University Challenge University Challenge University Challenge is a British quiz programme which first aired in 1962. "University Challenge" aired for 913 episodes on ITV from 21 September 1962 to 31 December 1987, presented by quizmaster Bamber Gascoigne. The BBC revived the programme on 21 September 1994 with Jeremy Paxman as the quizmaster. The current title holders are St John's College, Cambridge, who won the 47th series in 2018. The show is produced by Granada Television (re-branded as ITV Studios in 2009), under licence from Richard Reid Productions and the College Bowl Company. It was recorded at Granada Studios in Manchester from its
University Challenge 2016–17 University Challenge 2016–17 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 has drawn 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". 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