University Challenge 2020–21
Series 50 of University Challenge began on 13 July 2020 on BBC Two.[1]
Covid-19
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, University Challenge took a six-month hiatus from filming episodes. Recording resumed with the highest scoring losers play-offs, with contestants now separated by see-through perspex screens and wearing ear-pieces to allow them to hear their teammates. The show also relaxed the rule that banned students from competing if they completed their degree during the recording of the series.[2]
The University of Manchester, Merton College, Balliol College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford all fielded reserves from the resumption of filming.
Results
- Winning teams are highlighted in bold.
- Teams with green scores (winners) returned in the next round, while those with red scores (losers) were eliminated.
- Teams with orange scores had to win one more match to return in the next round.
- Teams with yellow scores indicate that two further matches had to be played and won (teams that lost their first quarter-final match).
- A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.
First round
Highest scoring losers play-offs
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Total | Broadcast date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imperial College London | 160 | 155 | University of Exeter | 315 | 19 October 2020 |
Linacre College, Oxford | 125 | 155 | University of Edinburgh | 280 | 26 October 2020 |
Second round
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Total | Broadcast date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imperial College London | 180 | 90 | University of St Andrews | 270 | 2 November 2020 |
University of Manchester | 100 | 135 | University of Strathclyde | 235 | 9 November 2020 |
Merton College, Oxford | 90 | 190 | University of Warwick | 280 | 16 November 2020 |
University of Edinburgh | 145 | 165 | Durham University | 310 | 23 November 2020 |
St John's College, Cambridge | 155 | 200 | Balliol College, Oxford | 355 | 30 November 2020 |
University of Glasgow | 90 | 175 | King's College London | 265 | 7 December 2020 |
Corpus Christi College, Oxford | 115 | 185 | Magdalene College, Cambridge | 300 | 14 December 2020 |
The Open University | 95 | 205 | Birkbeck, University of London | 300 | 4 January 2021 |
Quarter finals
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Total | Broadcast date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Magdalene College, Cambridge | 240 | 140 | Birkbeck, University of London | 380 | 11 January 2021 |
Balliol College, Oxford | 145 | 95 | King's College London | 240 | 18 January 2021 |
University of Strathclyde | 115 | 155 | Durham University | 270 | 25 January 2021 |
Imperial College London | 120 | 200 | University of Warwick | 320 | 1 February 2021 |
Magdalene College, Cambridge | 160 | 200 | University of Warwick | 360 | 8 February 2021 |
Imperial College London | King's College London | 15 February 2021 | |||
Balliol College, Oxford | Durham University | 22 February 2021 | |||
Birkbeck, University of London | University of Strathclyde | 1 March 2021 |
Spin-off: Christmas Special 2020
First Round
Each year, a Christmas special sequence is aired featuring distinguished alumni. Out of 7 first-round winners, the top 4 highest-scoring teams progress to the semi-finals. The teams consist of celebrities who represent their alma maters.
- Winning teams are highlighted in bold.
- Teams with green scores (winners) returned in the next round, while those with red scores (losers) were eliminated.
- Teams with grey scores won their match but did not achieve a high enough score to proceed to the next round.
- A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Total | Broadcast date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Christ's College, Cambridge | 50 | 180 | St John's College, Oxford | 230 | 21 December 2020 |
University of Manchester | 175 | 30 | Queen's University, Belfast | 205 | 22 December 2020 |
Courtauld Institute of Art | 150 | 100 | Goldsmiths, University of London | 250 | 23 December 2020 |
University of Nottingham | 145 | 70 | University of Sheffield | 215 | 24 December 2020 |
University of Central Lancashire | 60 | 170 | Loughborough University | 230 | 26 December 2020 |
Durham University | 90 | 65 | Downing College, Cambridge | 155 | 28 December 2020 |
New College, Oxford | 110 | 60 | University of Reading | 170 | 29 December 2020 |
Standings for the winners
Rank | Team | Team captain | Score |
---|---|---|---|
1 | St John's College, Oxford | John Lanchester | 180 |
2 | University of Manchester | Ade Edmondson | 175 |
3 | Loughborough University | Kate Fox | 170 |
4 | Courtauld Institute of Art | Jacky Klein | 150 |
5 | University of Nottingham | Levison Wood | 145 |
6 | New College, Oxford | Lucy Cooke | 110 |
7 | Durham University | Sarah Keith-Lucas | 90 |
Semi-finals
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Total | Broadcast date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
St John's College, Oxford | 135 | 180 | Courtauld Institute of Art | 315 | 30 December 2020 |
University of Manchester | 140 | 70 | University of Loughborough | 210 | 31 December 2020 |
Final
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Total | Broadcast date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Courtauld Institute of Art | 150 | 90 | University of Manchester | 240 | 1 January 2021 |
References
- "University Challenge Series 27, Episode 1". BBC Online. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- "University Challenge Series 27, Episode 15". BBC Online. Retrieved 15 December 2020.