Electronic Precinct - Nov 1997

'Your starter for ten...'

On 22 October a team from The University of Liverpool appeared in the first round of the 1997/98 series of 'University Challenge' on BBC 2. Peter Dixon, a Plant Science PhD student, Louisa Harker, a 2nd year Politics undergraduate, Thomas Aust, a 5th year medical student, and the captain, Steven C lapcott, a Genetics PhD student, had their fingers on the buzzers against a team from the all-female Newnham College, Cambridge.

Both teams faced a barrage of quick-fire questions from question master Jeremy Paxman and by the half way stage the Liverpool team were ahead. But the Newnham team drew level with ten minutes to go and surged ahead, coming out comfortable winners with 220 points to Liverpool's 130. Over 20 friends and colleagues travelled over with the Liverpool team to give their support during filming in July at the Granada Studios in Manchester. Despite losing, the Liverpool team drank champagne with Mr Paxman in the green room after filming. The consensus among them was that he was char ming and not at all like the pugnacious interviewer of politicians on 'Newsnight'!

Could you do any better? If you are interested in forming a University of Liverpool team to feature in the 1998/99 series of 'University Challenge', request an application form from: Paul Stevenson, Assistant Producer, University Challenge, Granada Television Limited, Quay Street, Manchester M60 9EA; tel: 0161-832 7211.