University Challenge 2014-15: Semi-Final Preview and Thoughts on Various Issues

Well guys, we've finally made it to the semi-finals of this year's, at-times-controversial, University Challenge. It's been an intriguing series, during which many an issue has been raised regarding to show's future conduct, which I will touch upon later on.

For now, though, here are the four semi-finalist teams:

• St Peter's College Oxford: John Armitage, Ed Roberts, Gabriel Trueblood, Spike Smith (925 over four matches)
• Gonville & Caius College Cambridge: Ted Loveday, Michael Taylor, Anthony Martinelli, Jeremy Warner (995 over four matches)
• Magdalen College Oxford: Harry Gillow, Chris Savory, Hugh Binnie, Cameron J. Quinn (1,165 over five matches)
• Durham: Daniel Morgan-Thomas, Freddie Lloyd, Fred Harvey, Nikul Boyd-Shah (875 over five matches)

So, how did they get this far?

St Peter's came straight through, beating Sussex, Selwyn College Cambridge, our friends Oxford Brookes and Liverpool. Each time, captain Gabriel Trueblood has been the main driving force through the side's performances, almost single handedly running up their score in the first round and preliminary QF. Their qualifier QF was more of a team effort though. Bonus rates have varied, generally around 50% or a little bit more. Best hope of winning is Trueblood shutting the other team out on the buzzer.

Caius also came straight through, beating St Anne's College Oxford, Manchester (The Team Everyone Wants To Beat), Durham and Magdalen, the latter two of which are also through. They have been pretty comfortable on the buzzer throughout, with all four contributing freely, the only real blip being against Magdalen, where they took time to get going, but went for it when they did. Bonus rates have always hovered around two-thirds, which, combined with excellent buzz skill, means they probably go into the semis as the favourites.

Magdalen beat Pembroke College Cambridge, Open, Trinity College Cambridge and Bristol, but also lost to Caius en route. All four players have generally been contributing starters comfortably, but Messrs Binnie and Quinn have generally contributed more and kept the side afloat. Bonus rates hovered under two thirds early on, then slumped to around 50% in the first two QFs, then picked up again in the play-off. Outside chance of winning, but will have to push hard to do so.

Durham defeated Brasenose College Oxford, York, Trinity College Cambridge and Liverpool to make it here, but lost to Caius as well. All the players have contributed to the side's starter tally, with at least two generally keeping the side afloat. The side's bonus rates have varied quite a lot over the five matches, varying from about just under 50% to just over 50%. Outsiders for the title.

So, two prime contenders, one with an outside chance, and one who will have to work really hard to upset the odds.

The draw, as expected, puts the two Oxford sides together, and that leaves Durham with having to face Caius again. Caius will probably make it two over Durham, but the Oxford derby will be truely fascinating to watch. I cannot call it.

As for the title, my guess is it will largely depend on who wins the Oxford derby. Whoever wins will deserve their title. Here's to a great end to the series!

Now, for some miscellaneous items.

Firstly, you may have noticed from the above, and from my last two write-ups and comment on LAM, that there are no women left in this series. I do not believe this has happened for years. Even in the series in recent years where the final has been all-male, there have at least been women in the semis; we don't even have that this time.

Of course, this will only add to calls for reforms to stop this sort of thing happening again. I have already stated my opposition to a quota; someone, possibly Simon Joyce, mentioned in an earlier post on the subject that that wouldn't solve the 'under-representation' problem, it would merely solve the 'totally unrepresented' problem that we have ended up with here.

The fact that, since the turn of the decade (so since 2010-11), only one out of twenty winning UC contestants has been female (whatever happens this year) says quite a lot.

Of course, as I said before, and as others have said before, most UC contestants appear to be men because men are more prepared to put themselves forward. The fact that all male teams just happen to have prospered more this year, and last year to a lesser extent, is somewhat unfortunate.

I will draw up more thoughts on women on UC after the series is over.

The other quibble concerns the ongoing debate on format reform. I will not go into that in great detail yet, as I've already said a lot about that this series. I will also draw up more thoughts on that post series.

Finally, to keep this blog going over the Spring hiatus, what do yous think to a retro-review series. Maybe of old editions of UC, or the first series of Only Connect?

Hopefully, I'll be able to talk about the semi-finals of the current OC series shortly.