Lifted Entertainment/Ric Lowe
Following in the capable footsteps of last year’s team, who equalled Darwin’s previous record by reaching the semi-finals, a new quartet of Darwinians is preparing to represent the College on University Challenge. The team’s first-round match, against Oxford’s Green Templeton College, will be broadcast on Monday 8th September at 8.30pm on BBC2.
This year’s captain, Louis Cameron (PhD English) is joined by team-mates Lewis Strachan (PhD Medical Science), Ruth Ní Mhuircheartaigh (MEd with Mathematics) and Jon White (PhD Geography). The reserve is Ben Rudd (PhD Education).
“It‘s a privilege to represent Darwin on University Challenge this year, so hot on the heels of the College’s brilliant performance last season, and I feel personally very lucky to have done so with such a wonderful team,” says Louis.
“What gets shown on TV represents only a tiny fraction of the time we spent together in the run up to the audition and the filming itself, and while their quizzing expertise goes without saying, it was their tireless enthusiasm and incomparable team spirit that made the whole experience not only memorable and rewarding but also enormously fun. Last year’s Darwin team left us with a tough act to follow, but their journey to the semis was a continual inspiration, and I hope our appearance will encourage a further generation of Darwin quizzers to try out for the programme in October.”
Contestants are sworn to secrecy on the results of each round before broadcast, and Louis was not to be drawn when we spoke to him.
“While I naturally can’t comment on the outcome of Monday’s match against Green Templeton, Oxford, I can promise it’ll be an exciting one!”
We wish the team all possible luck!
