Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 13: University Challenge R1M13, Only Connect Elimination Match 12, Mastermind Heat 12

Good evening again my friends, and welcome to the last Quizzy Monday for a couple of weeks. Don't worry, the quizzes are on next week, but they're on Tuesday (the 14th) instead of next Monday (the 13th), as BBC2 is showing Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier match against Germany on the Monday instead. I'm in two minds whether to change the name of next week's post in reference to the change of day! Anyway, we'll cross that bridge when the time comes; for now, it's business as usual, on with this week's shows, beginning with UC...

 

Imperial College London has a record second to none when it comes to UC, with a record five series wins, including three in the last seven series; last year's team looked like good bets for a sixth until they were somewhat unexpectedly knocked out in the QFs. Playing for them this year were:

Rahim Dina, from Peterborough (originally the Seychelles), studying Ecology and Evolution

Eugenia Tong, from Hong Kong, studying Chemistry

Captain: Oscar O'Flanagan, from London, studying Atmospheric Physics

Justin Keung, from Hong Kong, studying Computing  

 

Churchill College Cambridge won the show during the original era in 1971, but has only made three previous appearances in the BBC era; the first two were second round exits, the third, and most recent before tonight, was a first round exit in 2006-07. They were represented by:

Ella McGovern, from London, studying Medicine

Matt Hasler, from Cambridge, studying Law

Captain: Sam Webber, from Birmingham, studying Chemistry

Shiv Seshan, from Detroit, studying Maths  

 

The two sides shared the first two starters, but only took one bonus of the resulting sets. Imperial then took two starters in a row, including the first picture starter; after the first picture bonuses, they led 45-15. A further two starters went to the London side, but they continued to struggle with the bonuses, only one each from both sets. Churchill took a couple of starters, but they too took just two bonuses. After the music round, Imperial led 80-45.

 

Imperial took another starter to reach three figures, but then lost five to a penalty. Churchill took two starters in a row, did better with the bonuses, two from each set, and were suddenly just ten behind. And then they took the second picture round, after which they narrowly led 100-95. Imperial quickly retook the lead though, and the bonuses finally fell for them, a full set. Churchill took another starter to pull level again though, and then a second in a row and a full set gave them the lead. A third in a row and two bonuses put them on the verge of victory, but Imperial bit back with a starter and three very quick bonuses. Another starter and a single bonus brought the Londoners back within five; next starter would win it! Mr Hasler took it, and that was the gong! Churchill won 175-160!

 

A good contest that started slowly, then gradually got better, leading up to a very close finale! Well done to Churchill, an excellent recovery after struggling at first; best of luck to them in the second round! Hard lines to Imperial, but they'll be back in the repechage and have as good a chance as anyone there; best of luck to them then!

 

The stats: Mr Seshan was the best buzzer of the night with six starters, while Mr O'Flanagan was best for Imperial with four. On the bonuses, Imperial managed 15 out of 30 (with three penalties) and Churchill 15 out of 28, so the two teams got exactly the same number of questions right as each other! It was the penalties that did it for Imperial unfortunately for them.

 

Next week's match: Magdalen Oxford vs Robinson Cambridge

 

Only Connect’s final eliminator match was contested by the Jive Bunnies, who lost to the Sorcerers in their first match, and the Keyboard Worriers, who were beaten by the Doctors Matthews on a tie-break first time around.

 

My Dad claims three points on the things with women’s names question in the first round; I claim the same two points as the Worriers on the line question. They led 5-2 at the end of that round. We jointly claim three points on the compass points question in the second round; the Worriers led 13-4 at the end of that, with the Bunnies unfortunate to just run out of time on a question they knew.

 

They thus needed a good wall, and they got just that, getting all the groups and all the connections for a full ten. The Worriers, in contrast, really struggled with theirs and didn’t get any groups; they did get two of the connections though, but that had closed the scores right up, they now only led 15-14 going into Missing Vowels. The Worriers just about hung on there though, and just made it home 21-19. Well done them, and best of luck next time, and thanks to the Bunnies for playing!

 

Mastermind was won by Peter Glanvill, whose 20 points saw him just beat Matthew McStea with 18; Marcus Welsh and Phyllis Ramage also competed, finishing with 13 and 12 respectively.

 

Also, yesterday’s episode of The 3rd Degree, filmed in Worcester College Oxford, was a very close call indeed, with the Dons beating the Students 31-30 on the final question of the game! Certainly a far cry from the episode filmed in Somerville College Oxford a few years back where the Dons won very easily, though, to be fair, it was probably to be expected given that one of them was Luke Pitcher, who was part of the Somerville team that won UC in 2001-02. Still, the fact that the show treats Oxbridge colleges singularly as well is an underrated argument for UC continuing to do so as well.

 

And that's it for this week! Remember, the quizzes are on Tuesday, not Monday, next week, which also means I might do a full(er) review of Mastermind again for one week only; we'll see how I feel when the time comes. So, we'll see yous then I guess...

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...