Christmas University Challenge 2025: Matches 1-5 (Monday 22nd - Sunday 28th)

Greetings friends! Hope you all had a safe and Happy Christmas. Let's get on with this blog now though; I should've been doing this last night, but the BBC's decision to put yesterday's show on at the same time as Death in Paradise put pay to that. Anyway, this year, to mark the fifteenth Christmas series, TPTB have invited back one team from each of the previous fourteen; a very good idea IMO, and it's been great fun seeing these teams again, especially those from the very earliest Christmas series. Anyway, let's do this thing...

 

Monday 22nd: Durham vs Manchester

Durham: Liz James, Tracey Macleod, Carla Denyer, Sophie Smith Galer

Manchester: David Nott, Juliet Jacques, Ade Edmondson, Justin Edwards

 

The series kicked off with the winners of last year's series against the runners-up of the 2020 series. Manchester started stronger and led much of the way though, but Durham recovered and ran away with the game in the second half, and won 200-140. As it stands, unless tomorrow's winners beat that score, we'll be seeing them again later this week.

 

Tuesday 23rd: U.C.L. vs Leeds

U.C.L.: Tom Dyckhoff, Vivienne Parry, Lynne Truss, Maryam Moshiri

Leeds: Libby Wiener, David Adam, Alistair McGowan, Jay Raynor

 

Three quarters of the 2025 U.C.L. team, with Ms Moshiri from the 2019 team replacing Adam Rutherford, faced the entire Leeds team from 2012. And beat them most comfortably, though Leeds deservedly pulled back to a more respectable score late on. U.C.L. won 235-70 and we'll definitely be seeing them again later this week.

 

Wednesday 24th: Keble College Oxford vs Hull

Keble: Paul Johnson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Anne-Marie Imafidon, Caroline Criado Perez

Hull: Andrew Halsall, Tracey Borman, Joanna Nadin, Nitasha Kaul

 

Three quarters of the winning Keble team from 2017 and the Hull team of 2019 met here, with Ms Imafidon and Ms Nadin taking over as captains in lieu of the original skippers, Katy Brand and Lucy Beaumount, and first-timers Ms Criado Perez and Ms Kaul joining the teams. Another one-sided game, with Messrs Johnson and Cottell-Boyce dominating procedings, though, again, Hull did manage a respectable score. Keble won 275-85, the highest score of the series so far, and will also be back this week.

 

Friday 26th: Bristol vs Trinity College Cambridge

Bristol: Philip Ball, Laura Wade, Misha Glenny, Camilla Pang

Trinity: Robin Bhattacharyya, Daisy Goodwin, John Lloyd, Edward Stourton

 

Three quarters of the second place Bristol team from the 2018 series, with Ms Pang from the 2021 team replacing Iain Stewart, faced the Trinity team who won the very first Christmas series in 2011 (the only one that predates this blog!). Mr Bhattacharyya, captain of the Trinity team that won the first BBC series of the show in 1994-95, was the difference here, answering an impressive NINE(!) starters, though a very good bonus rate of 29 out of 39 helped as well; again, Bristol didn't disgrace themselves, but were well beaten. Trinity won 260-55 and will also be back this coming week.

 

Sunday 28th: Exeter College Oxford vs Trinity Hall Cambridge

Exeter: Alexander Watson, Sanchia Berg, Reeta Chakrabarti, Andy Anson

Trinity Hall: Dan Starkey, Emma Pooley, Adam Mars-Jones, Datshiane Navanayagam

 

Last night's match saw the entire Exeter team from the 2022 series face three quarters of the winning Trinity Hall team from 2014, with newcomer Ms Navanayagam replacing Tom James. A lower scoring contest this one, with Trinity Hall leading for the most part before Exeter fought back and it was nip and tuck for the final few minutes of the game; ultimately, the Oxonians won it on the final starter! Exeter won 150-145, which means neither team will be coming back later this week unfortunately.

 

And so, after all those matches, we knew that Keble and Trinity were definitely through, and tonight's result means so will U.C.L.; I'll be covering tonight's match and the rest of this week's play in my second blog of this mini-series on Sunday.

 

Until them, thanks to everyone who has read this blog during 2025; a safe and Happy New Year to all, and I'll see yous on Sunday for the first blog of 2026! Until then, sayonara... 

A Change of Plan

Greetings friends. Just a quick blog to let you know that my plans for Quizzy Mondays coverage over the Christmas period is going to have to change a bit.

 

Now, my original plan was to publish my write-ups of tonight's and next Monday's regular editions of Only Connect in a mini blog next Monday. However, I will now be waiting until the New Year and doing both of them and the first one of the New Year, the first semi-final, in the first full blog of said New Year on January the 5th.

 

You see, Sunday's edition of Christmas UC is on at the same time as the Death in Paradise Christmas special and, as UC is three time shorter than that and thus easier to watch later on, I'll be watching DiP live. So, I'm going to watch Sunday's UC on Monday, and then write my summary of it and the rest of the first week's shows this time next Monday this time next week.

 

So, that's the revised schedule for how I'm going to publish things on this blog over the next fortnight.

 

While I'm here, a bit of bad news: just like last year, Celebrity Mastermind will be carrying on into the regular Quizzy Mondays for the first few weeks of the New Year. And, given that, by the time the regular series starts again, OC will be finished, that means last week was the last full Quizzy Monday line-up of this season.

 

At least that means my write-up in two weeks' time with three OCs will be a bit less bloated.

 

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll be back same time same place next Monday with my write-up of tonight's Xmas UC plus the rest of this week's games. In the meantime, have a safe and happy Christmas, and I'll see yous next week for my final post of the year. 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 23: University Challenge R2M7, Only Connect Quarter-Final 2, Mastermind Heat 22

Hello again my friends, and welcome to the final (complete) Quizzy Monday of 2025! That's it for regular UC and Mastermind; both are now on Christmas specials for the next two weeks. OC will be airing regular shows on the next two Mondays alongside the festive specials on other days, but I'm not doing a full blog for just one show each week; probably just an abridged blog covering both episodes on the 29th. Anyway, that's a matter for then; let's get on with tonight's shows for now, beginning with the last regular UC of the year...

 

Lincoln marked their first ever episode of UC with a victory, winning a closely fought game against Lancaster 170-145 on the final starter of the game. They were the same unchanged foursome as that successful first outing:

Grace Bloomfield, from Buckingham, studying Chemistry

Laura Bruce, from Perth, studying Conservation and Cultural Heritage

Captain: Samuel Orman-Chan, from Derbyshire, studying Computer Science

John Clayworth, from Wigan, studying History

 

U.C.L. won a similarly close contest against SOAS in their first match, leading throughout but never comfortable, they eventually came home winners 210-170. They were also the same unchanged quartet as the first time around:

Zak Lakota-Baldwin, from London, studying Science and Technology Studies

Alice Lee, from Kendal, studying Russian and Post-Soviet Politics

Captain: Michael Doherty, from Derry, studying Optical Communications

Manny Campion-Dye, from Bath, studying Philosophy

 

U.C.L. kicked off the match with a starter and full set of bonuses; Lincoln took the second starter, but just one bonus. The London side took the remaining starters of the first period, including the first picture starter; after the first picture round, which I surprised myself by getting the same perfect 25 as them, they led 80-15. Lincoln took a second starter, but no bonuses this time; that and a penalty were their only contribution to the second period as U.C.L. pulled further ahead. Lincoln did take the music round, after which they trailed 115-35.

 

U.C.L. continued to dominate in the third period and, after the second picture round, they led 160-55. Lincoln took a couple of starters in a row, and they coupled half the resulting bonuses, lifted them to a more respectable score. U.C.L. saw out the game comfortably though and, at the gong, they won 190-85.

 

An enjoyable enough game to end the year on. Well done to U.C.L., a solid performance; best of luck to them in the QFs! Hard lines to Lincoln, but they didn't disgrace themselves, especially as it's their first ever series on the show; thanks very much to them for playing!

 

The stats: Mr Campion-Dye was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Mr Clayworth was, again, best for Lincoln, with four. On the bonuses, Lincoln managed 7 out of 18 and U.C.L. 18 out of 31, and both sides incurred two penalties each.

 

And that's it for this year; two weeks of Christmas specials now, with summaries at the end of both weeks (if I remember to do them), before we resume on January the 5th with Churchill vs Merton in the finals second round match.

 

Only Connect’s second quarter-final saw the returns of the Metrophiles, who got here unbeaten with wins over the Grapevines and the Showstoppers, and the Whitley Baes, who defeated the Caraxians and the Pear Trees, but also lost to Oh No They Didn’t.

 

I claim two points on the two things in Liverpool question in the first round; the Metrophiles led 4-0 at the end of that. I also half-claim the same two points as the Metrophiles on the ballet dancers question in the second round; they led 9-4 after that.

 

The Metrophiles went first on the Walls, and took their time to work out all four groups; they got all the connections as well, so a full ten points. The Baes struggled on theirs, taking one group and a second just on the buzzer; they did get two connections though, and VCM allowed them an alternative suggestion for one of the others as she felt it fitted, so five points, which left them trailing 19-9 going into Missing Vowels. It was always going to be a big ask for them and indeed, despite a good effort, the Metrophiles maintained their advantage and won the game 24-15. Well done them, and best of luck in the semi-finals! And thanks to the Baes for playing, a pleasant team.

 

Next week's (regular) match: the Pitchers vs the Sorcerers on Monday, followed by the first two Christmas specials on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

 

Mastermind was won by David Slater, who won a low scoring heat with 15 points ahead of Helen Woolston and Carter Latif with 13 each and Melissa Hewitt with 11.

 

And that's it for the final full week of the year! Thanks as ever for reading, both this week and throughout the year; I'm currently undecided as to whether I'm going to carry on into next 'season' as well, but I won't make any firm decisions until the time comes. Anyway, hopefully, I'll be back next weekend with a write-up of the first week of Xmas UC, and then a summary of the two regular OCs on the 29th; so, see yous then I guess... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 22: University Challenge R2M6, Only Connect Quarter-Final 1, Mastermind Heat 21

Good evening my friends, and welcome to the penultimate Quizzy Monday of 2025! Yes, I know we will have two full Mondays of quizzes on the 22nd and 29th, but only OC will be the regular series, so I don't plan to publish a full write-up those weeks; just my usual Xmas UC write-ups at the end of both weeks, and probably a summary of the two regular OCs on the 29th. Like UC, Mastermind will also be having two full weeks of specials; hopefully no more intruding into the first weeks of the New Year again this time. Anyway, on with tonight's shows, and a fine night of quizzing, beginning with UC...

 

Trinity College Cambridge defeated Linacre of Oxford in their first match, dominating the first half before their opponents recovered well in the second, eventually winning 210-115. They were the same unchanged foursome as that first time:

Piers Marchant, from Sunbury-on-Thames, studying History

Alessandro D'Attanasio, from London, studying Physics

Captain: Yusuf Khand, from Liverpool, studying Physics

Lily Kearney, from Backwell near Bristol, studying Systems Biology

 

Edinburgh defeated Newcastle in their first match, which I'll always remember as it was on the night of Storm Floris, also leading throughout and ultimately seeing it home 200-105. They were also the same unchanged quartet as that fateful night:

Parthav Easwar, from Portland, Oregon, studying Sustainable Lands and Cities

Johnny Richards, from Los Angeles, studying Ancient DNA

Captain: Alice Leonard, from Portsmouth, studying Environment, Culture and Society

Rayhana Amjad, from Dublin and Glasgow, studying Computer Science

 

The two sides started evenly with a starter and two bonuses each, before Trinity pulled away with two starters in a row, including the first picture starter; after the first picture round, they thus led 50-20. The sides then swapped starters, only for Trinity to also incur two penalties, which allowed Edinburgh to pull level. But one of their own allowed Trinity back into the lead and they took all three bonuses to boot. Edinburgh bounced back with the music round though, after which the teams were now level again, 75-each.

 

Suddenly, it was the Scots side who had the momentum, and three starters in a row and every bonus bar two meant they'd suddenly pulled away into a strong lead. Trinity recovered with the second picture round though, which reduced their arrears to 145-85. A second starter in a row and a timely full set of bonuses pulled the Cambridge side into three figures, and a penalty to Edinburgh led to a third in a row that allowed them to pull back to within ten points. Back came Edinburgh though with a starter and two bonuses; Trinity responded with a very quick buzz on the next starter, but no bonuses followed. And when Edinburgh took the next starter and another two bonuses, that was probably them home and dry. Trinity did take the final starter, but missed the one bonus there was time for. At the gong, Edinburgh won 180-150.

 

A good contest between two very well matched teams, ultimately it was Edinburgh's better performance on the bonus that won them the game. Well done them, and best of luck in the group stage! Hard lines to Trinity, but they didn't disgrace themselves; thanks to them for playing.

 

The stats: Mr Marchant was the best buzzer of the night with seven starters, while Mr Richards was best for Edinburgh with six. On the bonuses, Trinity managed 13 out of 28 (with three penalties) and Edinburgh 20 out of 27 (with two penalties).

 

Next week's match: Lincoln vs U.C.L., and then we break for Christmas

 

Only Connect began its quarter-final stage with the 5ks, who lost their first match to Showstoppers before beating the Grapevines and then turning the tables as they met the Showstoppers again and this time won, and Oh No They Didn’t, who came straight through to this match by beating the Pear Trees and the Whitley Baes.

 

My Mum claims the same point as the 5ks on the Hell freezing over question and we all claim the same point as them on the musicals question; they led 4-2 after that round. I don’t think we got anything in the second round, but the 5ks claimed a very rare FIVE POINTS on a question about braille; they thus led 9-6 at the end of that.

 

ONTD went first on the Walls, and used nearly all their time to get all four groups; they only got two connections though, so six points. The 5ks also got all four groups, but not all the connections, three they got; seven points, which nonetheless upped their lead to 16-12 going into Missing Vowels. They fared quite a bit better in that, and won the game 23-15. Well done them, and best of luck in the semi-finals! And thanks to ONTD for playing, a fun team.

 

Next week's match: the Metrophiles vs the Whitley Baes 

 

Mastermind was narrowly won by Alan Hotchkiss, whose 19 points saw him just edge the game ahead of Emma Reeves, who led after the SS round, but had an unlucky late ran on the GK round and finished one point short on 18. Ffion Rowlands and William Tams (UC alumnus) also competed, finishing with 7 and 16 respectively.

 

And that's it, we're done for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; as I said before, next week is the last full Monday of regular shows this year before UC and Mastermind break for their Christmas specials. OC will also be having some festive specials, albeit back to just the four this year, plus two regular episodes and a few repeats ensures we'll have ten days of all three quizzes on this festive fortnight! Anyway, back as usual next week with my last write-up of the year, so, see yous then... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 21: University Challenge R2M5, Only Connect Play-Off 4, Mastermind Heat 20

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! Back to a feeling of normality this week after the odd feeling of last Monday, after a much more conventional week; enjoy it while we can as there won't be many more of them for a while as winter and Christmas both approach. I believe the fixtures for this year's Xmas UC and OC are both out, but I've yet to get around to checking them out; will do so tomorrow. Anyway, on with business as usual tonight, beginning with UC...

 

Manchester were narrow winners in their first match over New College Oxford, surviving a late fightback from their opponents to win 170-150 on the final starter of the game. They were the same foursome as before:

Ray Power, from Bangkok, studying Film and English Literature

Kirsty Dickson, from Morley Green in Cheshire, studying Medicine

Captain: Kai Madgwick, from Fowey in Cornwall, studying AI and Astrophysics

Rob Faulkner, from Norwich, studying Physics with Astrophysics

 

The London School of Economics beat Trinity Hall Cambridge in a higher scoring first round contest; in contrast, they pulled away late on and won 215-135. They were also the same quartet as the first time around:

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

Cormac Beirne, from Ireland and Canada, studying the History of International Relations

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

Catherine Tan, from Lexington, Massachusetts, studying Anthropology and International Relations

 

We begin on a very slightly controversial note as two L.S.E. players answered the first starter at the same time; as one of them was the player who'd been announced, the chairman let them have it. He did not, however, let them off with a hesitation after buzzing on the second starter, allowing Manchester into the game. It proved a blip to L.S.E.'s dominance of the first quarter; after the first picture round, they led 45-25. Another L.S.E. penalty allowed Manchester to pull back within ten, but one to the Mancunians handed the Londoners the advantage and they reached three figures first. Manchester did take the music round, which they too one bonus on, which helped them cut the gap to 100-55.

 

This proved the start of a strong recovery from Manchester, as their virtuoso captain Mr Madgwick went on a run on the buzzer and, a few starters later, they'd suddenly taken the lead! They also took the second picture round, after which they now led 120-100. L.S.E. suddenly reawoke though, and took a couple of starters to move back into the lead. But a penalty pegged them back; Manchester didn't take advantage, but their captain took the next starter to pull them level again. A couple of penalties pushed them back, but Mr Faulkner took the next starter and one bonus gave them the lead again. And when Mr Madgwick took the final starter, that was game over; at the gong, Manchester won 160-135.

 

An absorbing contest between two very even teams, but Manchester were worthy winners in the end. Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs! Hard lines to L.S.E., another team who can consider themselves unfortunate to be out already; thanks to them for playing, a good team.

 

The stats: Mr Madgwick was, again, the best buzzer of the night with, again, NINE(!) starters, already giving them a total of 18 over two games, while Mr Huff was best for L.S.E. with four. On the bonuses, Manchester managed 15 out of 28 and L.S.E. 14 out of 24, and both sides incurred three penalties.

 

Next week's match: Trinity Cambridge vs Edinburgh, followed by Lincoln vs U.C.L. the week after, and then we break for Christmas.

 

Only Connect’s final play-off match was contested by the Benchwarmers, who were beaten by the Pitchers in their first match, but beat the Scanners in their second, and the Workers Bees, who, once again, did the exact same things in the opposite rounds!

 

I don’t think my household claimed any points in the first round; the Benchwarmers led 6-2 at the end of it. We did work out the languages sequence in the second round at around the same time as the Benchwarmers, but not sure if we’d have thought of an answer in time; I definitely claim FIVE POINTS on the Liz Truss question. The Benchwarmers led 12-6 after that.

 

The Benchwarmers went first on the Walls, and took quite a while to find one group, before getting timed out; they did get two of the connections though, so three points. The Bees, in contrast, took their time and worked out all the groups for a full ten, while meant they now led 16-15 going into Missing Vowels. And they just about hung on to their lead there to complete the comeback and win 20-19! Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs, and thanks to the Benchwarmers for playing.

 

Next week’s match: the first quarter-final, between the 5ks and Oh No They Didn’t

 

Mastermind was won by Teddy Fogel, who was level on 10 each with Meg Stapleton after the SS round, but fared a touch better on GK to win with 19 points to her 17; Tom McAndrew and Meena Heath also took part, finishing with 11 and 15 respectively.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; only two more regular weeks to go before we break for Christmas, though, depending on whether some regular editions creep in during the festive fortnight, as has happened before, I may still keep this blog series going, we'll have to wait and see. All will become clear when I finally check the listings tomorrow. Anyway, back next week, same time same place, with my usual normal write-up, so, see yous then I guess...