University Challenge team battle for semi-final place

The Bristol team (l-r): Lewis Rendell, Benjamin Moon, Anastasia Reynolds and Miles Coleman with Jeremy PaxmanITV Studios

Press release issued: 16 March 2015

A place in the semi-finals of University Challenge is at stake tonight [16 March], when the University of Bristol’s quiz team faces a crucial quarter final tie against Magdalen College, Oxford.

As both teams have won one quarter final and lost another, it’s a play-off to see who reaches the final four.

By winning last month’s match against Oxford Brookes, the Bristol team became the first team from the University to win a quarter final during the Paxman era of the popular programme.

Viewers can see how they fare against the sharp tongue of Jeremy Paxman tonight at 8pm on BBC2.

The final four Bristol teammates, chosen from over 250 Bristol students who applied, are:

Anastasia Reynolds (captain) – 4^thyear, studying Czech and Russian
Lewis Rendell – 3^rd year, studying Maths
Benjamin Moon – 3^rd year, studying Geology
Miles Coleman – 4^th year, studying Spanish and Portuguese

They've already proved their quiz credentials by being selected for the series, which saw 130 student quiz teams fight it out for just 28 places.

University Challenge is the longest-running academic quiz show in the UK. It was first aired in 1962 and this will be its 50th series.

Further information

Update

We sadly lost the play-off (250 points to 115) but well done to the Bristol team for such a good run in the competition. Read an interview with team member Lewis Rendell as part of our #bristol52faces campaign on Facebook.