University Challenge results, 2010


The 39th series began on July 6 2009 running on Mondays on BBC2 at 20:00, following announcements that Granada were tightening eligibility rules, evidently to avoid a repeat of last year's trial by media. The final was on April 5 2010.

For the first time since the show returned in 1994, the format has been changed. The quarter-finals will still involve eight teams, but will consist of ten shows in which the four teams that win two games progress to the semi-finals:

– All eight teams play in the first round of four games.
– The four winners from the first round play each other, with the two winners of those games progressing to the semi-finals.
– The four losers of the first round play each other, with the two losers being eliminated.
– The four remaining teams play a final round of two games, and the two winners progress to the semi-finals.

Or to put it more simply, all teams keep playing until they either win twice (in which case they go through to the semi-finals) or lose twice (in which case they're out).

First round
06/07/2009Christ's, Cambridge170200Warwick
13/07/2009Royal Veterinary College, London60235Manchester
20/07/2009Loughborough205175University, London
27/07/2009Clare, Cambridge165215Jesus, Oxford
03/08/2009Nottingham145180Girton, Cambridge
10/08/2009Edinburgh170155Central Lancashire
24/08/2009King's, London155140Cardiff
31/08/2009Newnham, Cambridge260120Sussex
07/09/2009Imperial, London175135Southampton
14/09/2009St John's, Oxford27090Durham
21/09/2009Magdalene, Cambridge135145St Hugh's, Oxford
28/09/2009York55200St George's, London
05/10/2009St Andrews255150Somerville, Oxford
12/10/2009Emmanuel, Cambridge165205Regent's Park, Oxford
Highest-scoring losers
19/10/2009University, London220145Clare, Cambridge
26/10/2009Christ's, Cambridge105280Emmanuel, Cambridge
Second round
02/11/2009Girton, Cambridge170160St George's, London
09/11/2009Newnham, Cambridge110185St Andrews
16/11/2009St John's, Oxford220190Loughborough
23/11/2009University, London185260Emmanuel, Cambridge
30/11/2009Imperial, London28080St Hugh's, Oxford
07/12/2009Jesus, Oxford200170Warwick
14/12/2009Edinburgh170150Regent's Park, Oxford
21/12/2009Manchester21090King's, London
Quarter-finals
04/01/2010St John's, Oxford28055Girton, Cambridge
11/01/2010St Andrews50195Manchester
18/01/2010Imperial, London240110Edinburgh
25/01/2010Jesus, Oxford125280Emmanuel, Cambridge
01/02/2010St John's, Oxford150140Manchester
08/02/2010Girton, Cambridge140115St Andrews
15/02/2010Imperial, London160275Emmanuel, Cambridge
22/02/2010Edinburgh195185Jesus, Oxford
01/03/2010Manchester170165Edinburgh
15/03/2010Girton, Cambridge100200Imperial, London
Semi-finals
22/03/2010St John's, Oxford260170Imperial, London
29/03/2010Emmanuel, Cambridge315120Manchester
Final
05/04/2010St John's, Oxford100315Emmanuel, Cambridge

Emmanuel became the first Cambridge team to win for 15 years. They comprised Andy Hastings (Medicine), Jenny Harris (French & Latin), Alex Guttenplan (Natural Sciences) and Josh Scott (Medicine). The trophy was presented to them by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

External links
Rules changed for University show (BBC)
Warwick (The Boar)
York (Nouse)
Kingston educated student becomes youngest University Challenge captain (Surrey Comet)
The day I faced Alex Guttenplan (Jesus v Emmanuel) (The Guardian)
Imperial, London (contestant page)
Imperial, London (contestant page)
Imperial, London (v St John's) (contestant page)
Imperial, London (v St John's) (Imperial College)
Emma Wins (Emmanuel College, Cambridge)
University Challenge contestant becomes Facebook sensation (Emmanuel) (Daily Mail)
Jeremy Paxman clash student in University Challenge win (Emmanual v St John's) (BBC)
Alex Guttenplan reveals that Paxman can't get his pronunciation correct (Emmanuel) (Daily Mail)