University Challenge is widely regarded as the toughest quiz show on TV. The best and brightest from universities across the country go head to head in teams of four, answering questions on everything from medieval literature to quantum physics.
Exeter University’s team has recently qualified for this year’s competition. This is achievement enough in itself, but the work is only just beginning!
Following an extensive selection process from the Guild, Exeter’s team consists of Martin Newman (captain), Lucy Carr, Ryker Moorcroft and Elliot Mouelhi. The team spans numerous academic levels (undergraduate to PhD) and Faculties (Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, as well as Environment, Science and the Economy). This ensures a concise level of expertise across several academic areas, hopefully increasing Exeter’s chances of placing higher in the tournament.
Following an extensive selection process from the Guild, Exeter’s team consists of Martin Newman (captain), Lucy Carr, Ryker Moorcroft and Elliot Mouelhi.
Martin, who specialises in humanities and especially modern British history and politics, told Exeposé, of the team’s euphoria upon hearing they had qualified. He says, “We just want to progress as far as we could in the competition,” and emphasises the support they received from the Students’ Guild during the process.
Martin described his experiences of quizzes in pubs and the Postgraduate Society, saying that he enjoyed them thoroughly.
He describes the team as made up of “positive people and natural optimists” and considering this alongside their combined expertise, it’s clear the team is feeling hopeful and confident.
With past contestants from the University Challenge now including multiple entertainers, politicians, authors, journalists, as well as intellectuals from other professions, and with the current team’s mascot being a stuffed plush replica of the campus icon Napoleon, I have no doubt Exeter’s team will do well. For those interested in partaking in a similar experience, the team captain advises simply to “give it a go” no matter your experience and remember to maintain “a sense of fun” about the tournament, no matter how serious it looks on the surface level.
We wish team Exeter the best of luck in the upcoming tournament!
Catch Exeter’s University Challenge on the 23rd of September at 8:30 pm on BBC2!
