# UK dopers: see me (Univ. Challenge FINAL) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819 "2008-11-28T18:02:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/41 "2009-01-26T15:10:45Z")
Late update: our next round match is airing tonight, same time same station! This time we face Exeter University. ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/42 "2009-01-26T15:32:51Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > I had an ITV lunch once. It tasted like shit. What’s the food like in the BBC canteen? The one at Broadcasting House was actually really nice, and very reasonable, but my info is a few years out of date. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/43 "2009-01-26T17:49:19Z")
I went to the audition for UC at Leicester in 1978 but was inexplicably not chosen. I say “inexplicably” because I am usually rather good at quizzes. Anyone remember me on Mastermind in 1985? (I had a moustache then). It was filmed at the big hall at Reading University. My specialist subject was Irish History, 1848-1921 but much to my mother’s shame I only managed 10 with a further 10 in the General Knowledge round. Or my semi-final appearance in radio’s “Brain of Britain” 1996?? What do you mean, no? My brother represented our school in “Top of the Form” in 1971. Again, I was inexplicably omitted from my year in favour of someone else who made a complete arse of it in the Final. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/44 "2009-01-26T17:53:44Z")
I was the alternate for a New Zealand team back in the day when I was doing grad studies at U. Otago. I was mainly on the team for comic relief… (as noted by the fact that in the final, you could hear a beer being opened in the studio audience mid-way through the game) ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/45 "2009-01-26T20:34:35Z")
_Another_ set of US state abbreviation questions? I smell a fix. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/46 "2009-01-26T20:40:23Z")
> [@DaphneBlack](#): > > Late update: our next round match is airing tonight, same time same station! > > This time we face Exeter University. And you pummelled them. Well done. But my daughter (who has been accepted for Exeter) was a bit disappointed with their performance. Oh well. She also thought you and Trimble were telepathic. Si ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/47 "2009-01-26T20:46:33Z")
That’s got to be one of the top five greatest thrashings in the history of the programme. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/48 "2009-01-26T20:53:46Z")
Bugger, missed this. ---
**Author:** ![Professor\_Murder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@Professor\_Murder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Professor_Murder)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/49 "2009-01-26T20:58:49Z")
Congratulations. I feel sorry for Exeter, but the best team won. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/50 "2009-01-26T22:45:15Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Bugger, missed this. Check out the BBC [iPlayer](http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hb4jm/University_Challenge_2008_2009_Episode_27/) (sorry guys, UK only). Si ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/51 "2009-01-26T23:44:47Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > And you pummelled them. Well done. But my daughter (who has been accepted for Exeter) was a bit disappointed with their performance. Oh well. She also thought you and Trimble were telepathic. Alas, no. I wish! > [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > That’s got to be one of the top five greatest thrashings in the history of the programme. > > Well done. I can say now that we were informed by the staff after this round that Ex. had the lowest final score of the Paxman era. Thanks for watching! (If you missed it, catch it on iPlayer). Our semi-final is coming soon… ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/52 "2009-01-27T00:11:24Z")
Congratulations again! I wonder if anyone’s told Paxman that the Jasper Fforde character is Thursday Next, not Thursday Last… ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/53 "2009-02-17T06:27:02Z")
_Whoops_ I totally forgot to bump this for the semi-final. Anyway, watch it on iPlayer! ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/54 "2009-02-17T09:59:54Z")
I don’t think anyone can beat Corpus Christi. Although I’ve gone from being completely awed by their depth of knowledge to seeing them as the Manchester United of the competition. So now I tend to root for the other team as the under dog. Seriously though Miss Trimble could possibly take over the world. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/55 "2009-02-17T16:38:55Z")
It is ironic that you say that about Manchester United. In the final, we will face Manchester University! ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/56 "2009-02-22T15:08:57Z")
Mary Beard just blogged about you guys - you have truly made it in the world. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/57 "2009-02-22T17:37:22Z")
O-M-G Mary Beard. Awesome! Everyone remember to watch the FINAL tomorrow, 8pm BBC Two! I am so sad I can’t be in the UK to watch this with my college. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/58 "2009-02-22T17:51:10Z")
The Corpus Christi team, or more accurately Gail Trimble, features in an article printed in today’s edition of _The Observer_. Sadly, and unfairly in my opinion, a few of the comments following the piece are not altogether complimentary. [Link.](http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/feb/22/university-challenge-trimble) ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/59 "2009-02-22T18:02:39Z")
I simply cannot believe the things jerks are saying about Gail. She is absolutely one of the most humble, politest individuals I have had the pleasure of working with. She’s also really fucking clever. ‘People on the Internet’ seem to really have a problem with that. I do _not_ get it. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/60 "2009-02-22T19:10:20Z")
> [@DaphneBlack](#): > > She’s also really fucking clever. That’s a problem for her detractors. In my limited experience, a really fucking clever woman threatens the insecure among us. As the adverse comments illustrate, they will seize on a perceived downside such as hair-flicking and the other mannerisms mentioned therein. The accusations of smugness are borne out of envy, nothing else. That’s all I can say based upon a sight of four half-hour programmes. Anyway, good luck to her. And to you. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819.md?page=4)