Series 46 of University Challenge began on 11 July 2016 on BBC Two, and finished on 10 April 2017. This series of the long running quiz show drew larger audiences than usual thanks to a collection of interesting characters, most notably Eric Monkman from Wolfson College, Cambridge, who has been described on Twitter by many viewers as "the most intense contestant ever".
The University of East London made its University Challenge debut in this series.
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 had to win one more match to return in the next round. Teams with yellow scores indicate that two further matches had to 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 University of Sheffield210 University of Bristol 340 11 July 2016 Corpus Christi College, Oxford200175 Jesus College, Cambridge 375 18 July 2016 University of Liverpool235 University of Warwick 330 25 July 2016 Queens' College, Cambridge150160 Peterhouse, Cambridge 310 1 August 2016 Oriel College, Oxford150 University of Manchester 245 8 August 2016 Emmanuel College, Cambridge175 University of Nottingham 310 15 August 2016 Balliol College, Oxford220 Imperial College London 275 22 August 2016 Robinson College, Cambridge155 Wadham College, Oxford 250 29 August 2016 The Open University210 University of Salford 325 5 September 2016 University of Edinburgh190155 Durham University 345 12 September 2016 Wolfson College, Cambridge185175 School of Oriental and African Studies 360 19 September 2016 Queen's University Belfast165 University of Birmingham 270 26 September 2016 University of St Andrews175 Worcester College, Oxford 320 3 October 2016 University of Glasgow150 University of East London 285 10 October 2016
Highest Scoring Losers play-offs Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date Jesus College, Cambridge195 Queens' College, Cambridge 350 17 October 2016 Durham University270 School of Oriental and African Studies 355 31 October 2016
Second round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date The Open University195 University of Edinburgh 380 7 November 2016 University of Birmingham195 University of St Andrews 310 14 November 2016 University of East London195 University of Warwick 250 21 November 2016 School of Oriental and African Studies195 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 325 28 November 2016 Wolfson College, Cambridge225 Jesus College, Cambridge 365 5 December 2016 Robinson College, Cambridge210 Balliol College, Oxford 300 12 December 2016 University of Bristol265 Oriel College, Oxford 335 2 January 2017 Peterhouse, Cambridge175 Corpus Christi College, Oxford 325 9 January 2017
Quarter-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date Wolfson College, Cambridge165135 Balliol College, Oxford 300 16 January 2017 University of Bristol70250 Corpus Christi College, Oxford 320 23 January 2017 University of Warwick90200 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 290 30 January 2017 University of Edinburgh220125 University of Birmingham 345 6 February 2017 Emmanuel College, Cambridge17055 Corpus Christi College, Oxford 225 13 February 2017 University of Warwick120 University of Bristol 230 20 February 2017 University of Edinburgh195160 Wolfson College, Cambridge 355 27 February 2017 University of Birmingham265 Balliol College, Oxford 330 6 March 2017 University of Warwick205 Wolfson College, Cambridge 380 13 March 2017 Corpus Christi College, Oxford240 Balliol College, Oxford 400 20 March 2017
Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date Emmanuel College, Cambridge170 Wolfson College, Cambridge 310 27 March 2017 University of Edinburgh215 Balliol College, Oxford 355 3 April 2017
Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date Wolfson College, Cambridge190 Balliol College, Oxford 330 10 April 2017
The trophy and title were awarded to the Balliol team of Freddy Potts, Jacob Lloyd, Joey Goldman, and Benjamin Pope. The trophy was presented by Stephen Hawking, on location at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
Spin-off: Christmas Special 2016
Qualification round 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. Teams with green scores won their match and achieved a high enough score to return in the next round, teams with red scores lost and were eliminated. Teams with grey scores won their first round match but did not achieve a high enough score to return. Team 1Team 2TotalBroadcast dateUniversity of Manchester185St Anne's College, Oxford24019 December 2016University of Kent245University of Sussex28020 December 2016City, University of LondonNewcastle University18021 December 2016SOAS, University of London175University of Leeds26022 December 2016University of EdinburghSt Catharine's College, Cambridge17523 December 2016Magdalene College, Cambridge225St Hilda's College, Oxford29025 December 2016University of BristolUniversity of Nottingham14526 December 2016
Standings for the winners RankTeamTeam captainScore1University of KentPaul Ross2452St Hilda's College, OxfordVal McDermid2253St Anne's College, OxfordMary Archer1854University of LeedsKamal Ahmed1755City, University of LondonSamira Ahmed1456University of EdinburghRachael Stirling1157University of NottinghamChris Hawkins75
Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast dateUniversity of Kent140University of Leeds 270 27 December 2016 St Anne's College, Oxford165St Hilda's College, Oxford 240 28 December 2016
Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date University of Leeds160St Hilda's College, Oxford 215 29 December 2016
The winning St Hilda's College, Oxford team of Fiona Caldicott, Daisy Dunn, Val McDermid and Adèle Geras beat the University of Leeds team of Louise Doughty, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Kamal Ahmed and Steve Bell.
References
External links University Challenge homepage Blanchflower Results Table