Comics on Christmas specials

Comedians Ivo Graham and Ria Lina are among the celebrities taking part in the Christmas editions of University Challenge.

Graham is representing University College Oxford, where he studied French and Russian literature.

Also on his time are broadcaster Paul Gambaccin;  Guardian columnist Owen Jones and violinist and composer Sophie Solomon.

His team will take on Glasgow University in the second episode of the seasonal specials on Tuesday December 20.

Meanwhile, Lina will represent UCL, where she got her PhD in viral bioinformatics, having got a BSc in experimental pathology from St. Andrews and a masters in forensic science from London Southbank.

Also on her team are  author Ken Follett, author, vet and children’s TV presenter Jess French and artist Susan Collins, artist and Professor of Fine Art at UCL. Their first-round opponents will be Aberdeen.

The series will be chaired by Jeremy Paxman before he retires from the show after 28 years.

Peter Gwyn, executive producer at programme-makers Lifted Entertainment, saaod: ‘Christmas University Challenge is back, with an intriguing mix of alumni contestants including broadcasters, scientists, authors and comedians.

‘Viewers can look forward to testing themselves alongside our teams on a challenging mix of questions in this year’s festive battle for the title of Christmas University Challenge champions.’

Rhe series begins on BBC Two on Monday December 19 at 8.30pm and the first round fixture list is:

• SOAS, London vs. Balliol, Oxford
• University, Oxford vs. Glasgow
• Durham vs. York
• Exeter, Oxford vs. Queen Mary, London
• Hull vs. West of England
• UCL vs. Aberdeen
• Bristol vs. Cardiff
• Semi-final 1
• Semi-final 2
• Final

And the line-ups in full are:

SOAS, London: Alys Tomlinson, multi-award winning photographer and filmmaker; Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Head of School of History at the University of Leeds; Emma Dabiri, broadcaster, historian and author; Sherelle Jacobs, editor and columnist

Balliol, Oxford: Elizabeth Kiss, Warden of Rhodes House, University of Oxford and CEO of the Rhodes Trust; Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK; Martin Edwards, crime writer and President of the Detection Club; Martin O’Neill, Professor at the University of York

University, Oxford: Sophie Solomon, violinist and composer; Owen Jones, journalist and author; Paul Gambaccini, radio and television broadcaster; Ivo Graham, stand-up comedian

Glasgow: Helen Smith, Professor at the University of York; Alana Vincent, Professor at the University of Chester; Chris Brookmyre, novelist; Tamara Galloway, Professor at the University of Exeter

Durham: Gillian Foulger, Emerita Professor at Durham University; Simon Parson, Regius Professor at the University of Aberdeen; Chris Terrill, anthropologist, author and filmmaker; Emma Chapman, award-winning astronomer and author

York: Vanessa Kind, Professor at Durham University; David Conn, correspondent and author; Tom Scott, presenter and broadcaster; Sophie Woodward, Professor at the University of Manchester

Exeter, Oxford: Alex Watson, Wolfson Prize-winning historian and Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London; Sanchia Berg, BBC correspondent; Reeta Chakrabarti, BBC news presenter and correspondent; Andy Anson, CEO of the British Olympic Association

Queen Mary, London: Nighat Arif, GP and broadcaster; Lynsey Hanley, journalist and author; Lucy Siegle, environmental journalist, broadcaster and author; George Parker, political editor

Hull: Katharine Norbury, author; James Graham, playwright and screenwriter; Sian Reese-Williams, actor; Graeme Hall, dog trainer, author and TV presenter

West of England: Ita O’Brien, intimacy coordinator; Rebecca Salter, President of the Royal Academy of Arts; Victoria Gill, BBC Science reporter; Seyi Rhodes, investigative journalist and reporter

UCL: Jess French, vet, author and children’s TV presenter; Ken Follett, author; Ria Lina, stand-up comedian; Susan Collins, artist and Professor of Fine Art at UCL

Aberdeen: Margaret McCartney, GP, freelance writer and broadcaster; Neil Fachie, multiple gold medal-winning paracyclist; Jon Baird, TV and film director; Loma Dawson, Head of Soil Forensics at the James Hutton Institute

Bristol: Nigel Marven, TV presenter and producer, conservationist; Georgie Twigg, member of the gold medal-winning Team GB Olympic hockey team; Dominic Waghorn, Sky News’ International Affairs Editor; Nizar Ibrahim, Senior Lecturer in Palaeontology at the University of Portsmouth

Cardiff: Rachel Burden, broadcaster and presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live’s ‘Breakfast Show’; Heather Knight, captain of the England Women’s cricket team; Adam Price, leader of Plaid Cymru; Dan Saladino, author and presenter

Published: 8 Dec 2022