Leicester returns to University Challenge as line-up and first opponents revealed

A fresh team of savvy students from the University of Leicester will be taking on their counterparts this month as University Challenge returns to our screens. 

The line-up of Leicester’s latest team has been unveiled as their first episode is announced for Monday 7 September at 8.30pm on BBC Two. (NOTE: this has changed from the previously advertised transmission date) 

Samuel Carlier, Emmeline Hague-Wright, Patrick Loughrey and Abi Burton will represent Leicester against Birmingham in their first-round match, with Elias Keyte as the team’s reserve member.

They will be hoping to match the achievements of Leicester’s 1963 team, which won the first-ever series when they saw off Oxford’s Balliol College.

Team captain Samuel Carlier, originally from Dartford in Kent, is studying for a research MPhil in Astrophysics, looking at Eclipsing Binary stars and will be beginning a PhD in Belfast in October. 

Samuel said: “Getting the chance to compete in the show was a really amazing and unexpected opportunity, as I had unsuccessfully tried to do it during my undergraduate degree. So while doing my Masters here I saw an email for try-outs thought I would try it out, and lo and behold in the end I was team captain and we got on the show! 

“Everyone on the team really put the effort in to practice and everyone we met at the studio was really kind and welcoming, making it a really enjoyable experience.”

First-year History student Emmeline Hague-Wright, who hopes to make video games in the future, said: “As a working-class woman from Melton Mowbray, surreal doesn’t begin to describe the experience. Moments ago, I was a kid who adored the show but was limited to winning local pub quizzes. Now it feels like I'm a child who wanted to be an astronaut and has gone to space before their 20th birthday."

Nottingham-born Abi Burton grew up in Leicestershire and is studying for a PhD in Public Health, researching the relationship between sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass and strength) and multiple long-term conditions at the Leicester Diabetes Centre. With an enthusiasm for the stage, her performing skills made their mark on the production in quite an unexpected fashion.

Abi said: "I felt especially proud to represent the University and the wider East Midlands. I'd wanted to do the show during my undergraduate degree but never felt brave enough - as a PhD student, I thought this might be my last opportunity! 

“The whole experience of doing the show was so much fun, including meeting my teammates, doing group practices, and filming in Salford. When we filmed, I had just finished performing in a pantomime at the Lowry Theatre, and some of the University Challenge crew had actually been to the show but didn't recognise me without a wig!"

Patrick Loughrey is a final-year integrated Master’s student studying Physics and originally from Northumberland. Patrick said: "I have always enjoyed quiz shows, especially University Challenge. I really enjoyed my time on the show (the free food was much appreciated). To be honest, I'm surprised I got on the team, never mind passing the qualifier in Birmingham."

Elias Keyte is studying Physics with Astrophysics and was the team’s Reserve Member for this series. Elias said: “I am so proud of my team for their excellent performance on the show. Although I wasn’t on TV this time, I hope to represent the university next year!”