAUGHTER
0:43:42 > 0:43:44This is going to be a long night.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47We think University Challenge is a unique programme
0:43:47 > 0:43:50so you do need a unique presenter.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52Jeremy, to me, fills the role perfectly
0:43:52 > 0:43:55and I think for a lot of our students competing,
0:43:55 > 0:43:57the chance of coming up against him
0:43:57 > 0:44:01- is something to be relished not feared.- Someone buzz from Cardiff.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03- Prince Philip. - Prince Philip is right.
0:44:03 > 0:44:06I don't know why you equivocated so long. No-one else comes to mind.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08An Indochina war.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11- AN Indochina war(?) - Sorry, THE Indo-Chinese War.
0:44:11 > 0:44:13That's not specific enough. There are lots of wars in Indochina.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15Quickly, come on.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18No, I wouldn't say I was aware of my reputation...
0:44:18 > 0:44:22for good or bad, and, frankly, I'd rather keep it that way.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26I seem to remember him being quite grumpy at the time,
0:44:26 > 0:44:27definitely quite challenging.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30Which band's single, entitled The Reflex, reached number one
0:44:30 > 0:44:32in the British Charts in 1984?
0:44:32 > 0:44:35- Frankie Goes To Hollywood. - No, it was Duran Duran.- Oh, no!
0:44:35 > 0:44:37LAUGHTER
0:44:37 > 0:44:38Serves you right.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41To be berated by Paxman on screen is really a badge of honour,
0:44:41 > 0:44:44something to be proud of and a memory to be cherished.
0:44:44 > 0:44:48One player who wasn't afraid to interrupt the mighty Paxo at work
0:44:48 > 0:44:51and risk a 5-point penalty was Ralph Morley,
0:44:51 > 0:44:54captain of reigning champions, Trinity College, Cambridge.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56Paxman was midway through a sentence,
0:44:56 > 0:44:59we had no idea what he was going to say next, and Ralph buzzed in.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02During the 20th century, who held the position of Prime Minister
0:45:02 > 0:45:04of the United Kingdom...
0:45:04 > 0:45:06Margaret Thatcher.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09How did you know I was going to ask for the longest period of time?
0:45:09 > 0:45:12Well, what else is it going to be?
0:45:12 > 0:45:15When the college watched that moment, uproarious laughter,
0:45:15 > 0:45:18because someone had stood up to Paxman. It felt fantastic.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21OK, let's see if you get these bonuses right.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25They're on French land borders, you smartarses!
0:45:25 > 0:45:26LAUGHTER
0:45:26 > 0:45:28'I like a bit of spirit.'
0:45:28 > 0:45:31I like students, you know.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34I love their... I love their enthusiasm.
0:45:34 > 0:45:38The best of them, they don't take it too seriously
0:45:38 > 0:45:40but want to do well.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42I like them.
0:45:42 > 0:45:45What is the most populous French department?
0:45:45 > 0:45:46Lille...
0:45:46 > 0:45:49- Lille.- No, it's Nord.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51Not all so easy, are they?
0:45:51 > 0:45:54Not all of them. JEREMY LAUGHS
0:45:54 > 0:45:58The students finally descend upon Salford's Media City,
0:45:58 > 0:46:01and as one journey ends, another begins.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04I think University Challenge being done in the studios will be
0:46:04 > 0:46:07a bit intimidating, under the lights, with Paxman there.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09This is going to be on television.
0:46:09 > 0:46:11See you on the other side.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16I think I'm more worried than most at the moment.
0:46:16 > 0:46:17I might be over-thinking it a bit now.
0:46:17 > 0:46:21It is a terrifying prospect, the entire thing.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23Hopefully I'll be able to keep my nerves in check
0:46:23 > 0:46:26and everything will go fine.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28I've quizzed with these guys many times before
0:46:28 > 0:46:30and I know that they're very good
0:46:30 > 0:46:33but it's good not to take anything for granted
0:46:33 > 0:46:37because the competition will be very strong.
0:46:37 > 0:46:42- Well, hello. Good to see you. - Good to see you.
0:46:42 > 0:46:46- If you want to follow me, we're going to go to hospitality. - Sounds good.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54While the teams settle into their dressing rooms,
0:46:54 > 0:46:58another University Challenge legend is making his final preparations.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02Roger Tilling has been an integral part of the show since 1997.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06My seat's up over in the corner, up there.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08It's a specially designed piece of scaffolding
0:47:08 > 0:47:11and I think it's got to be the best seat in the house.
0:47:11 > 0:47:13You can see everything going on in the studio.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16Trinity, Drnovsek Zorko.
0:47:16 > 0:47:19I don't think people realise that the voice-overs are actually
0:47:19 > 0:47:22done live in the studio. I think they probably reckon it's edited in afterwards.
0:47:22 > 0:47:25So, for this game we have Magdalen Binnie, Magdalen Quinn,
0:47:25 > 0:47:28Magdalen Savory, Magdalen Gillow.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31Luckily, one team has a bell, one team has a buzzer,
0:47:31 > 0:47:34which helps me home into the right team.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38I think it's strategic to have
0:47:38 > 0:47:41a long or difficult-to-pronounce surname on your team
0:47:41 > 0:47:43because when you think about it,
0:47:43 > 0:47:46it gives them at least an extra second to come up with the answer,
0:47:46 > 0:47:48so if I was setting up a team, I would have
0:47:48 > 0:47:51Drnovsek Zorko, Papaphilippopoulos
0:47:51 > 0:47:54Warnakulasuriya and Bhattacharya all on the same team.
0:47:54 > 0:47:56I think you'd win.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01And although victory is on everyone's minds,
0:48:01 > 0:48:04there's another trophy that all teams are desperate to acquire,
0:48:04 > 0:48:07and they don't have to win to take it home.
0:48:07 > 0:48:09These are the all-important nameplates that will be
0:48:09 > 0:48:11in front of the students on the desks.
0:48:11 > 0:48:15- I think these are more valuable than the trophy.- Wow.- That's so cool.
0:48:15 > 0:48:20- And you get to keep it afterwards. - Do you really?- We send them out.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22- That's amazing.- Gimme, gimme.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24Oh, my God.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27- That's great.- Definitely your name? - That's my name. Thank you very much.
0:48:27 > 0:48:29- We get to keep them, right? - Yes.- Awesome.
0:48:29 > 0:48:33Before the teams go on, we've got to check they're spelt right.
0:48:33 > 0:48:36The last thing you want is for some poor student
0:48:36 > 0:48:38to go on TV and we've spelt their name horribly wrong.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42My surname's spelled a bit weirdly and pronounced even weirder,
0:48:42 > 0:48:43and I'm very precious about it
0:48:43 > 0:48:47so if I'm on national TV, I want it to be right.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51- Is that right? - It feels like a sacred object!
0:48:51 > 0:48:53Like the relics of a saint!
0:48:53 > 0:48:56I think this is probably the proudest I've ever been.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59This is the biggest achievement of my life.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01Brasenose, Naude.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04Can I put it on my back like a footballer?
0:49:04 > 0:49:07Can I check that we've spelled your name correctly?
0:49:07 > 0:49:11That is my name, right, guys. Yeah, that is right.
0:49:11 > 0:49:12Good, excellent.
0:49:12 > 0:49:14THEY LAUGH
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Wow.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18Greatest day of my life.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23I'd love it if you could make me look like Gail Trimble.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25Seeing the name thing makes me realise
0:49:25 > 0:49:28that it's actually happening, we're finally here
0:49:28 > 0:49:30and we're doing the filming, yeah.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33In a matter of hours. Oops.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39As reality hits home for the students,
0:49:39 > 0:49:41their big moment draws ever closer
0:49:41 > 0:49:44as they find out who they will face in the first round of matches.
0:49:44 > 0:49:50Now for the grand reveal. You'll be playing against Selwyn, Cambridge.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53- That's where I got turned away from. - Ah!- Oh, yeah.
0:49:53 > 0:49:55- Revenge match?- Yeah.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58We've been drawn against Manchester, which is a pretty tough draw.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01The last time Selwyn were on, they got a grand total of 75.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04That was also against Manchester,
0:50:04 > 0:50:08so we're hoping that history's not going to repeat itself.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11I'm slightly nervous now that we know who we're playing, to be honest.
0:50:11 > 0:50:16- I believe they're the academically best college...- Oh, shut up!
0:50:16 > 0:50:19Yeah, we'll be fine, we'll be OK.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22We found out we're playing Trinity, Cambridge,
0:50:22 > 0:50:24who are one of the big hitters,
0:50:24 > 0:50:26but you've got to beat the big teams to win the competition.
0:50:26 > 0:50:30We're playing Pembroke, Cambridge in our first-round match.
0:50:30 > 0:50:34We've never met them before, don't know how good they are at quizzing,
0:50:34 > 0:50:36so it's very much an unknown quantity.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40We noticed that the opposition was carrying around a very large bear,
0:50:40 > 0:50:44obviously intending to intimidate us, but it hasn't worked.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50This is Paddy, our mascot,
0:50:50 > 0:50:53and we're hoping that he brings us some good luck today.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56We think the opposition have heard about him.
0:50:56 > 0:51:00The opposition are going to be scared.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02This is our mascot. It's a bell
0:51:02 > 0:51:06and it's here because we plan to ring the changes.
0:51:06 > 0:51:07BELL TINGS
0:51:07 > 0:51:11This is our mascot Michael. He's stood by us through thick and thin.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14He's acted as a light in the darkness, he's our driving force.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18For Trinity College, Cambridge, there's a big decision to make.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20We're trying to decide what mascot to have.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22We've got the stegosaurus with us
0:51:22 > 0:51:25but it's very big and it doesn't have any particular relevance
0:51:25 > 0:51:27for most of the people on the team.
0:51:27 > 0:51:31It's just something we had knocking around. It's a lovely model,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34I don't deny that, but I'm not sure if it's quite the right thing.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36I think size is the major factor.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38Comparing what the other teams have got with them -
0:51:38 > 0:51:41tiny little mice and one of them has got a hotel buzzer -
0:51:41 > 0:51:45so perhaps just the scarf, I think.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47There's strong opposition from Matthew
0:51:47 > 0:51:50so I think it might have been vetoed, but that's OK.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52It can watch from the sidelines.
0:51:52 > 0:51:54We've brought out lucky mascots along
0:51:54 > 0:51:57- and I think they're excited to be here. What do you think?- Pretty sure.
0:51:57 > 0:52:01It's hard to tell, though. They're just stuffed.
0:52:01 > 0:52:05Slightly reluctantly, we've got my cuddly toy monkey Schweetheart,
0:52:05 > 0:52:07who...
0:52:10 > 0:52:12- Say his name again.- Schweetheart.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18He's going to bring us a lot of love and luck.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20Beaver fight - ready?
0:52:20 > 0:52:22Ohh!
0:52:24 > 0:52:26LAUGHTER
0:52:35 > 0:52:38As the final preparations are made in studio,
0:52:38 > 0:52:41the nerves are building backstage.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46I think we're all reasonably terrified.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49I'm trying to distract myself from how nervous I am
0:52:49 > 0:52:50by getting overexcited.
0:52:50 > 0:52:55I'm very excited but getting a bit nervous now
0:52:55 > 0:52:57because it is getting close, as well.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01This is the first of many such walks to the University Challenge studio.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05These guys have attempted to knock and run on Jeremy Paxman's door.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08Thankfully, I don't think he was in there.
0:53:08 > 0:53:11We'll just be sitting there with a wry smile on our face
0:53:11 > 0:53:14knowing that, hey, no-one knows what's going on beneath the desk.
0:53:14 > 0:53:16- But we know.- That sounded wrong.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18Come on, Lewis.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21The honour belongs to the man in the arena,
0:53:21 > 0:53:25not to those cold, timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27We're going to crush them.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30The teams start to make their way to studio,
0:53:30 > 0:53:33and they're not the only ones feeling the tension.
0:53:33 > 0:53:37Stephen Pearson has been putting together the University of Manchester team
0:53:37 > 0:53:40for 16 years and has attended almost every single recording.
0:53:40 > 0:53:44Stephen's in the audience watching. We don't want to let him down,
0:53:44 > 0:53:48but he knows we're just going to go in play the best game we can.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50I'm quite nervous, really.
0:53:50 > 0:53:53You never quite know how good the opposition are going to be
0:53:53 > 0:53:56but I'm hoping they'll be nice and relaxed
0:53:56 > 0:53:58and they'll enjoy it, whatever the result.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01As the teams wait to go into studio,
0:54:01 > 0:54:03they get some last-minute good-luck messages
0:54:03 > 0:54:05as the audience take their seats.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09- My dad and my sister are here.- Hi! - Eyes on the prize.
0:54:09 > 0:54:13Good luck to those who are going on the studio floor, in particular.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16Cheers. Ohh!
0:54:16 > 0:54:19Good luck! We'll be cheering you on.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Team photo!
0:54:21 > 0:54:23Woo!
0:54:23 > 0:54:26Do you need your shoes? LAUGHTER
0:54:27 > 0:54:30you're not the only guys who can lunge.
0:54:30 > 0:54:31LAUGHTER
0:54:31 > 0:54:33Oh, lovely knees!
0:54:33 > 0:54:35LAUGHTER
0:54:36 > 0:54:38I grew them myself.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41I once did Newsnight in shorts,
0:54:41 > 0:54:44but as you're under the desk it doesn't matter.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46That's what we were thinking.
0:54:46 > 0:54:50That's short recognition from Mr Paxman.
0:54:50 > 0:54:54OK, we're ready for you now, guys, if you want to follow me.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56- And so it begins.- Indeed.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59Welcome on the team from the Open University!
0:54:59 > 0:55:02The moment has arrived. Time to follow in the footsteps
0:55:02 > 0:55:05of some of the brightest brains in Britain
0:55:05 > 0:55:07and walk onto the hallowed set for the first time.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Selwyn, Cambridge!
0:55:09 > 0:55:11Manchester!
0:55:13 > 0:55:15St Anne's, Oxford.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17Trinity, Cambridge.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19Brasenose, Oxford.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25As the teams take their seats, it's a moment to treasure
0:55:25 > 0:55:27for the students and for their mascots.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29This is a big moment...
0:55:29 > 0:55:33What am I going to do with this one?!
0:55:33 > 0:55:34There we go. That's fine.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37Got to say, you're being outdone on the mascot.
0:55:37 > 0:55:39He doesn't sound the same when he's talking.
0:55:39 > 0:55:43- He just seems like a normal guy. - Nau-day?- It's Naude.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46- Nau... Naude?- Yes, that's it. Thank you.
0:55:46 > 0:55:47Perfect.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50I'm feeling quite calm now I'm in here.
0:55:50 > 0:55:52It's kind of odd to look around and go,
0:55:52 > 0:55:55"This is what you see in a little box in your room but here we are."
0:55:55 > 0:55:58You realise there's a gyroscope in the middle.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01- It's really weird that you can see yourself as well.- It is.
0:56:01 > 0:56:04Some students are awestruck at the sight of the main man.
0:56:04 > 0:56:06Oh, my God, there he is.
0:56:06 > 0:56:10You don't mind sitting up and trying to look intelligent?
0:56:10 > 0:56:12CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
0:56:12 > 0:56:16- Why do you wear them off the shoulder?- It depends on the year.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18Is there anything you guys need to know before we start?
0:56:18 > 0:56:20Got any answers(?)
0:56:20 > 0:56:22Do you know, I have.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25But I'm not going to give them to you now.
0:56:26 > 0:56:28HE WHISPERS
0:56:28 > 0:56:31I realise you've done this about 600 times.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34- No, it's a pleasure to see you... - Good stuff. >
0:56:36 > 0:56:38And, for real, I met Jeremy Paxman. I've made it.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40Shook his hand. Not going to wash.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43I hadn't realised from watching Uni Challenge
0:56:43 > 0:56:46just how low and smoky Paxo's voice is.
0:56:46 > 0:56:50I was very impressed, because it was so low and hot chocolate-y.
0:56:51 > 0:56:53While some swoon over Jeremy,
0:56:53 > 0:56:55other students are eager to test their buzzers.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58BELLS RING
0:56:58 > 0:57:01BUZZERS BEEP
0:57:01 > 0:57:02Good.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05BELL
0:57:05 > 0:57:08- Don't try your buzzer!- Sorry.
0:57:08 > 0:57:11Eric, one of the buzzers is not working.
0:57:11 > 0:57:13I just tested my buzzer and got told off for it
0:57:13 > 0:57:16so I'm now going to be reticent to use it until I'm told.
0:57:16 > 0:57:18BELL
0:57:18 > 0:57:21Many take the studio appearance in their stride,
0:57:21 > 0:57:25but for a few of the students, the pressure can prove too much.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28And when you've got to go, you've got to go.
0:57:34 > 0:57:36Over the past six months,
0:57:36 > 0:57:38more than 130 teams have competed for
0:57:38 > 0:57:40a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
0:57:40 > 0:57:43to join the exclusive club of quizzers
0:57:43 > 0:57:46who have appeared on the British institution
0:57:46 > 0:57:47that is University Challenge.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50I'm feeling quite nervous at this stage.
0:57:50 > 0:57:51Hopefully, it'll go well.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54My teeth are feeling a bit numb now.
0:57:54 > 0:57:58It's nice to be, finally, in the studio.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00In the hot seat.
0:58:03 > 0:58:05Here we are recording. Stand by.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09My heart's racing.
0:58:09 > 0:58:12Counting to titles in five...
0:58:12 > 0:58:14I'm pretty nervous, to be honest.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18Five seconds...
0:58:18 > 0:58:20It's all about to happen.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23And now just 28 teams remain
0:58:23 > 0:58:25and await their turn
0:58:25 > 0:58:28to hear Jeremy Paxman deliver that immortal phrase...
0:58:28 > 0:58:32You know the rules - the whole world knows the rules -
0:58:32 > 0:58:35so fingers on the buzzers here. Here's your first starter for 10.
0:58:35 > 0:58:37APPLAUSE