July 31, 2024 - The new series of University Challenge is set to air from Monday 12 August from 8.30pm with host Amol Rajan returning to ask the questions.

One of the UK’s toughest quiz competitions returns to BBC Two and iPlayer with twenty-eight new student teams from across the UK battling it out to earn the title of Series Champions and lift the trophy – presented to them at the Series Final by one of Britain's best-loved and most esteemed figures.

The teams will really have to put their knowledge to the test, tackling questions on all aspects of human thought, achievement and culture from around the world.

The familiar theme tune heralds the return of the fast-paced and fiercely competitive matches, featuring the nation's brightest students and the unmistakeable voice of announcer Roger Tilling. The teams will be playing on behalf of universities and university colleges from all four nations of the UK.

Amol Rajan says: “It’s been a summer of great competition on our screens, with high drama, tense finishes and shining talent. And the thrilling new series of University Challenge continues in that vein. The standards are high, the students are magnificent, and the starters for 10 as addictive as ever. Please join us!”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC Head of Entertainment Commissioning: “Amol’s first series with University Challenge blew audiences out of the water. Really excited he is back with more incredible University teams going head to head. This new series will be sure to have audiences shouting at their screens once again and I’m looking forward to the next big moment.”

Peter Gwyn, Executive Producer, Lifted Entertainment comments: “We’re thrilled that audiences have responded with such enthusiasm to Amol Rajan taking over the chair previously occupied by Bamber Gascogne and Jeremy Paxman, and we invite them to test themselves against these exceptionally smart students. Audiences can watch University Challenge on 12 August at 8.30pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.”

University Challenge is commissioned for BBC Two and iPlayer by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Commissioning for Entertainment, the Commissioning Editor is Pinki Chambers. University Challenge is produced by Lifted Entertainment North, part of ITV Studios, and is produced in association with Richard Reid for the College Bowl Company, the Executive Producer is Peter Gwyn and Series Producer for Lifted Entertainment is Clare Parody.

The full list of Universities taking part this year include:
Queen's University Belfast
University of Liverpool
The Open University
University College London (UCL)
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
University of Bristol
University of Warwick
University of East Anglia (UEA)
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
Wadham College, Oxford
Imperial College London
University of Manchester
University of Reading
University of Exeter
Darwin College, Cambridge
Birkbeck, University of London
Oriel College, Oxford
Durham University
Exeter College, Oxford
Christ's College, Cambridge
University of St Andrews
Cardiff University/Prifysgol Caerdydd
University of Leeds
University of Edinburgh
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
University of Leicester
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
St Edmund Hall, Oxford