Charlie’s University Challenge
I had long wanted to be on ‘University Challenge’ and can now look back with great satisfaction on an appearance on the show with the team from St. John’s College, Oxford that took us all the way to the final and through a very enjoyable experience.
The team selection was conducted by a former contestant in College, who bothered to inform me of it personally before the advertisement for auditions went out. Apparently of the sixteen people who went for the team, I was the standout candidate, which is nice to know.
Once our team of me (a Theologian), two Historians, and a Chemist (with a Classicist as reserve) had been composed and much paperwork had been filled in, we were called to a test and interview with the producers in Oxford. Despite my misgivings after the interview, I was delighted to find out about a month later that we had been selected for the show.
Filming took place at Media City in Salford over three blocks in the first half of 2015. It was nice to take the trips there as well as to have the experience of being made up and filmed for television. Everybody who worked on the show was very helpful and keen for us to feel at ease. I also got to know some of the other teams very well in the green room.
After filming was finished, the team had a long and difficult time of hiding the result from the rest of College as we progressed through the broadcasts of our shows. When these were shown, large crowds gathered to watch in College and it was very encouraging to have their support. Subsequently, I’ve enjoyed being recognised more often around College and sometimes in the street as well.
Charlie Clegg
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