University Challenge

[DracoM]

Amol Rajan has a major reputation as a far-too-fast, machine-gun style presenter.
I raised this very point a few days ago BEFORE his first appearance at the desk

[LHC]

I see that Imperial College's defence of their title has been launched in impressive fashion, with them scoring a mere 310 points in the first round. They do seem to have fashioned a cast iron winning strategy over the last five years.

Poor Manchester had no response and looked increasingly despondent as the episode progressed

[Dance Band Spiv]

University Challenge 25.11.2024

Last night's edition ended with scores tied; the rules of the tie-break were explained (as I understood them), that if a team answered incorrectly then 5 points would be deducted and the other team won automatically. The question was asked and Durham buzzed first, but their answer was incorrect; however, instead of deducting points and awarding the win to the other team, Amol offered SOAS a chance to answer the same question, which they also got wrong. He then asked a second question and this time SOAS buzzed first but incorrectly, 5 points were deducted from their score immediately and the match awarded to Durham! I am baffled, particularly as the show is pre-recorded, allowing any errors to be corrected ahead of transmission. To their credit, SOAS didn't challenge or complain ...

[AuntDaisy]

University Challenge 25.11.2024

Last night's edition ended with scores tied; the rules of the tie-break were explained (as I understood them), that if a team answered incorrectly then 5 points would be deducted and the other team won automatically. The question was asked and Durham buzzed first, but their answer was incorrect; however, instead of deducting points and awarding the win to the other team, Amol offered SOAS a chance to answer the same question, which they also got wrong. He then asked a second question and this time SOAS buzzed first but incorrectly, 5 points were deducted from their score immediately and the match awarded to Durham! I am baffled, particularly as the show is pre-recorded, allowing any errors to be corrected ahead of transmission. To their credit, SOAS didn't challenge or complain ...

For the tie-break question(s), I think they had to interrupt and be wrong to lose 5 points & the game...
Poor old Lambert & the llama.

[gurnemanz]

University Challenge 25.11.2024

Last night's edition ended with scores tied; the rules of the tie-break were explained (as I understood them), that if a team answered incorrectly then 5 points would be deducted and the other team won automatically. The question was asked and Durham buzzed first, but their answer was incorrect; however, instead of deducting points and awarding the win to the other team, Amol offered SOAS a chance to answer the same question, which they also got wrong. He then asked a second question and this time SOAS buzzed first but incorrectly, 5 points were deducted from their score immediately and the match awarded to Durham! I am baffled, particularly as the show is pre-recorded, allowing any errors to be corrected ahead of transmission. To their credit, SOAS didn't challenge or complain ...

I am ex-Durham and potentially biased but I think all was OK. Durham got the first tiebreak starter wrong, but didn't interrupt, so didn't lose 5 points. SOAS definitely did interrupt the second starter question with an incorrect answer, so did lose 5 points and therefore the whole contest.

(PS A pedant writes: Amol Rajan mispronounced guanaco, stressing the first syllable - nothing to do with bird droppings - when it should be guanAco. We did a tour of Patagonia - one of our best holidays, incidentally - and saw quite a few of them.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I’m still reeling at the Eng Lit student who thought Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Importance of being Earnest were single act tragedies written by Oscar Wilde …
and as for the music question being about pop music used on the C4 programme Peep Show words fail me .
They got those largely right of course.

[johncorrigan]

One of the best late comebacks I've seen in a long time - I thought Durham were down and out with a couple of minutes to go, but the guy on the end next to the captain answered in a never-say-die kind of way - very entertaining contest. I wasn't sure I had ever seen a tie-break on UC before.

[Sir Velo]

I’m still reeling at the Eng Lit student who thought Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Importance of being Earnest were single act tragedies written by Oscar Wilde …

Just be thankful they got the author right!

[gurnemanz]

I’m still reeling at the Eng Lit student who thought Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Importance of being Earnest were single act tragedies written by Oscar Wilde …
and as for the music question being about pop music used on the C4 programme Peep Show words fail me .
They got those largely right of course.

... and as far as I remember, Amol said it was a one-word title. Sometimes contestants just say anything as an answer without really thinking. She was fairly sound on other literature questions.

[LHC]

I’m still reeling at the Eng Lit student who thought Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Importance of being Earnest were single act tragedies written by Oscar Wilde …
and as for the music question being about pop music used on the C4 programme Peep Show words fail me .
They got those largely right of course.

It was two students rather than one; the first was from SOAS who interrupted almost immediately Wilde's name was mentioned with The Importance of Being Earnest. The Eng Lit student from Durham then came in with Lady Windermere's Fan (by this stage, as well as being informed it was a one Act play in French, we had also been told it was about a princess from Judea).

It was pretty clear that they were both just coming up with Oscar Wilde plays they'd heard of and were ignoring or hadn't registered the key points about it being a one Act play set in Judea and written in French. Its possible as well that, not being opera buffs, they weren't aware that Wilde had written a setting of Salome.

[LHC]

One of the best late comebacks I've seen in a long time - I thought Durham were down and out with a couple of minutes to go, but the guy on the end next to the captain answered in a never-say-die kind of way - very entertaining contest. I wasn't sure I had ever seen a tie-break on UC before.

There have been a few tie breaks, but its true they are not very common. In common with normal starter questions, the team is only deducted five points if they interrupt before the question has been finished.

[Dance Band Spiv]

Many thanks, one and all, for enlightening me as to the intricacies of the tie-break rules!

[Ein Heldenleben]

It was two students rather than one; the first was from SOAS who interrupted almost immediately Wilde's name was mentioned with The Importance of Being Earnest. The Eng Lit student from Durham then came in with Lady Windermere's Fan (by this stage, as well as being informed it was a one Act play in French, we had also been told it was about a princess from Judea).

It was pretty clear that they were both just coming up with Oscar Wilde plays they'd heard of and were ignoring or hadn't registered the key points about it being a one Act play set in Judea and written in French. Its possible as well that, not being opera buffs, they weren't aware that Wilde had written a setting of Salome.

You’re quite right . It was worse than I remembered. I suppose though a fan would come in useful in the heat of the Middle East. Have to say I burst out laughing at that point.

[Master Jacques]

You’re quite right . It was worse than I remembered. I suppose though a fan would come in useful in the heat of the Middle East. Have to say I burst out laughing at that point.

Just as well they weren't asking which Oscar Wilde play is about a fancy biscuit that has fallen onto the floor and become inedible.

Clue 2: turned into an opera by various composers, including Zemlinsky.

[Sir Velo]

Just as well they weren't asking which Oscar Wilde play is about a fancy biscuit that has fallen onto the floor and become inedible.

I suppose we can take a crumb of comfort from that.