University Challenge is a long-running British quiz show where teams of students from universities across the UK compete to answer a variety of questions on subjects including history, science, literature, philosophy, music, and current events. The show was first broadcast in 1962 and has since become a popular staple of British television.
Each episode of the show features two teams of four students each, who compete in a timed format to answer questions that range from relatively easy to extremely challenging. The questions are posed by the show's host, who also provides commentary on the contestants' answers and provides occasional background information on the topics being discussed.
University Challenge also features a number of unique elements that have become synonymous with the show, including the use of college gowns and the iconic theme music, which is based on the opening bars of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
Over the years, University Challenge has gained a reputation for its difficulty and has become a popular platform for showing off the intellectual prowess of some of the UK's brightest young minds. It has also spawned a number of spin-off shows, including a celebrity edition and a Christmas special.
