First show?
Transmitted on 21 September 1962 between the Universities of Manchester
and Leeds. The first champions were Leicester University.
Worst and best score?
Since the series returned in 1994, the lowest score has been a lowly
35 points, a tie between the all-female team from New Hall College,
Cambridge, who struggled to gain against University of Nottingham’s
impressive 335 in 1997; and the Bradford team who lost against Queen's, Belfast in 2004. The highest score is credited to Open University
when they beat Charing Cross by 415 points to 45.
The Champions?
Only one institution has ever become the series champion more than twice.
Magdalen College, Oxford has the most impressive record by being
the only team to win the contest three times since 1994 -- consecutively in 1997 and 1998 (the only team to have consecutive wins), and again in 2004.
Presenters?
Bamber Gasgoigne was the original face of University Challenge presenting
992 programmes from 1962 until 1987. The series took a break but
returned in 1994 with the feisty repartee of the infamous Jeremy
Paxman.
Famous alumni?
University Challenge has showcased the budding undergraduate talents
of Clive James, David Mellor, Stephen Fry, John Simpson and Malcolm
Rifkind.
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