Warwick’s ‘University Challenge’ team smashes first round

Four Warwick students represented the university in the notoriously difficult TV program ‘University Challenge’ which was aired on Monday.

The team was led by Maths student Giles Hutchings who worked alongside French and History student Sophie Hobbs, Sophie Rudd studying Computer Science and Thomas Van who studies History.

Warwick triumphed against Liverpool university with 235 points to 95. The host Jeremy Paxman dubbing this “a very impressive score”.

Warwick has had a turbulent history on the show, winning it last in 2007 yet in 2015 reaching round two.

Since the show has been broadcasted, Sophie Rudd has received some narrow-minded abuse from online ‘trolls’. They launched discriminatory attacks at her for being transgender.

However, there has been an influx of supporters rushing to her defence as one of the brightest contestants on the show. Several supportive tweets called her a genius and a role model.

This victory has put the team in a strong position with support from the likes of Richard Osmond. Hutchings thinks the team has been “really well picked” (by the previous team captain) with a “good spread of knowledge” due to a combination of degrees on the panel. With Hobbs strong in languages, Van providing historical facts and Rudd with evidently strong general knowledge the team look set to go far in the show.

Hutchings has said the team look forward to the next round.

He added: “I think this team has been really well picked (by the previous year’s captain) and not just because I’m on it! There’s a very good spread of knowledge having two science-y and two artsy people, though it does mean I have to cover biology which I last touched at GCSE!

“Hobbs has good language knowledge and is incredibly well versed in the bible (she’s vice-president of our Christian Union I think), Van’s history prowess admirable and Rudd just knows the most crazy things.”