University Challenge 2018-19: Grand Final: Edinburgh vs St Edmund Hall

Evening all. Not been a good day for quizzing this has. Firstly, on this morning's Popmaster, someone suggested that Stuck in the Middle with You was by 'Steeleye Dan'. Then, on Brain of Britain, none of the four contenders recognised the theme to Camberwick Green. That left Quizzy Mondays with the job of saving face for the day. And what better way to do that than with the University Challenge Grand Final! Two teams who had fought hard and played well to get this far; whoever won would be very worthy winners.

Edinburgh got here by beating Sidney Sussex of Cambridge, U.C.L., Manchester, Bristol and, in a close semi-final, Durham, who they also lost to en route. Hoping to win their first UC title and be the first Scots winners of the BBC era were: 
Matt Booth, from Bristol, studying Maths    
Marco Malusa, from Italy, studying Economics and Politics    
Captain: Max Fitz-James, from Burgundy, studying Cell Biology    
Robbie Campbell Hewson, from Edinburgh, studying Maths

St Edmund Hall Oxford arrived at this match by beating York, Clare of Cambridge, Emmanuel of Cambridge, Bristol also and, in an even closer semi-final, Darwin of Cambridge. Also hoping to win their first UC title were: 
Agastya Pisharody, from India and Basel, studying Material Science   
Marceline Bresson, from the Netherlands, studying Economics and Management   
Captain: Freddie Leo, from Berlin, studying History   
Lizzie Fry, from Worcestershire, studying Geography

Off we set again then, and the final didn't get off to the best start, with a penalty from Edinburgh; Ms Fry took the points for St Edmund Hall, and a single bonus on paperclips accompanied it. Mr Leo, so impressive prior to tonight, took his first starter of the night, and his side duly hammered home a full bonus set on literature. Mr Malusa got Edinburgh going in the right direction as he took their first starter of the game; a classic UC bonus set on the Periodic Table in Chinese provided the Scots side with a full house. The first picture round, on Venn diagrams of Shakespeare plays with a shared character name missing, went to Edinburgh, who took two bonuses this time, drawing the teams level on 40-all.

Mr Leo shot in like he has many times this year to identify 'Lagrange', and a second full set of bonuses took his side back into the lead. Ms Fry then took a second in a row for the Oxonians, but just the one bonus was taken this time. Mr Pisharody was unlucky on the next starter, buzzing to offer one Greek letter, then realising he'd been asked for two, and not having one. Five points off there, and Mr Campbell Hewson duly swooped with both for the points; bonuses on Iron Maiden saw Edinburgh restore the Twittersphere's faith when it comes to pop music on UC, as they took a full set.

The music starter was three pieces of pop music, all with a colour in their name, which come together top to bottom to form a national flag. Neither team got this classic UC question. The music bonuses eventually went to Edinburgh, with Mr Leo dropping another five on the replacement starter; they managed one of the colours and flags music bonuses, and now led 80-70. And it increased when Mr Fitz-James correctly, though he didn't think it, offered 'Agrippina' for the next starter; two bonuses followed, and they unluckily picked the wrong of two options for the other. And when Mr Malusa took the next starter, and a full set of bonuses on artist Elizabeth Catlett followed, they had a potentially match winning lead. But a penalty gave St Edmund Hall a chance to get back into the game, which Ms Fry duly took, and a much needed full bonus set kept the Oxonians in the game.

The second picture round, on artistic couples, went to Edinburgh, who took two and a half bonuses, which took their lead to 140-95. Another penalty gave St Edmund Hall another chance to close the gap though, which they duly took thanks to what looked like an educated guess from Mr Pisharody. Another classic UC bonus set on pairs of place names where the last three letters of the first and first three of the second are the same followed, of which they took just the one.

But Mr Leo then shot in with 'Gypsum', and two bonuses on computer science followed, putting them within five points. And then Ms Bresson put them on level pegging with a very quick buzz of her own on the next starter, but the Oxonians only managed one bonus, which was none the less sufficient to put them back in front. Next starter would surely win it: the teams were asked which number is represented by the Roman numerals that were also the first three letters of the city where Wayne Rooney and others were born. Both knew it was Liverpool, but Mr Campbell Hewson was first in with the right answer of 54. Bonuses on the Empress Theodora followed; Edinbugh took the first two... and that was the gong! Edinburgh won 155-140!

And so, to present the trophy to the winners, out came writer and UC alumnus Sebastian Faulks, who claimed he thought the questions 'staggeringly difficult', before doing the honours. And as the credits rolled, we had the usual grand final handshakes.

A great final, a fine end to another superb series, played well by both teams, bravo both for applauding each other at the gong as well! Unlucky St Edmund Hall, but no shame in a series of performances like that, they can go home with their heads held high, well done! Very very very well done Edinburgh though; most worthy champions!

The stats: Mr Fitz-James was the best buzzer of the final, with four, taking his final series total to 30. Mr Leo and Ms Fry, meanwhile, were best for St Edmund Hall with three each, Mr Leo ending the series with 44 starters, second only to Mr Golfinos' 50. On the bonuses, Edinburgh converted a great 18 out of 23 (with three penalties), while St Edmund Hall managed 14 out of 24 (with two penalties), so, as I sort of predicted, it was the bonuses wot won it. But well done both teams; a top end to the series!

And that's it! We're done for another year! Thanks to all who took part, plus Messrs Paxman and Tilling for another great series, here's to the next one! My usual buzzer stats and end of series review coming up later this week.

And, of course, we still have Only Connect to finish off as well; review of tonight's third place play-off coming up on Wednesday I hope.