University Challenge 2020–21

The 50th series of University Challenge began on 13 July 2020 on BBC Two and ended on 5 April 2021.[1] It was won by the University of Warwick.[2][3]

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 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.[4][3]

The University of Manchester and three Oxford colleges – Merton, Balliol and Corpus Christi – all fielded reserves when filming resumed.

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
Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Glasgow 200 145 University of Exeter 345 13 July 2020
University of Leicester 125 180 Durham University 305 20 July 2020
Linacre College, Oxford 140 210 The Open University 350 27 July 2020
Imperial College London 155 190 University of Strathclyde 345 3 August 2020
University of Reading 50 295 Birkbeck, University of London 345 10 August 2020
Balliol College, Oxford 150 135 Clare College, Cambridge 285 17 August 2020
University of Bristol 135 175 Corpus Christi College, Oxford 310 24 August 2020
Darwin College, Cambridge 90 255 University of St Andrews 345 31 August 2020
University of York 100 170 King's College London 270 7 September 2020
Merton College, Oxford 210 40 Wolfson College, Cambridge 250 14 September 2020
Royal Academy of Music 50 220 St John's College, Cambridge 270 21 September 2020
University of Warwick 255 105 Wolfson College, Oxford 360 28 September 2020
University of Edinburgh 155 200 University of Manchester 355 5 October 2020
Magdalene College, Cambridge 170 130 University College, Oxford 300 12 October 2020

Highest scoring losers play-offs
Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast 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 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast 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

Quarterfinals
Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast 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
King's College London 95 265 Imperial College London 360 15 February 2021
Balliol College, Oxford 175 75 Durham University 250 22 February 2021
Birkbeck, University of London 105 135 University of Strathclyde 240 1 March 2021
Imperial College London 200 100 Durham University 300 8 March 2021
Magdalene College, Cambridge 185 125 University of Strathclyde 310 15 March 2021

Semifinals
Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
Imperial College London 135 160 University of Warwick 295 22 March 2021
Magdalene College, Cambridge 270 50 Balliol College, Oxford 320 29 March 2021

Final
Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
University of Warwick 195 140 Magdalene College, Cambridge 335 5 April 2021
  • The trophy and title were awarded to the Warwick team comprising Richard Pollard, George Braid, captain Andrew Rout and Owain Burrell.[3]
  • Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate and former Oxford Professor of Poetry, presented the trophy; he had captained a University of Manchester team in the Christmas series in 2016.[3]

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 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast 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
The 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 The 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 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
St John's College, Oxford 135 180 The Courtauld Institute of Art 315 30 December 2020
University of Manchester 140 70 Loughborough University 210 31 December 2020

Final
Team 1ScoreTeam 2TotalBroadcast date
The Courtauld Institute of Art 150 90 University of Manchester 240 1 January 2021

References
  1. "University Challenge Series 27, Episode 1". BBC Online. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. Gaskell, Jacob (5 April 2021). "Magdalene College, Cambridge defeated by Warwick in the University Challenge Grand Final". thetab.com. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  3. Rich, Caleb (6 April 2021). "'No group hugs!': the University Challenge final – reviewed by last year's winner". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. "University Challenge Series 27, Episode 15". BBC Online. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
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