University Challenge 50 years on

Fifty years ago the call went out for candidates to join an IC team on University Challenge, and I (then a Chemistry PG) was picked, along with Martin Turner, Keith Sugden, Rob Davis, and (reserve) Derrick Everett. Martin had been given the job of finding a team, so he invited those interested to a lunchtime meeting. He asked fifty questions provided by Granada, the production company behind University Challenge, and the highest scorers were selected.

Our recording was to take place on Wednesday 5th February 1975, and we travelled from Euston that morning. We arrived about lunchtime at the Granada Studios on Quay Street, Manchester, where we met host Bamber Gascoigne and the other three teams.

Several things were different from today's programme. Firstly, it was broadcast on ITV, and at random times in different regions, often mid-afternoon or late at night. Secondly, the winning team reappeared against a new team in the following episode. Teams that won three matches were promoted to the series finals, and then two new teams played. And I don't think teams trained. We certainly didn't; we just turned up and tried to answer Bamber's questions correctly.

At the time, Imperial College, then part of the University of London, was a very different place 50 years ago; with about (from my memory) 4,500 undergraduates, 1,500 postgraduates, and maybe 400 women.

In the afternoon we went through make-up and two full-scale dress rehearsals followed by a meal in the cafeteria where we could spot TV stars, including actors from Coronation Street.

Two matches were recorded each evening. As the young ladies of Lady Margaret Hall (LMH), Oxford, had already won twice, it was anticipated that they would beat Hull in the first match and be promoted to the finals, leaving Ulster to play Imperial in the second match.

But Hull had other plans. They beat LMH and went on to beat Ulster in the second match. Being the fourth team, we did not appear! This was particularly unfortunate as Bamber had told us that he had prepared a set of questions weighted towards the sciences, hoping that we would overturn IC's dismal record on the show. These questions were used in Hull vs. Ulster.

Our supporters were not best pleased, having travelled by coach from London (experiencing a breakdown in Birmingham) they returned without seeing us perform. The team was put on the sleeper train back to Euston and asked to return on the Friday, which we did.

Martin was the team captain and Derrick stood in for Rob. We were narrowly beaten by two-times winners Hull. I can remember only one question. As the starter we were shown a picture of some eggs, soil, and flowerpots and asked what dish these would make. No one got the answer which was Chinese "century eggs". The subsequent pictures showed the ingredients of other egg-based recipes.

History does not record whether our supporters made the trip a second time.