Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 12: University Challenge R1M12, Only Connect Elimination Match 3, Mastermind Heat 11

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! Coming up, the latest rounds of our three favourites quizzes as usual. But, firstly, a quick addendum to last week's Mastermind courtesy of Mr McDermaid (not McDermott as I called him last week, apologies for that), who reports on the site formerly known as Twitter that his answer of "A Midsummer's Night's Dream" was accepted at first and he won the game on passes, but then, after watching it back, TPTB decided to disallow the answer and the entire ending was subsequently reshot with him not winning! Most unfortunate, and harsh too IMO; I thought his answer was close enough and should probably have been accepted. Anyway, on with tonight's quizzes, and no such harshities tonight thankfully. Let's begin, as ever, with UC...

 

Harper Adams University I must confess I had not heard of prior to this fixture being announced; it's based in Shropshire and is largely dedicated to the study of agricultural subjects. Playing for it on its first ever UC team were:

Alastair Ward, from Suffolk, studying Rural Enterprise and Land Management

Rachel Henderson, from Preston, studying Fish Immunology

Captain: John Owen, from Chester, studying Entomology

Will Jones, from South East London, studying Automotive Engineering  

 

Strathclyde University has appeared in eight previous BBC series, but has only been beyond the second round on one occasion, in 2020-21, where its team reached the quarter-finals, along the way defeating a Birkbeck team three quarters of whom later won OC as the Strigiformes. Represented them this series were:

Matthew Johnston, from Dumfries and Galloway, studying Chemistry

Kate Lochrie, from Glasgow, studying Diplomacy and International Security

Captain: Jack Stirling, from Inverness, studying Chemical Engineering

Tom McHugh, from Glasgow, studying Mechanical Engineering  

 

Strathclyde started strongly with the first starter and all three of a pretty easy bonus set on last year's Euros. Harper Adams were a bit unlucky not to get the next starter; Strathclyde took the next three, including the first picture starter and, after the first picture round, they led 70-0. Harper Adams finally got going with a couple of starters and two of the resulting bonuses. Strathclyde returned with a starter and two bonuses though; they also took the music round, which they got no bonuses from, after which they led 105-30.

 

The Scots side continued to dominate on the buzzer; the bonuses weren't falling for them very well, but it didn't exactly matter. Harper Adams did get another starter, and a single bonus, but it proved a brief exception to Strathclyde's dominance, or rather that of their captain Mr Stirling, who was very quietly having a very strong night. After the second picture round, they led 145-45. The match was as good as over, but could Harper Adams get a few more points on the board and reach a decent score. Sadly not; Strathclyde ran away further in the final minutes and broke 200 with the final starter of the game. At the gong, Strathclyde won 205-45.

 

Not the best contest, but, as ever, two pretty pleasant teams made it worth watching. Well done to Strathclyde, Mr Stirling especially, a good performance, though they may want the bonuses to fall better for them next time; best of luck to them then! Hard lines to Harper Adams, but they gave it a go at least and came across well when they did get in; thanks to them for playing!

 

The stats: Mr Stirling was, easily, the best buzzer of the night with NINE(!) starters, while Mr Owen was best for Harper Adams with two. On the bonuses Harper Adams managed 3 out of 9 and Strathclyde 15 out of 37.

 

Next week's match: Imperial vs Churchill Cambridge

 

Only Connect’s third elimination match was contested by the Scanners, who were beaten by the Worker Bees in their first match, and the Benchwarmers, who lost to the Pitchers first time around.

 

My Dad claims two points on the dog question in the first round, and I claim two points on the centenarians gifts question, one point on the dating apps question and three points on the rhyming abbreviations questions; the Benchwarmers led 5-1 at the end of that round. My Dad claims two points on the tax question in the second round and three points on the Everything Everywhere All At Once question; the Benchwarmers now led 11-7 after that.

 

The Benchwarmers went first on the Walls, and worked everything out pretty quickly for a full ten. The Scanners took a bit longer, but same result, a full ten, so as you were, the Benchwarmers led 21-17 going into Missing Vowels. They fared better at that at first, but the Scanners made an epic recovery and so nearly caught them, but not quite; the Benchwarmers hung on to win 26-25! Well done them and best of luck next time, and thanks to the Scanners for taking part!

 

Next week’s match: the Jive Bunnies vs the Keyboard Worriers

 

Mastermind was won pretty comfortably by Danielle Connolly, who 24 points saw her easily win ahead of Omair Azam with 19, Katherine Rich with 17 and Andrew McKenzie with 16.

 

And that's it, we're done for another week! Next week, we move on to the penultimate UC first round match, where the teams will know 155 or more will bring them back no matter what. That plus the final OC eliminator and the next Mastermind heat coming up same time same place next week, so, see yous then I guess... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 11: University Challenge R1M11, Only Connect Elimination Match 2, Mastermind Heat 10

Good evening again my friends, and welcome back to another Quizzy Monday! Well, UKGS still isn't back online, but Mr Weaver's comments on Tumblr recently assure us that the site isn't dead, just sleeping. And, no, that wasn't an intentional tie-in to that question on this week's OC! I'd planned to say that earlier today, before any of tonight's shows went to air! Anyway, let's do this thing, beginning, as ever, with UC, and a match somewhat reminiscent of the show's 'renaissance' of 2008 to 2015...

 

Durham has appeared in more BBC series than any other institution; for a while during the afore-mentioned 'renaissance', it had an unlucky tendency to draw and lose to strong Oxford teams in the first round, but has done better in more recent years, winning three series ago of course, its third series win. Last year's team went out in the second round. This year's team consisted of:

Caspar Chatham, from Camden in London, studying English Literature

Tom Haines-Matos, from Worthing, studying PPE

Captain: Amelia Rees, from Hammersmith, studying Chemistry

James Gowers, from Beaconsfield, studying History  

 

Merton College Oxford won the show in 1980, beating a Queens' Cambridge containing a certain Stephen Fry; of the seven previous BBC era teams though, only one, that who were runners-up in the 2017-18 series, has made it beyond the second round. Its last team fell at that stage in the 20-21 series. Playing for them this year were:

Ciaran Duncan, from High Wycombe, studying English Literature

Evelyn Ong, from Singapore, studying Maths and Philosophy

Captain: Elliot Cosnett, from Hatton in Warwickshire, studying History

Verity Fleetwood-Law, from Amersham, studying English and French  

 

Durham took the first starter and pair of bonuses of the night, but Merton quickly took the second and a full set of bonuses to take the lead. A further two starters went to the Oxonians, including the first picture starter; after the first picture bonuses, they led 55-20. Durham took a starter and single bonus to close the gap, but another two starters and a load of bonuses to Merton meant they'd already reached three figures by the next time Durham got a starter right. After the music round, Merton led 135-40.

 

The chairman told Durham there was plenty of time left, and the Wearsiders did subsequently manage to get a starter and full set of bonuses under their belts. Merton, however, managed two such full houses in this third phase. Durham did take the second picture round, but no bonuses meant they still trailed 185-75. Durham did manage a bit of a late rally here, reaching three figures and just about keeping the game theoretically alive into the final minutes. But once Merton reawoke, they pulled well away again with a late run of their own. At the gong, Merton won 235-120.

 

A pretty good high quality game despite its one-sidedness. Well done to Merton, who look a very good team with all four players buzzing well and a pretty good bonus conversion rate; they look like a team to watch in the second round, best of luck to them there! Hard lines to Durham, but they put up a good show and, again, I suspect could've beaten another team; thanks to them for playing!

 

The stats: Mr Cosnett was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Messrs Haines-Matos and Gowers were joint best for Durham with three each. On the bonuses, Durham managed 10 out of 24 (with two penalties) and Merton a pretty good 24 out of 34 (with one penalty).

 

Next week's match: Harper Adams vs Strathclyde

 

Only Connect’s second eliminator match was contested by the 5ks, who were beaten by the Showstoppers in their first match, and the Grapevines, who lost to the Metrophiles first time out.

 

I took the same point as the 5ks on the first question of the show about stuff that helps you fly and the same two points as them on the shootings question, and the same points as the Grapevines on the satirical magazines question; my Dad, meanwhile, claims the final clue for the ‘number of bones’ question should’ve been “Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard: none”! The Grapevines led 5-4 after that round. I also claim the same two points as the Grapevines on the Beano question in the second round and the same two as the 5ks on the days of the week question; my Dad and I collectively got two points on the roundabout question, and I think my Dad just about got two points on the SETI question. The 5ks led 12-7 after that.

 

The Grapevines went first on the Walls, and very quickly worked everything out for a full ten. The 5ks took a bit longer to work out the final two sets, but same result, another full house, so, as you were, they led 22-17 going into Missing Vowels. The 5ks had the better of that at first, but the Grapevines came back well late on; the 5ks won 30-23 to go through to the play-offs. Well done them, and best of luck next time, and thanks to the Grapevines for playing!

 

Next week’s match: the Scanners vs the Benchwarmers

 

Mastermind was won by Ben Abbott, whose 20 points saw him just edge it ahead of Meg Tapp and Alan McDermaid with 19 each, though Alan was unfortunate to have his answer of “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” disallowed; Elizabeth Rounding completed the line-up with 15.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; hopefully UKGS will finally be back with us soon, but, as I said before, check out Weaver's Week' Tumblr page in the meantime to keep up to date. I myself will be back, same time same place next week, with my usual write-up, so, see yous then... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 10: University Challenge R1M10, Only Connect Elimination Match 1, Mastermind Heat 9

Hello again my friends, and welcome back to another Quizzy Monday! Coming up later, the second phase of Only Connect begins, and a quick reintroduction to what is now a staple of Radio 4's rotating quiz line-up. But we begin with UC as usual, with tonight's match being between two institutions whose best showing on the show so far has been a second place finish.

 

Trinity Hall Cambridge, not to be confused with Trinity College Cambridge from a few weeks ago, were unlucky to be runners-up to Manchester in 2005-06; tonight is their first student series appearance since 2007-08 when they were beaten by, again, Manchester in the QFs. They were represented by:

Teymour Taj, from London, studying Astrophysics

Jake Bransgrove, from Auckland, studying History

Captain: Jeffrey Opreij, from Margraten in the Netherlands, studying Mathematical Physics

Shannon Gilbert, from Brechfa in Wales, studying Chinese Studies  

 

The London School of Economics were runners-up in the all-London final against Imperial in the second Paxo-ero series of 1995-96; last year, its team was unlucky to draw and lose to U.C.L. in the second round as they were a pretty good team. Playing for them this year were:

Ryan Sharpe, from Oakville, Ontario, studying History and Philosophy

Cormac Beirne, from Ireland and Canada, studying International Relations

Captain: Andy Huff, from Houston, Texas, studying International Social and Public Policy

Catherine Tan, from Lexington, Massachusetts, studying Anthropology and Global Studes  

 

We started very well indeed, with both sides taking a starter and full set of bonuses each. A penalty to Trinity Hall allowed L.S.E. to pull away though and, after the first picture round, the Londoners led 65-20. Trinity Hall recovered well with four starters in a row and, while their bonus conversion varied quite a bit, they had nonetheless taken the lead back. L.S.E. got back into the game with the music round, which allowed them to cut the gap to 80-70.

 

The two sides then swapped starters for a bit, after which they were on level pegging. L.S.E. then took two starters in a row and all but one of the resulting bonuses to eke out a strong lead. They also took the picture round, after which they were all but guaranteed at least a repechage slot, leading 155-95. A penalty brought Trinity Hall back into the game though, but L.S.E. kept their cool and took the next starter and all three bonuses to put themselves within sight of victory. Only for two penalties, one of which Trinity Hall picked up, opened the game up again. But L.S.E. recovered again and pulled away into a strong lead that made the game look a lot more one sided than it was. At the gong, L.S.E. won 215-135.

 

A very good high quality contest indeed, two very strong teams indeed. Well done L.S.E., a very good first showing and, if they don't get another unlucky second round draw, they could be a team to watch; best of luck to them in that second round! Hard lines to Trinity Hall, a very decent team who I fancy could've easily beaten another team; thanks very much to them for playing.

 

The stats: Mr Huff was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Mr Taj was best for Trinity Hall with four. On the bonuses, Trinity Hall managed 15 out of 24 (with four costly penalties) and L.S.E. a pretty good 25 out of 34 (also with four penalties, for a joint total of eight which must be the most for some time).

 

Next week's match: Durham vs Merton Oxford

 

Only Connect’s first elimination match was contested by the Pear Trees, who were beaten by Oh No They Didn’t in their first match, and the Caraxians, who lost to the Whitley Baes first time out.

 

I claim the same point as the Trees on their first two questions in the first round, the birthdays question and the ‘we’ question; the Caraxians led 5-3 at the end of that round. I claim the same three points as the Trees on the first question of the second round, two points on the Oceania question and the same three as the Caraxians on the knock knock question, while my Dad claims two points on the Marx Brothers question; the Trees led 9-8 after all that.

 

The Caraxians went first on the Walls, and took their time to work out all four groups, and got all the connections too, so a full ten points. The Trees also took their time and worked everything out for another full ten, so, as you were, they led 19-18 going into Missing Vowels. The Trees fared better and increased their lead in that to win the game 28-22. Well done them, and best of luck in the play-offs! And thanks to the Caraxians for taking part.

 

Mastermind was won by Eric Davis, whose 24 points saw him home ahead of Nigel Haynes with 21; Gurpal Cheema and Annette Fenner, formerly of OC, finished further back with 18.

 

We also had the return on Radio 4 yesterday of The 3rd Degree, the university based quiz which, like UC, deals with Oxbridge colleges singularly. We were in Bristol yesterday though, with the highlight of the show being a joke about Chess Masters which those of yous who watched that particular show back in the Spring would very much approve of I suspect!

 

And that's another week in the bag! I won't be making The 3rd Degree a regular feature of this blog unless something notable happens; this is just a place holder really until Brain of Britain, hopefully, returns soon. Anyway, thanks as ever for reading; see yous again same time same place next week...