Chaired by Jeremy Paxman and returning to BBC Two and iPlayer, Christmas University Challenge features 56 distinguished alumni from 14 universities hoping they’ve retained at least some of what their alma maters once taught them, as they compete for the coveted champions title.

Contestants on this year’s show include BBC News presenter Reeta Chakrabarti, Welsh actress actor Sian Reese-Williams, stand-up comedian Ivo Graham, and gold medal-winning paracyclist Neil Fachie.

Each team will compete in one of seven first round matches, after which the four teams with the highest winning scores will face each other in two semi-finals. The winners of each of those ties will then face each other for the series crown.

Produced by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios, the series begins on BBC Two on Monday 19 December at 8.30pm, with SOAS London going head to head with Balliol, Oxford in the first episode.

Peter Gwyn, Executive Producer, Lifted Entertainment, says: “Christmas University Challenge is back, with an intriguing mix of alumni contestants including broadcasters, scientists, authors and comedians. Viewers can look forward to testing themselves alongside our teams on a challenging mix of questions in this year’s festive battle for the title of Christmas University Challenge champions.”

Fixture List
SOAS, London vs. Balliol, Oxford
University, Oxford vs. Glasgow
Durham vs. York
Exeter, Oxford vs. Queen Mary, London
Hull vs. West of England
UCL vs. Aberdeen
Bristol vs. Cardiff
Semi-final 1
Semi-final 2
Final

Line up

SOAS, London: Alys Tomlinson, multi-award winning photographer and filmmaker; Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Head of School of History at the University of Leeds; Emma Dabiri, broadcaster, historian and author; Sherelle Jacobs, editor and columnist

Balliol, Oxford: Elizabeth Kiss, Warden of Rhodes House, University of Oxford and CEO of the Rhodes Trust; Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK; Martin Edwards, crime writer and President of the Detection Club; Martin O’Neill, Professor at the University of York

University, Oxford: Sophie Solomon, violinist and composer; Owen Jones, journalist and author; Paul Gambaccini, radio and television broadcaster; Ivo Graham, stand-up comedian

Glasgow: Helen Smith, Professor at the University of York; Alana Vincent, Professor at the University of Chester; Chris Brookmyre, novelist; Tamara Galloway, Professor at the University of Exeter

Durham: Gillian Foulger, Emerita Professor at Durham University; Simon Parson, Regius Professor at the University of Aberdeen; Chris Terrill, anthropologist, author and filmmaker; Emma Chapman, award-winning astronomer and author

York: Vanessa Kind, Professor at Durham University; David Conn, correspondent and author; Tom Scott, presenter and broadcaster; Sophie Woodward, Professor at the University of Manchester

Exeter, Oxford: Alex Watson, Wolfson Prize-winning historian and Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London; Sanchia Berg, BBC correspondent; Reeta Chakrabarti, BBC news presenter and correspondent; Andy Anson, CEO of the British Olympic Association

Queen Mary, London: Nighat Arif, GP and broadcaster; Lynsey Hanley, journalist and author; Lucy Siegle, environmental journalist, broadcaster and author; George Parker, political editor

Hull: Katharine Norbury, author; James Graham, playwright and screenwriter; Sian Reese-Williams, actor; Graeme Hall, dog trainer, author and TV presenter

West of England: Ita O’Brien, intimacy coordinator; Rebecca Salter, President of the Royal Academy of Arts; Victoria Gill, BBC Science reporter; Seyi Rhodes, investigative journalist and reporter

UCL: Jess French, vet, author and children’s TV presenter; Ken Follett, author; Ria Lina, stand-up comedian; Susan Collins, artist and Professor of Fine Art at UCL

Aberdeen: Margaret McCartney, GP, freelance writer and broadcaster; Neil Fachie, multiple gold medal-winning paracyclist; Jon Baird, TV and film director; Loma Dawson, Head of Soil Forensics at the James Hutton Institute

Bristol: Nigel Marven, TV presenter and producer, conservationist; Georgie Twigg, member of the gold medal-winning Team GB Olympic hockey team; Dominic Waghorn, Sky News’ International Affairs Editor; Nizar Ibrahim, Senior Lecturer in Palaeontology at the University of Portsmouth

Cardiff: Rachel Burden, broadcaster and presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live’s ‘Breakfast Show’; Heather Knight, captain of the England Women’s cricket team; Adam Price, leader of Plaid Cymru; Dan Saladino, author and presenter