Is it just me, or are there others who find the programme compulsive viewing, yet on a very good day, get about 6 questions right?

I’ve tried to analyse exactly what it is. Perhaps admiration for those who know something you don’t, trying to work out what “If x is the power of y over c squared, what is the parallel to the sum of d?”. Perhaps just the feeling of pride when you get something right or simply wonder what on earth the subject is they are studying. Half of these I’ve never heard of.

Look at this from the prospectus for a University of Brighton Course…

The course covers aspects of modern biological sciences relating to wine production, including advanced viticulture and oenology, genetics, ecology, analytical methodology and biodiversity. Students complete a major undergraduate research project around a viticultural or oenological topic of their own choice.

I thought you sowed some seeds, picked them and made wine?

But if you really want to impress those around you who watch the TV, here’s my cunning plan…….

If you don’t normally watch University Challenge, secretly record it and hide the video or DVD for a week.
The following Monday at about 7.45, start a conversation about it and say you’d be pretty good. They’ll all challenge your statement, but you’ve got it all set up.

Between this week and last, watch the recording and learn about 75% of the answers omitting the ‘impossible you could know’ questions.

Then syncranise your watch and switch the recording on to correspond with the TV listings.
Answer some as if it just rolls off the tongue and others with a few flicks of the fingers and a slight ponder.
Best to get a couple wrong though, but not too wrong.

They’ll be amazed and ask you how on earth you know. Just say you read a lot when they’re not there and ‘didn’t I tell you I got ‘A’ Level Physics etc. Job done, a whole new perspective of you is created. Just remember not to watch it again!