# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/81 "2009-02-23T21:15:43Z")
I played a lot of College Bowl in the States, and was asked to try out for University Challenge at Jesus College but I didn’t participate because I wasn’t confident about my abilities to answer questions relevant to a UK audience/was afraid I wasn’t particularly telegenic/was frankly chickenshit about doing it/wasn’t particularly motivated to do it (select one or all). That you would have had the gumption to do so, and do so quite successfully, deserves major kudos and congratulations, **Daphne**! ---
**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 23, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/82 "2009-02-23T22:27:42Z")
Hi everybody! You think _you_ were tense – I’m pretty sure my heart stopped beating for the last five minutes of the show. Wendy Cope was really nice. She fell down on the extremely silly set in the rehearsal before the taping of the final, got right back up and dusted herself off. Thanks for watching me! I (and my plush toy pelican) had a blast being on the programme. I am particularly happy that the final was a real team performance, and some good TV as well! I’m disappointed I could not be in the UK to celebrate with the team. (And experience the media weirdness). But I’m glad I could share it with you guys. ---
**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 23, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/83 "2009-02-23T22:31:13Z")
> [@Liche](#): > > (Off-topic: The question occurs about whether there would there be enough people to justify an Oxford-based dopefest, on which I would be rather keen). If so, I would be very keen as well, as long as it is between 15-22 March or after 3 June. And it should involve a Pub Quiz! ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/84 "2009-02-24T00:02:47Z")
Just iplayered it and then by coincidence found this thread. Congratulations, who gets to keep the trophy? ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/85 "2009-02-24T00:05:21Z")
It’s even made the news down here in NZ! Congrats. ---
**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 24, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/86 "2009-02-24T00:16:11Z")
The trophy will be displayed in our college porter’s lodge for a year. Just has to be delivered, from a short hop away at Christ Church, last years’ winners. **maggenpye** : do you have a Kiwi link? I’d love to send it to the team. ---
**Author:** ![Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ec9cab/32.png) [@Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/87 "2009-02-24T00:41:04Z")
Congratulations, just watched it on Iplayer, Great entertainment. Its good to see that the whole team were involved in the Win. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/88 "2009-02-24T00:50:12Z")
Congratulations! That was really exciting to watch. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/89 "2009-02-24T02:02:09Z")
> [@DaphneBlack](#): > > The trophy will be displayed in our college porter’s lodge for a year. > > Just has to be delivered, from a short hop away at Christ Church, last years’ winners. > > **maggenpye** : do you have a Kiwi link? I’d love to send it to the team. It was just the BBC (or some-such) item that screened as the feelgood item after the weather. Cut down from what’s been described upthread, too. The very proper Received Pronunciation voiceover did mention the mixed reactions online so it could be an update for your evening news. ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/90 "2009-02-24T11:28:45Z")
What a final. Manchester really did look like they were going to win it at one point. The last five minutes or so were really nailbiting. It was great to see the other members of Corpus Christi getting some limelight. I hadn’t read anything about any Trimble bashing. When I see someone with that depth of knowledge I’m floored. We have had several conversations at work over the past few weeks that started with an incredulous “Did you see University Challenge last night?” Feck the detractors, enjoy the victory. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/91 "2009-02-24T12:29:46Z")
Congratulations to CC, the best team won. The Manchester captain, (Yeo?) really fucked up missing that question on Milton Keynes, even i knew the answer, if he hadn’t had that brain fart, it could have gone the other way. I’m glad the final was so close, it makes better TV. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/92 "2009-02-24T13:30:06Z")
As a Manchester alumini, I should damn you to hell. 😉 (Weirdly, that’s three tenuous connections I have with the final contestants- Gail T went to a school that’s sort of the ‘sister school’ of my brother’s, just down the road from where I live.) But…Well done - great final. ---
**Author:** ![Surok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/93 "2009-02-24T13:38:38Z")
> [@Liche](#): > > (Off-topic: The question occurs about whether there would there be enough people to justify an Oxford-based dopefest, on which I would be rather keen). Might be. There are a couple of people around, I think. How about starting a separate thread? ---
**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 24, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/94 "2009-02-24T17:53:04Z")
Thanks again everyone. I’ve been receiving all sorts of nice notes about the final, and much of the most inveterate Trimble-bashers have rightly gone and got stuffed. A few people even bothered to notice there were other people on the team! My favourite remark from an email so far is: ‘The pub was completely empty. The publican said everyone had gone home to watch University Challenge’. The Oxford U press office has taken over. Tis amazing to see the storm, even if I am a continent away. Gives me a little glimmer of hope for the world that a quiz show can be big news. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/95 "2009-02-25T22:53:37Z")
Hey Daph, don’t know whether you’ve seen this yet but thought I’d post it anyway, just in case. [GAIL TRIMBLE TO BE BURNT AS A WITCH](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/gail-trimble-to-be-burnt-as-a-witch-200902251601/) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ec9cab/32.png) [@Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/96 "2009-02-26T01:50:09Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > Hey Daph, > > don’t know whether you’ve seen this yet but thought I’d post it anyway, just in case. > > [GAIL TRIMBLE TO BE BURNT AS A WITCH](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/gail-trimble-to-be-burnt-as-a-witch-200902251601/) > > 🙂 “And then there’s all that raw, seething lust. Extremely distracting when one is trying to read Dan Brown in the original Greek.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/97 "2009-03-01T13:40:55Z")
Ooh, drama! [BBC in University Challenge probe](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7917481.stm) > [@](#): > > The BBC says it is investigating claims that a member of University Challenge’s winning team was not eligible to take part in the competition. > > … > > [T]he BBC are looking at claims Sam Kay, who told viewers he was studying chemistry, graduated in June last year. > > The rules state that contestants must be a current student. > > Mr Kay reportedly left Corpus Christi after failing to get funding for his PhD and is now working as an accountant. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/98 "2009-03-01T16:02:52Z")
eek… In that bbc article: > [@](#): > > In a statement the Manchester team said they had “no desire” for a rematch. but in [the Guardian:](http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/mar/01/gail-trimble-university-challenge-sam-kay) > [@](#): > > The losing finalists last night called for the final to be replayed as BBC and Granada producers frantically checked whether the rule book had been breached. > > The BBC said in a statement last night: “We understand the allegations made and are taking this issue seriously. However, we don’t have time to investigate fully so will do so and report our findings early next week.” > > Manchester contestant Henry Pertinez said his side would be keen on a rematch if the offer was on the table. The 27-year-old PhD student was staggered to hear of Kay’s confession. He told the Observer: "That’s amazing. They must have made a mistake with the application. We filled in application forms which said you had to be a student throughout the filming and broadcasting, up to April 2009. Granada was very strict. I can’t believe they had a guy working for a company on their team. > > "It’s unfortunate, but all of us would definitely be up for a rematch. hmm… the plot thickens. I say we have a rematch. Or maybe best of three. Or something. Or have a game of Twister to decide. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/99 "2009-03-01T16:31:55Z")
Ooh, I would love to see an ill-tempered rematch. Beware the wrath of Trimble, Manchester. I reckon Corpus Christi would pummel them into the ground. Ms. Trimble wasn’t really on her game in the final, at least not for the first half; fortunately her teammates were. Maybe Manchester should settle for running them close. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819/100 "2009-03-02T19:34:41Z")
And the Beeb have indeed stripped Corpus Christi of the title! :eek: That’s awful for **DaphneBlack** and her teammates. I can’t really argue with the decision, though. Rules is rules. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-see-me-univ-challenge-final/474819.md?page=6)