Series 42 of University Challenge began on 16 July 2012 on BBC Two.
It also marked the 50th anniversary of the show’s formation.
Because of the live coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London which took place from 27 July 2012 to 12 August 2012, University Challenge was off air until 13 August 2012.
Results Winning teams are highlighted in bold. Teams with green scores (winners) returned in the next round, while those with red scores (losers) were eliminated. Teams with orange scores must win one more match to return in the next round (current highest scoring losers, teams that won their first quarter final match, teams that won their second quarter final match having lost their first, or teams that won their first quarter final match and lost their second). Teams with yellow scores indicate that two further matches must be played and won (teams that lost their first quarter final match). A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.
First round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance185 University of York 290 16 July 2012 St George's, University of London175145 King's College, Cambridge 320 23 July 2012 Wadham College, Oxford120 University of Bristol 225 13 August 2012 University of Strathclyde245 University of Durham 315 20 August 2012 Queen Mary, University of London150 Jesus College, Oxford 270 27 August 2012 Magdalen College, Oxford205 Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge 330 3 September 2012 Lincoln College, Oxford175180 University of Manchester 355 10 September 2012 Imperial College London225 Jesus College, Cambridge 305 17 September 2012 University of St Andrews125 Bangor University 230 24 September 2012 Pembroke College, Cambridge200140 University of Lancaster 340 1 October 2012 University of Bath125 University of Liverpool 235 8 October 2012 University College London260 University of Exeter 345 15 October 2012 New College, Oxford230145 Homerton College, Cambridge 375 22 October 2012 University of Warwick175 University of Aberdeen 275 29 October 2012
Highest Scoring Losers play-offs Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date Lincoln College, Oxford165 University of Lancaster 285 5 November 2012 Homerton College, Cambridge205 King's College, Cambridge 365 12 November 2012
Second round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date Pembroke College, Cambridge255 University of Bath 330 19 November 2012 University of York215 New College, Oxford 360 26 November 2012 University of Warwick185 King's College, Cambridge 345 3 December 2012 St George's, University of London230 University of Lancaster 370 10 December 2012 Magdalen College, Oxford220 University of Manchester 310 7 January 2013 University of Bristol245 Imperial College London 360 14 January 2013 University College London215 Jesus College, Oxford 395 21 January 2013 Bangor University175 University of Durham 340 28 January 2013
Quarter-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date University of Manchester185115 Imperial College London 300 4 February 2013 University College London190125 Bangor University 315 11 February 2013 Pembroke College, Cambridge105195 St George's, University of London 300 18 February 2013 New College, Oxford165125 King's College, Cambridge 290 25 February 2013 University of Manchester150230 University College London 380 4 March 2013 Imperial College London210 Bangor University 330 11 March 2013 St George's, University of London110160 New College, Oxford 270 18 March 2013 Pembroke College, Cambridge150 King's College, Cambridge 285 25 March 2013 University of Manchester220 St George's, University of London 355 1 April 2013 Bangor University195 King's College, Cambridge 265 8 April 2013
Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date University College London195 New College, Oxford 310 15 April 2013 University of Manchester160 Bangor University 255 22 April 2013
Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date University College London190 University of Manchester 330 29 April 2013
The trophy and title were awarded to the Manchester team of David Brice, Adam Barr, Richard Gilbert and Debbie Brown. The trophy was presented by the Astronomer Royal Martin Rees.
Spin-off: Christmas Special 2012 Each year, a Christmas special sequence is aired featuring distinguished alumni. Out of 7 first-round winners, the top 4 highest-scoring teams progress to the semi-finals. The teams consist of celebrities who represent their alma maters.
Results Winning teams are highlighted in bold. Teams with green scores (winners) returned in the next round, while those with red scores (losers) were eliminated. Teams with grey scores won their match but did not achieve a high enough score to proceed to the next round. A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.
First Round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date University of Bristol University of Leeds 275 17 December 2012 Newcastle University Loughborough University 230 18 December 2012 New College, Oxford240 London School of Economics 400 19 December 2012 University of Liverpool165 Cardiff University 305 20 December 2012 Newnham College, Cambridge University of Nottingham 265 21 December 2012 University of Exeter165 University of Glasgow 290 31 December 2012 University of Birmingham195 University of East Anglia 310 1 January 2013
Standings for the winners RankTeamTeam captainScore1 New College, Oxford Kate Mosse 2402 University of East Anglia David Grossman 2053= University of Liverpool Stephen Bayley165 University of Glasgow Neil Oliver5 Newnham College, Cambridge Rosemary Leonard 1556 University of Leeds Alistair McGowan 1407 Newcastle University Heather McGregor 120
Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date New College, Oxford220 University of Liverpool 345 2 January 2013 University of Glasgow150 University of East Anglia 265 3 January 2013
Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date New College, Oxford205 University of East Anglia 315 4 January 2013
The New College, Oxford team of Rachel Johnson, Patrick Gale, Kate Mosse and Yan Wong beat the University of East Anglia team of John Boyne, Razia Iqbal, David Grossman and Charlie Higson.
References
External links University Challenge Homepage Blanchflower Results Table