The atmosphere at pub watch parties felt like a ‘cup final’ after tight University Challenge match
By William White, News Co-Editor
Bristol’s second University Challenge quarter-final ended in a rare tie break last night as both teams struggled to press home an advantage.
The Bristol team faced off against Darwin College, Cambridge having crushed their three previous opponents, including Darwin’s neighbour Gonville and Caius College. The teams battled hard, trading leads to a 150-all finish.
This year's Bristol team is made up of:
As Darwin took the lead near the end, Bristol pulled it back with answers on women winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics and the tradition of tea ceremonies, leading to a tiebreak decider. Unfortunately, Bristol were too slow on the tiebreaker, surrendering victory to Darwin.
The tiebreak is now the second in an incredibly close series of matches for the Bristol team, after their 'ludicrously tight and rather stressful' match against the Open University earlier this month.
'I'm going to have a heart attack if you keep doing this to me,' said show host Amol Rajan. 'These are incredibly tight margins by which things are decided.'
This is the first loss in the Bristol team's campaign, who now have one more chance to make it to the show's semi-finals.
While team captain, Kevin Flanagan, said the result was disappointing, he felt grateful to have made such a good show.
'Despite the result not going our way, we were glad to have been involved in an entertaining match against great opposition,' said Flanagan.
'I did feel we had a few unlucky moments in this match but it's all part of the game. Personally, I've been kicking myself for not just going for it on the Poulenc music starter.'
Aside from the drama, viewers of University Challenge were treated to more light-hearted entertainment last night, as Darwin member, Harrison Whitaker, fumbled a picture round to give the show's 'funniest answer ever'.
Contestants were challenged to match a musical artist to a settlement by giving the title of a single that includes that settlement.
When presented with an image of rock'n'roll icon, Tina Turner, Whitaker mustered a tentative response: 'This feels so wrong,' said Whitaker, 'Chattanooga Choo Choo?'
Rajan couldn't hide his laughter, as he called Whitaker's answer 'adventurous'.
Viewers couldn't hide their laughter, too, as many took to X to comment.
'Tina Turner - Chattanooga Choo Choo. Gotta be funniest answer EVER!!' said one viewer.
'They're on the wrong track there,' joked another.
Beyond the game, Flanagan likened the support from friends and family at pub watch parties to the atmosphere of a football cup final.
'It's been nice seeing support from family and friends and elsewhere,' said Flanagan. 'We've been having watch parties for the episode in a pub which has been great. People really get into it and cheer on the correct answers.'
According to Flanagan, the champion spot is all to play for.
'At this stage, the teams are so good, I think any team can beat any other team depending on the set of questions that they get,' said Flanagan.
Will you be supporting Bristol next time?
