The Third Degree: Week 4: Leicester

So, here we go with the latest edition of the Third Degree. This week's show came from the University of Leicester, who won the very first series of University Challenge way back in 1963. The students were:
John O'Doherty, studying Medicine
Bevan Edwin, studying Sociology
Maria Valach, studying Physics

And the dons were:
Alison Goodall (Medicine)
Dr Edmund Chateau-Brown (Sociology)
Martin Varstow (Physics)

So, on with the show, which began, as always with the alternative questions round. One rather complicated question wanted a series of words created by adding a letter onto alternative ends of the previous. Another asked how the Cornish cheese 'Yarg' got its name; the name of the family who first made it, Gray, backwards! The scores after this round were the dons ahead 12-4.

And so onto the first specialist round between the two medicine specialists. Alison struggles with her questions, allowing John to pick up a few bonuses for the students, and narrow the gap to just two points. On to the lists round, where the dons managed six on 'English words ending in QUE'. The students managed all eight of the 'official field events at the Olympics', which gave the a narrow lead of 21-20.

Specialist round #2 next, between Mr Edwin, and Dr Chateau-Brown, on sociology. Both managed a clean sweep on all their questions. Which brought us onto the ever brilliant 'Highbrow-Lowbrow'; this week saw all three students, and two of the dons opt for the two point option, with only Mr Varstow not risking it. One rather complex question asked what the highest possible score for a game of snooker would be if an extra colour was added. After all this, the dons had retaken the lead 28-26.

And so onto the final specialist round between the remaining student-don pair. Both did very well, with just one question being missed between the two of them. Thus, going into the final quickfire round, it was a dead heat. The dons just managed to edge out on the buzzers here, with Dr Chateau-Brown doing most of the buzzing, as Steve pointed out at the end of the round.

The dons won by 38-33, but a good close match was fought here, and both sides can be happy with that. Good show.