York woman to represent Bristol in University Challenge

Olivia Watts, who is from York, is set to appear on tonight’s (August 26) episode of University Challenge tonight on BBC Two.

She is one of four University of Bristol students who will test their quizzing prowess tonight in the first clash of their University Challenge campaign where the team are preparing to face Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

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The last time Bristol entered the show was in 2022, when they made it to the final for the first time in the University’s history.

This year’s team were whittled down from 200 University of Bristol applicants, in a series of trials that included a 100-question paper and a mock University Challenge episode.

The team spent months learning facts, watching old episodes of the show and entering pub quizzes as they prepped for the qualification rounds.

University of Bristol's team for University Challenge (Image: Provided)

Speaking about the process of preparing, Olivia said: “Playing along with University Challenge a lot you realise it’s not the same as a pub quiz, as so much of it is about speed on the buzzer and taking risks on what the rest of the question will be.”

Team captain and Artificial Intelligence PhD student Kevin Flanagan said: “It was surreal walking onto the set for the first time and seeing our names in front of the seats.

“It was also really cool meeting the presenter, Amol Rajan, and Roger Tilling who does the voiceover. He's the one that shouts out 'Bristol' and your name when you buzz in, and he’s been doing it for more than 20 years.

(L-R) ) Ted Warner, Bridie Rogers, Kevin Flanagan (Captain), and Olivia Watts (Image: Provided)

“My friends keeping asking how we do, hoping I’ll slip up and tell them, but we’re leaving it a surprise!”

The 2024 University of Bristol team are Captain Kevin Flanagan (PhD in Artificial Intelligence), Bridie Rogers (Medicine), Ted Warner (MSci Biology), and Olivia Watts (PhD in Organic Chemistry)

The University of Bristol team will appear on University Challenge on BBC Two at 8.30pm on Monday, August 26.