University Challenge 2011–12 Explained

Series 41 of University Challenge began on 4 July 2011,^[1] and aired on BBC Two. Below is a list of the matches played with their scores and outcomes.

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 must win one more match to return in the next round (current highest scoring losers, teams that won their first quarter final match, teams that won their second quarter final match having lost their first, or teams that won their first quarter final match and lost their second).
• Teams with yellow scores indicate that two further matches must 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 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast Date
University of Warwick	220		University of Edinburgh	345	4 July 2011
Trinity College, Cambridge		225	University of Birmingham	330	11 July 2011
Worcester College, Oxford	180	190	Clare College, Cambridge	370	18 July 2011
Queen's University, Belfast		235	Newcastle University	320	25 July 2011
Homerton College, Cambridge	200	205	Balliol College, Oxford	405	1 August 2011
Christ Church, Oxford	270		University of Bath	375	8 August 2011
University of Plymouth		325	University of Durham	370	15 August 2011
University of St Andrews	165	195	Merton College, Oxford	360	22 August 2011
University of Manchester	255		Selwyn College, Cambridge	325	29 August 2011
University College London	185		University of York	290	5 September 2011
King's College, Cambridge		280	Queen's College, Oxford	375	12 September 2011
University of Leeds	220		Goldsmiths, University of London	335	19 September 2011
St Anne's College, Oxford		205	Pembroke College, Cambridge	345	26 September 2011
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	155	215	University of Nottingham	370	3 October 2011

Highest Scoring Losers play-offs

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast Date
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine		190	Homerton College, Cambridge	305	10 October 2011
University of St Andrews		250	Worcester College, Oxford	360	17 October 2011

Second round

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast Date
University of Leeds		320	Clare College, Cambridge	385	24 October 2011
University of Birmingham		220	Newcastle University	300	31 October 2011
University of Durham		245	Homerton College, Cambridge	435	7 November 2011
Queen's College, Oxford		200	Worcester College, Oxford	385	14 November 2011
Christ Church, Oxford		215	University of Manchester	370	21 November 2011
University College London	220		University of Warwick	370	28 November 2011
Merton College, Oxford		170	Balliol College, Oxford	330	5 December 2011
Pembroke College, Cambridge	280		University of Nottingham	405	12 December 2011

Quarter-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast Date
University of Manchester	125	195	University College London	320	19 December 2011
Balliol College, Oxford	160	240	Pembroke College, Cambridge	400	2 January 2012
Worcester College, Oxford	190	150	Newcastle University	340	9 January 2012
Clare College, Cambridge	170	145	Homerton College, Cambridge	315	16 January 2012
University College London	120	170	Worcester College, Oxford	290	23 January 2012
University of Manchester	330		Newcastle University	425	30 January 2012
Pembroke College, Cambridge	250	175	Clare College, Cambridge	425	6 February 2012
Balliol College, Oxford	170		Homerton College, Cambridge	315	13 February 2012
University of Manchester	270		Clare College, Cambridge	520	20 February 2012
University College London	235		Balliol College, Oxford	380	27 February 2012

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast Date
Worcester College, Oxford		240	University of Manchester	305	5 March 2012
Pembroke College, Cambridge	185		University College London	310	12 March 2012

Final

• The trophy and title were awarded to the Manchester team of Luke Kelly, Michael McKenna, Tristan Burke, and Paul Joyce.^[2]
• The trophy was presented by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House.^[3]

Spin-off: Christmas Special 2011

Starting this year, a Christmas special sequence was aired featuring distinguished alumni. Out of 5 first-round winners, the top 4 highest-scoring teams progress to the semi-finals. The teams consist of celebrities who represent their alma maters.

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 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.

First Round

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
University of York			University of Manchester	245	19 December 2011
Durham University		135	University of Edinburgh	195	20 December 2011
Magdalen College, Oxford	130		University College London	215	21 December 2011
University of Warwick	225		University of Sheffield	275	22 December 2011
Trinity College, Cambridge	225		University of St Andrews	305	24 December 2011

Standings for the winners

Rank	Team	Team captain	Score
1=	University of Warwick	Christian Wolmar	225
	Trinity College, Cambridge	John Lloyd
3	University of Edinburgh	Sally Magnusson	135
4	Magdalen College, Oxford	Alan Hollinghurst	130
5	University of Manchester	Waldemar Januszczak	125

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
University of Edinburgh		265	University of Warwick	300	25 December 2011
Magdalen College, Oxford		160	Trinity College, Cambridge	265	26 December 2011

Final

The Trinity College, Cambridge team of Robin Bhattacharyya, Daisy Goodwin, John Lloyd, and Edward Stourton beat the University of Warwick team of Vadim Jean, Daisy Christodoulou, Christian Wolmar and Carla Mendonça.

External links

• University Challenge Homepage
• Blanchflower Results Table

Notes and References

1. Web site: University Challenge | Series 18 – Episode 1 | Radio Times. Radiotimes.com.
2. Web site: Manchester wins University Challenge for third time. 20 March 2012. The Independent. 3 April 2013 .
3. Web site: Manchester wins University Challenge. 20 March 2012. The Daily Telegraph. 3 April 2013 .