University Challenge 2022–23 Explained

The 52nd series of University Challenge began on 29 August 2022 on BBC Two.^[1] A special programme commemorating the show's 60th anniversary was broadcast on the same night.^[2]

This was the final series hosted by Jeremy Paxman, who then stood down from the role after 29 years.^[3] From July 2023 onwards, Amol Rajan succeeded Paxman as host for the 53rd series of the long-running student quiz show.^{[4] [5]}

Paxman’s last-ever appearance as host aired on 29 May 2023 at the end of the series, when the University of Durham won their third title by defeating the University of Bristol in the final, which was coincidentally a rematch of the very first game back in August.

In this series, the universities of Coventry and Roehampton made their debut appearances, while Robert Gordon University made only their second appearance since 1994 in Jeremy Paxman's inaugural series.

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 (as it was impossible for them to be in the highest scoring losers).
• Teams with orange scores had to win one more match to return in the next round.
• Teams with yellow scores indicate that two further matches had to 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 Bristol	185	195	Durham University	380	29 August 2022
The Open University		195	Newcastle University	310	5 September 2022
London School of Economics		175	University College, Oxford	285	12 September 2022
Coventry University		230	Cardiff University	280	19 September 2022
Cranfield University		155	Royal Holloway, University of London	265	26 September 2022
University of Glasgow		165	Queen's University Belfast	270	3 October 2022
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge		140	University of St Andrews	260	10 October 2022
University of Sheffield	170	180	University College London	350	17 October 2022
Oriel College, Oxford	130	150	Christ's College, Cambridge	280	25 October 2022
Jesus College, Cambridge	225		St Catherine's College, Oxford	330	1 November 2022
Balliol College, Oxford		210	University of Southampton	325	8 November 2022
Bangor University	135		University of Nottingham	260	15 November 2022
Newnham College, Cambridge	160	175	The Courtauld Institute of Art	335	21 November 2022
Robert Gordon University	210		University of Roehampton	300	28 November 2022

Highest scoring losers play-offs

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
University of Sheffield		175	Newnham College, Cambridge	285	5 December 2022
University of Bristol	185			335	12 December 2022

Second round

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
University of St Andrews		145	Royal Holloway, University of London	235	2 January 2023
Robert Gordon University	180		The Courtauld Institute of Art	255	9 January 2023
Newnham College, Cambridge	150		Cardiff University	290	16 January 2023
University of Bristol	205		Queen's University Belfast	295	23 January 2023
University College, Oxford		160	Jesus College, Cambridge	245	30 January 2023
University College London	180		Newcastle University	350	6 February 2023
Christ's College, Cambridge		175	University of Southampton	265	13 February 2023
Durham University	240		Bangor University	275	20 February 2023

Quarter-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
University of Southampton	135	165	Durham University	300	27 February 2023
Royal Holloway, University of London	170	85	Robert Gordon University	255	6 March 2023
Newnham College, Cambridge	110	205	University of Bristol	315	13 March 2023
Jesus College, Cambridge	115	185	University College London	300	20 March 2023
Durham University	100	125	Royal Holloway, University of London	225	27 March 2023
University of Southampton	180		Robert Gordon University	245	3 April 2023
University of Bristol	205	70	University College London	275	10 April 2023
Newnham College, Cambridge	215		Jesus College, Cambridge	330	17 April 2023
Durham University	160		University College London	305	24 April 2023
		135	University of Southampton	255	8 May 2023

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
Royal Holloway, University of London		160	Durham University	250	15 May 2023
University of Bristol	200		University of Southampton	270	22 May 2023

This was the first time since the 2006-07 series that there were no Oxbridge teams in the semi-finals.

Final

• The trophy and title were awarded to the Durham team of Harry Scully, Chloe Margaux, Alex Radcliffe, and Bea Bennett, who beat the Bristol team of Sam Kehler, Jacob McLaughlin, Tess Richardson, and Alejandro Ortega.
• The trophy was presented by Jung Chang.
• This was the last regular series to be hosted by Jeremy Paxman after 29 years.

Spin-off: Christmas Special 2022

First round

Each year, a Christmas special sequence is aired featuring distinguished alumni. Out of 7 first-round winners, the top 4 highest-scoring teams progress to the semi-finals. The teams consist of celebrities who represent their alma maters. This was the last Christmas special to be hosted by Jeremy Paxman after 11 years.

• 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.

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
SOAS University of London		155	Balliol College, Oxford	230	19 December 2022^[6]
University College, Oxford			University of Glasgow	185	20 December 2022
Durham University		200	University of York	245	21 December 2022
Exeter College, Oxford	150		Queen Mary University of London	220	22 December 2022
University of Hull	135		University of the West of England	170	23 December 2022
University College London			University of Aberdeen	200	26 December 2022
University of Bristol			Cardiff University	230	27 December 2022

Standings for the winners

Rank	Team	Team captain	Score
1	University of York	Tom Scott	200
2	Balliol College, Oxford	Martin Edwards	155
3	Exeter College, Oxford	Reeta Chakrabarti	150
4	University of Hull	Sian Reese-Williams	135
5	University of Bristol	Dominic Waghorn	125
6	University of Aberdeen	Jon S. Baird	115
7	University of Glasgow	Chris Brookmyre	110

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score		Team 2	Total	Broadcast date
University of York		155	University of Hull	255	28 December 2022
Balliol College, Oxford	215		Exeter College, Oxford	340	29 December 2022

Final

The winning Balliol College, Oxford team consisted of Elizabeth Kiss, Andrew Copson, Martin Edwards and Martin O’Neill, who beat the University of Hull and their team of Katharine Norbury, James Graham, Sian Reese-Williams and Graeme Hall.

External links

• University Challenge homepage
• Blanchflower Results Table

Notes and References

1. Web site: BBC Two - University Challenge, 2022/23, Episode 1 . . 17 August 2022.
2. Web site: TV: University Challenge at 60 - Saga .
3. Web site: Jeremy Paxman to step down from University Challenge after 28 incredible years . BBC Press Office . 16 August 2022.
4. Web site: Amol Rajan announced as new University Challenge host .
5. Web site: Amol Rajan to be new host of University Challenge . . 18 August 2022 .
6. Web site: University Challenge announces line up for its twelfth festive series . . 12 December 2022.