July

Queen’s takes to the screen for University Challenge

Queen’s University Belfast will appear in the new series of University Challenge on BBC2 on Monday 15 July at 8pm, when they go head-to-head with the University of Aberdeen.  The academic quiz is one of TV’s longest standing quiz shows and sees teams of students from universities across the UK answer questions on all manner of subjects to compete for the winning title and University Challenge trophy.

With 132 UK Universities applying to appear in this year’s series, Queen’s made it through to the final 28 for the televised stages following an intensive selection process in London. Team members Joseph Greenwood (captain) from Manchester, Suzanne Cobain from Bangor, Gareth Gamble from Lurgan, Alexander Green from Lytham and Jonathan Malone (reserve member) from Belfast were chosen from over 100 Queen’s students following a number of tough qualifier heats within Queen’s.

Queen’s University won the quiz show in 1981 and came close again in 1996 where they reached the quarter-final stage.  Queen’s Students’ Union President Niall McShane said: “I would like to congratulate team captain Joseph and his colleagues on qualifying for the televised stages of this prestigious quiz.  We will be following their progression with anticipation and we wish them every success”.

Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry: "I wish the team from Queen's every success this evening, and hopefully into further rounds. As a member of the 1994 Queen's team, which was the first year of the return of the programme with Jeremy Paxman as presenter, I have experienced at first hand how the contest tests the skill, speed and breadth of academic and general knowledge of the teams.

"For Queen's to be selected as one of 28 teams from 132 entrants is a real testament to the strength of higher education in Northern Ireland."

Team captain Joseph Greenwood is a 40 year old Irish Theatre PhD student.  He said: “Appearing on University Challenge was an amazing and slightly surreal experience. It's probably the one programme I had wanted to appear on since childhood, so to get there was great. I would recommend it to anyone of a quizzical nature. It certainly lives up to its name, but it's also great fun.”

Gareth Gamble, a 21 year old Medicine student from Lurgan, said: “I really enjoyed the challenge of competing on TV’s toughest quiz. University Challenge is a quiz show which I have watched for many years and played along with at home and it was an honour to be selected to represent Queen’s. It was a surreal experience being in the studio, with Jeremy Paxman asking the questions and hearing “Queen’s University, Gamble” whenever the buzzer was pressed. It was a fantastic experience and I would strongly encourage students to apply to be on the team for next year”.