Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

University Challenge

(44 Posts)
ferry23 Tue 21-Apr-26 09:22:53

I think the Manchester captain, Kai Madgwick, may be the cleverest person I've ever come across!

Edinburgh was a great team, but I can't imagine any team beating Manchester with him on it.

MayBee70 Tue 21-Apr-26 22:36:55

I don’t know what I’m going to do on Monday nights till the series starts again. Manchester have always taken UC very seriously I believe. I’m sure someone told me that they used algorithms to work out which questions were likely to come up? Even so their team leader was exceptional; also the girl on the extreme right in the Edinburgh team was pretty good, too. I still don’t understand why teams come back time and time again. It never used to be like that did it?

Basgetti Tue 21-Apr-26 22:37:32

(Had the UC contestants experienced the same issue, I imagine they would have raised it.
The increased scores since AR took over would seem to suggest it’s not a concern.)

DrWatson Wed 22-Apr-26 16:18:45

For Basgetti, and "scores were low" -- I think any change in scoring patterns would be more to do with the question setters? We've watched Uni Challenge since the Bamber days, and the questions have gradually become a bit easier.

Oh, and on the Amol/speech topic, yes he gabbles, especially as the show nears the end (when he also starts yelling "come on" to hurry them up).

MayBee70 Wed 22-Apr-26 16:22:23

I think the contestants really appreciate how fast he tries to get the questions out at the end of the contest. And what I really like ( and Amol really praises them for it) when one team has a slender lead they don’t discuss questions that they know they don’t know the answer to in a filibustering sort of way.

Lettice Wed 22-Apr-26 16:41:00

My home town Manchester. My alma mater Edinburgh - who to shout out for ?? Both, it's a win-win.

pamdixon Wed 22-Apr-26 17:52:57

fanastic final and finalists!!

Basgetti Wed 22-Apr-26 22:51:23

DrWatson

For Basgetti, and "scores were low" -- I think any change in scoring patterns would be more to do with the question setters? We've watched Uni Challenge since the Bamber days, and the questions have gradually become a bit easier.

Oh, and on the Amol/speech topic, yes he gabbles, especially as the show nears the end (when he also starts yelling "come on" to hurry them up).

So have we! As I said, my husband was a member of an Imperial team and questioned by the great Bamber in the late 70s. The questions have absolutely not become easier!
Setting the questions, Bamber Gascoigne!
Sorry but we disagree. Amol does not gabble. Paxman certainly did.

keepingquiet Wed 22-Apr-26 23:15:32

I'm a fan and so glad Manchester won- but why the fuss about the hat?

My DD wore a hat to school because she had alopecia. People should be more sensitive about these things...

Basgetti Wed 22-Apr-26 23:18:17

keepingquiet

I'm a fan and so glad Manchester won- but why the fuss about the hat?

My DD wore a hat to school because she had alopecia. People should be more sensitive about these things...

Yes, they should.

Eloethan Thu 23-Apr-26 00:01:29

I think Amol Rajan is a very good replacement for Jeremy Paxman, who in later years became rather arrogant and disdainful of the students. AR is always pleasant, polite and supportive. I don't find his diction especially challenging.

Basgetti Thu 23-Apr-26 00:18:46

Eloethan

I think Amol Rajan is a very good replacement for Jeremy Paxman, who in later years became rather arrogant and disdainful of the students. AR is always pleasant, polite and supportive. I don't find his diction especially challenging.

Agreed.

WithNobsOnIt Thu 23-Apr-26 06:50:03

I also thought he was neuro divergent which probably gives an advantage in some way.

Amol really gabbles on with his little self. Not even seem, he really understands some of the questions.that well.

Long gone are.the days of the classy,erudite and highly intelligent Bamber Gascoigne..

I rest my case.

Aldom Thu 23-Apr-26 07:03:00

Basgetti Luckygirl was not being rude. She's not that sort of person.
Perhaps you could look up the meaning of the word freak?
A person or thing that is highly unusual. smile

Allira Thu 23-Apr-26 11:24:23

Basgetti

Allira

Well, it's not just me.

There have been other threads I have seen where several posters say that Amol Rajan gabbles and mumbles.

Perhaps it’s the listener?
I find his diction crisp and clear 🤷‍♀️

No, my hearing is fine.

It is not just me.

He is more pleasant than Paxo, though.

Allira Thu 23-Apr-26 11:28:37

Aldom

Basgetti Luckygirl was not being rude. She's not that sort of person.
Perhaps you could look up the meaning of the word freak?
A person or thing that is highly unusual. smile

I agree, Lucyirl is not rude.

"Freak" - obviously a knowledge freak just as some people are fitness freaks. He must learn, absorb and retain a lot of information, he has an encyclopedic knowledge.

Purplepixie Thu 23-Apr-26 11:36:22

Fantastic! What a clever lad!

How rude to call him a freak!

His parents must be so proud. Loved his hat.

Sueinkent Thu 23-Apr-26 17:44:39

Don’t like Rajan at all as quiz master. He rushes to create some kind of excitment. What with him and the bloke shrieking the names out in the last 10 minutes, I’m almost inclined to turn it off.

graciemabel Tue 05-May-26 16:08:30

Amazing, I think he's got a computer wired into his brain under that hat!