Leicester graduates compete in Christmas University Challenge

Every year University Challenge runs a short series over Christmas featuring graduates of selected universities - and this year Leicester has a team. Representing their alma mater will be:

  • Pete Lawrence (Physics with Astrophysics) - astronomer and co-presenter of The Sky at Night
  • Adele Parks (English, 1990) - bestselling novelist who was a guest at this year's Literary Leicester
  • Danielle Brown MBE (Law, 2010) - archer who won gold at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games
  • Sir Geoff Palmer (Botany, 1964) - brewing expert and human rights activist

The series starts on 24 December and runs through to early January. Leicester face off against UCL in their first round match on Thursday 28 December, broadcast at 8.00pm on BBC 2. The seven winning teams and highest scoring loser will then go into the quarter finals.

The University of Leicester won the first ever series of University Challenge back in 1963.