Watch online: Exeter College students compete in University Challenge

Four students from Exeter College recently entered University Challenge, BBC Two’s much-loved quiz show, and their first round match versus Christ’s College, Cambridge, is now available to watch in the UK on BBC iPlayer.  

Watch Exeter take on Christ’s College on BBC iPlayer. Or read on to find out how Exeter performed (contains spoilers).

University Challenge, which first aired in 1962 and has seen 1,792 episodes filmed, is broadcasting its 54th series this year. Exeter College has appeared on the show multiple times, but while a team of Exeter alumni performed admirably in a special Christmas edition of University Challenge in 2022, this will be the first time Exeter has been represented in the student competition since the 2008/9 series.  

Filming for the show took place in April, with Exeter’s team made up of team captain Schuyler Colfax (2023, Williams), Daniyal Vemuri (2023, PPE), Benjamin Gray (2022, Mathematics), Edie Allden (2022, Biochemistry) and reserve team member Sarita Williams (2020, English and French). Edie Allden said of her experience: 

“Being on University Challenge was a great experience. We were the first non-alumni team to represent Exeter in years, so it was very exciting to finally bring us back onto the screen. The experience established great connections between a group of students who perhaps wouldn’t have met or formed close ties otherwise. None of us do the same subject, most of us are in different years, and Schuyler, our team captain, represents our ties with Williams College.” 

Exeter put up a good fight, but sadly the Christ’s College team was just too strong. The contest ended with Christ’s triumphing by 205 points to 110.

Exeter College students with University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan.