University Challenge 2022-23: Round 1: Match 11: Balliol vs Southampton

Good evening friends, and welcome to the third and penultimate (for now) installment of Quizzy Tuesday! Thankfully, we were on at a much more sensible time this week, so back to fuller reviews tonight. I am considering whether to make the streamlined style permanent for the first round at least next series though, if indeed I decide to carry on next series. On with tonight's show, where the task for the two teams was to either win, or lose with a score of 185 or more to guarantee a return.

Balliol College Oxford is appearing for the ninth time in the BBC era, and, as Paxo pointed out, is the last Oxford institution to have won the show (back in 2016-17), as well as reaching both the QFs and the SFs twice, including on its last outing two series ago. This year's foursome were:

Ben Falconer, from Liverpool, studying Ancient and Modern History

Ella Higgs-Sharrock, from Norwich, studying Medieval History

Captain: Cal Hewitt, from Canterbury, studying Physics

Leonie Loughlin, from South Shields, studying Medicine 

Southampton is making its tenth appearance of the BBC era, of which its most successful was the 2013-14 team that included our old friend Richard Evans and OC alumni Matt Loxham and Bob De Caux, who reached the QFs; its three teams since, the last three series ago, have all fallen in the second round. This year's quartet were:

Ethan Lyon, from Northampton, studying Film

Magda Steele, from Poland, studying Ecology

Captain: Dom Belcher, from Worcestershire, studying Machine Learning

Elliot Miles, from the Wirral, studying Marine Biology 

So off we set again then, and Mr Lyon took the first starter of the night, but the Saints failed to secure any of their first bonus set on poetry and science. Balliol in contrast got a full house on their first set that included a welcome mention of that old UC favourite the Hapax Legomenon! Two starters were dropped before Southampton took a second starter, and this time managed one bonus on 'American' films. They also took the first picture round, on pasta sauces and their ingredients; two bonuses gave them a lead of 45-25.

Mr Belcher gave Southampton a third starter in a row, and the Saints' gradually improving bonus rate was completed as they took a full set on video games. Balliol took a second starter, and two bonuses on military paintings by Lady Butler, but Southampton had the run on the buzzers, Mr Belcher taking two in a row, with one bonus from the first set on particle physics, but a full house from the second, on movie Easter eggs. The music round, on songs written in protest at the Vietnam War, also went to Southampton; just one bonus followed, but they had now upped their lead to 125-45.

And it just kept getting bigger as Mr Lyon took the next starter, giving them a bonus set on Scottish football, which they got one of (and I got all three of), and which included a mention of the old joke of Queen of the South being the only football team mentioned in the Bible! ("I believe they last won a trophy in 43 AD!" "That's a brammer, PAAAAT!") Mr Falconer finally got another starter on the board for Balliol, and a full bonus set proved they weren't out of the game if they could get a run together. But Mr Belcher and Ms Steele took the next two starters, with five out of six bonuses following, including a very quick full house on office equipment. The Saints also took the second picture round, on paintings analysed by Foucault; no bonuses were taken, but they now led 195-70, and the game was pretty much over.

Which left Balliol with the task of getting to the play-offs; Ms Loughlin took the next starter, and two bonuses meant they could still do that if they got a move on. Ms Higgs-Sharrock then took the next, and one bonus on languages deservedly took them into three figures. But Mr Belcher took the next for Southampton, which took them past 200; two bonuses on London music were taken, including them welcomingly declaring 'Mornington Crescent'! Both sides then dropped five points late on, after which Balliol took another starter, but just one bonus ended their play-off hopes. At the gong, Southampton won 210-115.

A fun contest between two good watchable teams, well played both there. Well done to Southampton, a good performance that could stand them in good stead in the next round, especially if they can improve their hit and miss bonus rate; best of luck in the next round! Hard lines to Balliol, a reasonable team who, like St Catherine's last week, would've maybe done better against another team, but a fair effort, thanks for playing!

The stats: Mr Lyon was the best buzzer of the night with six starters, while Ms Hewitt and Ms Loughlin got two each for Balliol. On the bonuses, Balliol managed 12 out of 18 and Southampton 19 out of 36, and both sides incurred one late penalty each.

Next week's match, same time next Tuesday: Bangor vs Nottingham

Only Connect’s third eliminator match saw the returns of the Jugadores and the Seagulls. The latter led 5-4 after the first round, before the former levelled it up at 9-9 after the second. Two perfect walls meant it stayed level, 19-19, going into Missing Vowels, which the Jugadores just fared better in to win 25-22.

 

Mastermind was won by Michael McPartland (alumnus of OC, Fifteen-to-One and others as well as a previous Mastermind finalist), who led after the specialist round and after a fine GK round to win with a superb score of 31, four clear of second place Hilary Burton (who was displaying such visible nerves after her SS round that Clive M felt the need to check she was feeling OK); Paddy Storrie and Sam Bowdery completed the high scoring line-up with 22 and 21 respectively.

 

Yesterday’s Brain of Britain was won by Marianne Fairthorne, who took the lead with a six pointer in the second round and maintained a steady lead of second placed Crispin Dawes for the rest of the show, eventually winning with 16 points to his 12; her win means the show is on course to follow Counterpoint in having (possibly) its first ever all-woman final! Will Howells and Thomas Leeming completed the strong line-up with 6 and 5 respectively.

University Challenge 2022-23: Round 1: Match 10: Jesus vs St Catherine's

Good evening friends, and welcome to the second of four installments of Quizzy Tuesdays! This is going to be another shorter than usual review tonight due to the later than usual start and finish of tonight's show; thankfully next week's is on at the usual time just a day later, and hopefully the week after will be the same. So, let's get on with this...

Jesus College Cambridge is appearing for the ninth time in the BBC series; of its eight previous appearances, three saw it reach the QFs, but its best appearing time was that who were runners-up in the original series way back in 1968. This year's foursome were:

Josh Kaye, from North West London, studying Maths

Juliette Tindall, from Birmingham, studying Spanish and Portuguese

Captain: Hamish MacGregor, from Cambridge, studying Cancer Genetic Epidemiology

Sumit Aggarwal, from London, studying Engineering

 

St Catherine's College Oxford, the university's newest college, has only appeared once before, 25 years ago in the 97-98 series, where they lost in the first round to Magdalene of Cambridge; it has also appeared once in the Xmas series, where they also lost in the first round, albeit only just. Hoping to finally get their first ever UC win were this year's quartet of:

Peter Olive, from West Berkshire, studying the Intellectual History of the Incest Taboo in Greek Antiquity

Tom Laskowski, from Archway in London, studying History

Captain: Ollie Spacey, from Worksop in Nottinghamshire, studying Biology

Holly Partis, from Oxford, studying English and French

 

So off we set again, and Mr Laskowski struck first for St Catherine's, and they took one of the resulting bonuses. Jesus dominated the buzzer race after that though, and after the first picture round, on buildings on the 2021 list of buildings at risk, they led 55-15. And that lead just kept getting bigger, so much so that, by the time St Catherine's finally managed to score again, Jesus already had a 100+ lead. After the music round, on instrumental interludes in opera, the Cambridge side led 150-30.

St Catherine's did manage a brief rally in the third quarter, taking three starters in a row, including the second picture round, on pests, after which they'd cut the gap to 190-85. But Jesus weren't to be denied, despite losing five to a pedantic penalty, and, while St Catherine's did take one more starter to deservedly reach three figures, they were a clear second best here I'm afraid. At the gong, Jesus won 225-105.

A one-sided, but still enjoyable contest. Very well done Jesus, a very good team who already look like one to watch; best of luck in the second round! Hard lines to St Catherine's, a decent enough team who'd have almost certainly done better with a kinder draw; thanks for playing!

The stats: Messrs Kaye, MacGregor and Aggarwal all got four starters each for Jesus, while Mr Laskowski was best for St Catherine's with three. On the bonuses, Jesus managed 20 out of 38 (with the night's one penalty) and St Catherine's 9 out of 18.

 

Next week's match, at 8:30 next Tuesday: Balliol Oxford vs Southampton

 

Only Connect’s second eliminator match saw the return of the Peacocks and the Strigiformes. The former led 7-4 after a first round where every question but one was gotten before all the clues had been revealed, but the latter pulled into a 15-9 lead after the second. A better wall allowed the Peacocks to close the gap back to 20-19 going into Missing Vowels, but the Strigiformes dominated that and pulled away again to win 28-20.

 

Last week’s Mastermind was won by George Scratcherd, alumnus of UC the series before I started this blog, with 26 points, one ahead of second placed Pippa Smith; Simon Durrant and Katie Williams completed the line-up with 20 and 18 respectively.

 

Tonight’s Mastermind was narrowly won by Darren Ross, who led by one point after the SS round, and did so again after the GK round to triumph with 19 points, one ahead of second placed Gaynor Melling and two of third placed Jenny Armitage. Mel Kinsey completed the line-up with 14.

 

Yesterday’s Brain of Britain was won by Sarah Trevarthen, who led throughout, narrowly at first before running away in the penultimate round to finish with 13 points; she takes the second place in the final, where she and Isabelle Heward will meet again just months after they both appeared in the Counterpoint final! Catherine Bates, Jamie Hall and Ned Pendleton also partook in the game, finishing with 7, 7 and 5 respectively.

University Challenge 2022-23: Round 1: Match 9: Oriel vs Christ's

Good evening my friends, and welcome to Quizzy... Tuesdays? Yep, better get used to that, as coverage of the various Rugby WCs means its gonna be Tuesday for the next three weeks as well. Next week's UC is on at the even later time of 8:45, with OC and Mastermind immediately before it, which means it'll almost certainly be a short review next week as that's a really bad time for me to be writing long things; either that or I'll wait and do it the next day for only the second time in this blog's history. Tonight is fair enough though, so let's do this...

Oriel College Oxford won the third ever series of UC way back in 1966; it has appeared four previous times in the BBC series, twice finishing runners-up in 98-99 and 99-2000 (the former team featuring serial quizzers David Stainer and David Brewis), but its two appearances since, the more recent six series ago, have amounted to just one victory between them. Hoping to do something about that were this year's foursome of:

Benjamin Thomson, from Kent, studying Medicine

Jerric Chong, from Malaysia, studying Physics and Philosophy

Tanmayee Deshprabhu, from South Oxfordshire, studying Engineering 

Katy Marchant, from Leeds, studying Ancient and Modern History

Christ's College Cambridge has appeared on five previous BBC series, of which its best performance was a narrow semi-final defeat to eventual winners Somerville of Oxford in 2001-02; its most recent team, seven series ago, were a decent team who were unlucky to draw and lose to eventual semi-finalists York in the second round. This year's quartet were:

Isaac Jackson, from Oxford, studying English

Holly Wright, from Swansea, studying Intellectual History

Captain: Chris Talbot, from Blackburn, studying Metallurgy

Abhimanyu Gowda, from Warwick, studying Natural Sciences

 

So off we set once agan, and Mr Chong sent the Oxford side off to a solid start by taking the first two starters; the resulting bonuses, on trees and cities whose summits are higher than Ben Nevis, provided just one correct from both sets. Mr Talbot got Christ's going with the third starter of the night, giving his side bonuses on the Hundred cricket tournament, which they also got one from, unluckily missing another. The first picture round, on components of a neuron, also went to the Cambridge side; two bonuses gave them a lead of 35-30.

The Cambridge captain then took a third starter in a row; two bonuses on the Cold War followed, but a penalty then allowed Oriel back into the game. Two bonuses put the Oxford side level, before Mr Chong gave them back the lead, as did two further bonuses on the music of Lil Nas X (chalk that up under things you never thought you'd hear Paxo talking about!). Another starter and bonus to Oriel brought us to the music round, on tracks from albums orchestrated by Peter Knight; the Oxonians took that as well, but no bonuses meant their lead nonetheless stood at 95-50.

A second starter in a row from Ms Marchant produced two bonuses, and another from Mr Thomson plus a single bonus took the Oxford side's lead to 80 points and a good bet for the win. But Christ's now reawoke as Ms Wright took the next starter; just one bonus was taken, but Mr Talbot took the next, and that was followed by two bonuses. The second picture round, on films that hint at, but don't actually depict, adultery, also went to the Cambridge side; no bonuses were taken, but they had now cut the gap to 130-95.

And another starter to Mr Talbot took them into three figures, and the first full bonus set of the night meant they were suddenly just 10 behind. And when Mr Jackson won the race to identify The Tale of Peter Rabbit as the book that Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail appear in, and two bonuses on Scottish firths/inlets were taken, they had completed the comeback to take the lead. Mr Gowda looked to have confirmed this when he took the next starter; bonuses on Latin expressions saw them only just get the first two wrongs, and the gong went before they could answer the third. Christ's won 150-130.

Another good enjoyable contest between two decent and well matched teams, well played both. Well done Christ's, an excellent recovery there, and best of luck in the second round! Hard lines to Oriel, but hopefully their score will get them into the play-offs, though it'll probably be pretty close; thanks for playing for now though.

The stats: Mr Talbot was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Messrs Thomson and Chong got three each for Oriel. On the bonuses, Oriel managed 10 out of 24 and Christ's 13 out of 27 (with the night's one penalty).

 

Next week's match, at 8:45 next Tuesday: Jesus Cambridge vs St Catherine's Oxford

 

Only Connect began its elimination round with the returns of the Statisticals and the Road Runners. The latter led 6-4 after the first round, and 10-8 after the second. But a better wall allowed the Statisticals to eke into a 15-14 lead, and they just about maintained this in Missing Vowels to win 22-20.

 

Yesterday's Brain of Britain was the first semi-final; high scoring runners-up Isabelle Heward made the most of her recall, leading from the off and winning with 17 points, five clear of second place Dan Afshar. Gill Taylor and Ian Wilkinson completed the line-up with 3 and 6 respectively.

University Challenge 2022-23: Round 1: Match 8: Sheffield vs U.C.L.

Good evening again friends, and welcome back to Quizzy Mondays! The last for at least a fortnight, as Rugby League World Cup coverage is getting priority next Monday; so, OC and UC will air 23 hours later than usual at 7 and 7:30 next Tuesday (25th) and Mastermind will be on at 7:30 on Wednesday (26th). How I'm going to cover everything with such a scattered schedule I don't yet know, but I'll work something out I'm sure. On with tonight in the mean time...

Sheffield University has appeared on 14 previous BBC series, reaching the final once, in 2007-08, where they lost to Christ Church of Oxford, and the semis twice in 2002-03 and 2010-11 (with blog readers and UC alumni Tris Cole and Hugh Bennett in the team). Its last team three series ago were unlucky to lose both their first match and their subsequent play-off. This year's foursome were:

Rachel Haw, from North Yorkshire, studying Evolution and Behaviour

Andrew Fisher, from Sheffield (originally Newcastle), studying Pure Maths

Captain: Lewis Jones, from Haverhill in Suffolk, studying Journalism

Danny Lardner, from Blackpool, studying Geography

 

U.C.L. is also appearing for the fifteenth time in the BBC era tonight; it also had two semi-final appearances to its name, and two runners-up in grand finals, one of them captained by Dennis from OC last week. Its last appearance was last year, where they were also unlucky to lose their first round and play-off, the latter especially after an epic late fightback. This year's quartet, including the show's first ever mother and son duo, were:

Rachel Collier, from West London, studying the History of Ancient Greek

Michael Fleetwood-Walker, from the West Midlands, studying Urban Studies

Captain: James Salmon, from Bristol, studying Planetary Science

Louis Collier, from London, studying Maths and Physics

 

So off we set once again, and Mr Fisher, who you may remember captained the Steelers in the last series of OC, took the first starter of the night; a full set of bonuses was a strong start, but just the one followed from their second set. Mr Salmon took U.C.L.'s first starter, making up for an earlier penalty, and they also started with a full set. They also took the first picture round, on cities built on rias, and took a full set on that as well, which gave them the lead, 45-40.

Mr and Ms Collier took the next two starters, ensuring all four of their team had already contributed at least one starter; no bonuses came from the first set, but a third full house came from the second. A fifth in a row and fourth full set took the London side into three figures, before Mr Fisher finally reawoke Sheffield, but they only got one from their resulting bonuses. They did also take the music round though, on jazz albums to have received a Crown rating in every edition of the Penguin Guide to Jazz; another sole bonus reduced the gap to 105-70.

A very quick buzz from Mr Fleetwood-Walker put the London side further in front, and their bonus record of getting either all three or none ended as they took two on indiginous peoples. A starter to Mr Fisher yielded no bonuses for Sheffield; one to Ms Collier gave U.C.L. just the one. Another starter to Mr Fisher gave his side a full bonus set however, and took them into three figures. The second picture round, on buildings that inspired Lego sets, went to Sheffield; one bonus meant they had pulled back to 140-120.

And a penalty to U.C.L. and picked by Mr Lardner put them within five points, and two bonuses meant they now had the lead. But Mr Collier immediately took it back, and a full set of bonuses on chemical elements kept them in the driving seat. But in what was now a straight sprint for the finish, Mr Fisher blinked next and put his side level again with two bonuses on Upton Sinclair. Mr Salmon gave his side the lead again, but they took just one bonus on French capitals, unluckily giving the wrong of two mentioned answers for one. Next starter would win it for them... but they lost five instead! Mr Lardner took it again... and that was the gong! A 170-each tie!

So, our first tie-breaker since the 2019-20 QFs. Mr Fleetwood-Walker was first to buzz in, and was correct! U.C.L. had the win!

A great game, between two excellent teams, very well played both. Well done U.C.L. and best of luck in the second round! Hard lines to Sheffield, but they'll surely be back as well in the repechage; best of luck to them there!

The stats: Mr Fisher was the best buzzer of the night with six, while Mr Salmon was U.C.L.'s best with three. On the bonuses, Sheffield managed 14 out of 27 and U.C.L. 19 out of 27 (with three penalties), so it was a very well matched contest; well done both teams, very much enjoyed it!

Next week's match, at 7:30 on Tuesday the 25th: Oriel Oxford vs Christ's Cambridge

Only Connect’s final first round match was contested by the Croot Family, Rob, Emma and captain Liam Croot, and the Irregulars, Nash Zvogbo, Phoebe Watts and captain Jonathan Paxton. The latter led 5-2 after the first round, but the former took the lead 9-7 after the second. A better wall saw that lead increase to 19-14, and they just about hung on in Missing Vowels to win 21-19. (Next match Tuesday 25th at 7pm)

 

Mastermind was won by Holly Franklin, who provided a crossover with OC in the form of her SS, the brilliant sitcom Ghosts, and ran out winner with 24 points, four clear of second placed Lisa Sedge. Steve Brown and David Drury also competed, finishing with 14 and 18 respectively. (Next episode Wednesday 26th at 7:30)

 

Brain of Britain’s final first round match was won by Marianne Fairthorne (Mastermind winner, OC semi-finalist, UC quarter-finalist), who took a strong lead in the second round and duly ran out an easy winner with 20 points, 9 clear of second placed Helen Blackburn, whose score, I can confirm as Mr Davies wasn’t that sure, is enough to bring her back as a highest scoring runner-up. John Webley finished a close third with 10, while Hadrian Jeffs also did pretty well with 8. (First semi usual time next Monday)

University Challenge 2022-23: Round 1: Match 7: Caius vs St Andrews

Good evening friends, and welcome back to Quizzy Mondays! Well, if you're a fan of spotting the same people on different quiz shows, you won't have been disappointed by today's quiz offerings! More on the rest later, but on with UC for now, with two institutions who have one title each to their names, though one was a lot more recent than the other.

Gonville & Caius College Cambridge won the title in the 2014-15 series, beating Magdalen of Oxford in a final most memorable for Ted Loveday's iconic answer of 'Hapax Legomenon'! It also reached the 2003-04 final, losing to, er, Magdalen of Oxford(!), and has appeared in two other BBC series. This year's foursome were:

Zoe Zhang, from North West London, studying History and German

Jasper Maughan, from Sevenoaks, studying Ukrainian, Russian and German

Captain: Abigail Tan, from Brentwood, studying Maths

Stefan Ivanov, from Bulgaria, studying Physics 

 

St Andrews won its title much longer ago in 1982, a team captained by Fifteen-to-One and Brain of Britain winner Barbara Thompson. Its most successful of its 17 BBC series appearances was in the afore-mentioned 03-04 series, where they lost in the semis to that same Magdalen team! Its last two appearances, in the last two series, have been second round exits. This year's quartet were:

Alec Csukai, from Wokingham, studying Astronomy and Astrophysics

Simon Gibbons, from Misterton in Nottinghamshire, stduying Sustainable Development

Captain: Joseph Cryan, from the Lune Valley in Lancashire, studying History

Sofya Anisimova, from Moscow, studying Military History

 

So off we set once again, and Mr Gibbons opened the scoring for the night with the RSPB; the Scots side got nothing from the first bonus set of the night though, and Caius did only marginally better with their subsequent first set, on places ended in 'ton', taking just the one. St Andrews also got one from their second bonus set, on elements, and also took the first picture round, on hosts of Olympic sailing events on behalf of a further inland main host; a full house took their lead to 50-15.

Caius immediately eked into that lead, but they drew a blank on a bonus set on the work of director and noted Simpsons guest star John Waters. Mr Cryan was unlucky on the next starter, going for the buzzer just a tad too early before a swerve rendered his answer wrong; Caius couldn't capitalise, but Mr Ivanov took another starter and two bonuses on medicine pulled them level. But St Andrews retook the lead with the next starter and a pair of bonuses, and they then took the music round, on classical pieces containing cryptograms, after which they led 85-45.

Another penalty was picked up by Caius this time however, and a bonus pair of their own reduced the gap to 15 points. But up it went again after Mr Gibbons took the next starter; no bonuses followed, but Mr Csukai was close enough on the next starter, and two bonuses on tennis took the Scots side into three figures. The second picture round, on artworks stolen in the Isabella Stewart Garden robbery (including The Concert by Vermeer, which it's since been revealed on The Simpsons that Mr Burns was responsible for stealing!), also went to St Andrews, who took two bonuses, which increased their lead to 130-65.

Caius would have to run the show from now on to stand a chance, and a starter from Mr Maughan plus two bonuses was a good start. A second starter in a row and a single bonus took them into three figures, and they could certainly catch up now if they were quick. A third in a row plus two bonuses put them within ten points, and meant they could tie the game if they took the final starter! But Mr Gibbons took it instead, which won the game for his side; at the gong, St Andrews won 140-120.

A match that starter slowly, but picked up in the later stages and ended up a good close one, two well matched teams there, well played both. Well done St Andrews, and best of luck in the second round! Hard lines to Caius, but a pretty decent showing, and that score might just be enough for the play-offs; but thanks for playing in the meantime.

The stats: Mr Gibbons was the best buzzer of the night with four starters, while Ms Tan was best for Caius with three. On the bonuses, Caius managed 10 out of 21 and St Andrews 12 out of 24 (with two penalties).

Next week's match: Sheffield vs U.C.L.

Only Connect’s penultimate first round match was contested by the Scrummagers, Liz Kirkham, Molly Kirkham and captain Zac Tyler, and the Crustaceans, Dennis, Elia Cugini and captain Alex Hardwick, all of whom have been on UC in this blog’s lifetime, the former ten series ago in the series I spent the summer re-reviewing, the latter two more recently. They led 8-1 after the first round, and 12-5 after the second. A dropped connection on the wall allowed the Scrummagers to close the gap to 19-15 going into Missing Vowels, but the Crustaceans just about maintained their lead to win 25-21.

 

Mastermind was won narrowly by OC alumnus Sam Swift with 22 points, with second placed Pete Wescott just one behind on 21; Isabel Burgin and Julia Clifton also competed, finishing with 12 and 16 respectively.

 

Brain of Britain was a very close and quick scoring affair, with the result that only four rounds were played instead of the now-usual five. OC and Fifteen-to-One 2.0 runner-up Will Howells won the show with 11 points, 1 ahead of Mastermind finalist and fellow OC alumnus Patrick Buckingham with 10, a score which is currently joint fourth for a high scoring runners-up spot (though he did provide the highlight of the show as he single handedly answered both Beat the Brains questions in very short order!). Julia Day and Tom Lee completed the line-up, both scoring 8.