A team from Somerville has sailed through to the final of TV quiz show University Challenge, defeating London university SOAS by 85 points.
The team is captained by PPE student Michael Davies, alongside students Sam Walker, Zac Vermeer and Chris Beer. Their semi-final victory was broadcast on BBC2 on Monday evening.
They fielded questions on a variety of topics, and achieved a trio of correct answers on painter Ford Madox Brown and two out of three on the topic of squirrels in literature.
At the outset they appeared to be struggling, with SOAS on 55 points to Somerville’s -10 at around ten minutes in. They quickly recovered to win their place in the final, which will see them pitted against Trinity College, Cambridge.
The team received a positive reaction on Twitter. OUSU President Tom Rutland said: “Cheering on ex @ousunews officer @mjdavi3s on #universitychallenge”.
TV presenter Nigel May, however, took a different angle. He posted: “Davies on #universitychallenge looks like a jolly little chap. I imagine he giggles in bed…”
The final will be broadcast on BBC2 at 8pm next Monday.
