University Challenge: the 2018 Grand final was female-dominated and pleasingly highbrow in a dumbed-down world - review

Even habitual harrumpher Jeremy Paxman was impressed by the standard of quizzing in the grand final of University Challenge (BBC Two). “It’s amazing what people know, isn’t it?” marvelled the host.

Indeed it was, covering eclectic topics from the Shipping Forecast to Chinese literature, from the Black Lives Matter movement in the US to Egyptian politician Boutros Boutros-Ghali. 

For the fifth year in a row, the showdown was an all-Oxbridge affair. It’s becoming like a brainbox version of the Boat Race. First-time finalists St John’s College, Cambridge, took on Merton College, Oxford, who last won the contest back in 1980. 

At a cursory glance, this episode could have been filmed anytime in the last half-century. University Challenge is impervious to change, with everything reassuringly familiar: the jaunty string music, the lo-fi buzzers, the split-screen effect, viewers’ air-punching pride when they get one right.

Even the teams’ appearances – ill-fitting blazers, patterned ties, polo-necks, non-statement specs and resolutely unfashionable haircuts – were a throwback. 

Once battle commenced, it was a women’s world out there. The star players were the only two female participants: Merton captain Leonie Woodland, who looked worried even while reeling off correct answers, and St John’s’ Rosie McKeown, lightning-quick queen of the starter question.

The six males – even the teams’ respective “human Googles”, Merton’s Akira Wiberg and John-Clark Levin from St John’s – barely got a look-in.

It was a ding-dong clash, with Merton racing into an early lead before St John’s clawed their way back. Once the Cambridge college got their bookish noses in front, they stayed there, winning by 145 points to 100. This final’s female domination continued as the trophy was presented by composer Judith Weir. 

University Challenge winners and contestants: what happened next?

This 47th series hasn’t been a vintage one, due to the lack of a cult figure like 2009 phenomenon Gail Trimble, 2010’s deadpan Alexander Guttenplan, 2015’s Ted Loveday or last year’s Eric Monkman, whose grimacing, gurning facial expressions inspired “Monkmania”. However, it remains quietly gripping and pleasingly highbrow in a dumbed-down world. As Paxman concluded: “Until next time, goodbye.”