University Challenge Christmas 2022 Durham University v University of York Ep 3

[@jerryfick613]

Tom's inner monologue as they are introducing everyone. "Many esteemed professionals and experts, and a KZbinr who once portrayed a silly pirate" Clearly, he is easily deserving to share this stage

[@ananonymoususer4698]

Tom Scott in this is so unreal.

[@hampshirewanderer5078]

He's an imposter. There's no red shirt.

[@quinnobi42]

@@hampshirewanderer5078 That's the main thing I was thinking. That Tom Scott just looks out of place without his red shirt.

[@johnnye87]

You can tell he's a pub quizzer. Not just the answers but the way he consults his team and praises them for good guesses.

[@quinnobi42]

@@johnnye87 He's been on some similar TV shows way back in the early 2000s, so he has some experience.

[@justinbchen]

@@quinnobi42 he was on Only Connect series 3 in 2010!

[@chitraagarwal8259]

This is what Tom Scott has been preparing his whole life for !!!

[@oriel9347]

.. and nailed it.

[@cggc9510]

You can tell that Tom is the only one that has experience being in front of a camera. He is relaxed and engaging while the others are nervous wrecks. It is both adorable and painful to watch.

[@akashdeb9823]

Tom even took part in University Challenge when he was younger. Dudes smart af

[@chitraagarwal8259]

I know he was on Only Connect... Haven't seen his UC episode.. do share a link if avl on KZbin

[@achillesmichael5705]

@@chitraagarwal8259 he has his own game show on youtube called "lateral with tom scott" he has years of experience in quiz shows

[@darinfoat8410]

At 18:06, I could not believe that a team of four British people missed a Monty Python question.

[@AbsolXGuardian]

I was able to get that question from the memes, but I've never even seen the movie!

[@brontewcat]

Paxman did deliver the quote in a more deadpan tone of voice than in the original I think they missed it. But watching their puzzlement is almost as funny as the original.

[@secretforreddit]

I think their reactions as Paxman revealed the answer shows that the tone of voice used to deliver a quote is as important as the quote itself sometimes! He was so serious that it seems like they were expecting the movie to be some sort of political drama.

[@itsafunnyoldworld]

That was one of 3 questions I got correct 😂

[@1346crecy]

"Splitters"!

[@andracatheduckking257]

Love his little eyebrow raise when they introduce him as a "broadcaster and presenter"

[@frankthetank2550]

Because they're not allowed to say "KZbinr"

[@louisgreenleaf235]

@@frankthetank2550 I think they are but they try to make it sound more professional

[@hermanjacobs4425]

He felt flattered to be called a broadcaster and presenter. Because that term is normally for journalists doing serious news reporting on respectable tv studios.

[@rudyhero1995]

@@hermanjacobs4425 he has done both though, iirc

[@Northfan42]

And then one of the questions directly referred to something he covered in a Citation Needed episode. One definitely prepared him for the other.

[@varana]

Blanking on Caesar, not knowing the October Revolution, putting Tchaikovsky in the 1920s... the specific gaps of knowledge in shows like this are always fascinating.

[@justinbchen]

The location of the Straits Settlements too! Kind was right about Shostakovich being much later, she just didn't realize how early Tchaikovsky was haha

[@brontewcat]

I think the Caesar one was the biggest miss. As soon as the date is given I think just saying Julius Caesar as a guess will get you there 50% of the time.

[@ericforsyth]

Placing the Ganges in Western India and Pakistan, as well (sorry, Tom!)

[@jeff__w]

Plus not pinpointing that Gregor Mendel worked with peas, especially after giving the Latin name _Pisum sativum_ for the plant, and not at least _guessing_ George Orwell for the “English author in a work of 1941…”

[@wastelandbrit3443]

Don't forget the LED

[@97channel]

Sad that Jeremy Paxman feels that now is the right moment to quit hosting because of his Parkinson's Disease. Although you can hear the affect it's having on his voice, he's still very much fluent in his speech. I hope he enjoys a good quality of life in the times ahead. He'll be missed on TV. A heavyweight of journalism, and a surprisingly perfect host for University Challenge.

[@crysiscore2051]

UC needs a host of the same seriousness and drive of Paxman. Not sure if it can happen.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Ark of truth forehead symbol challenge? Today they made it smaller so the chicken penis could it the symbol 😂

[@jazzygeofferz]

It was a shame, but he didn't look or sound well during the last series.

[@HairyNun]

If you play at 1.25x speed he sounds like his younger self

[@CONCORDE444]

Disappointed by Tom's slow response on the bessemer process question, talked about it enough with the other 3 on citation needed 🤣

[@xMrMampfx]

BOXES OF KNIVES!!!

[@polar199]

i hope you will be ok

[@macdjord]

The problem wasn't knowing about the process, it was that it wasn't until the end of the question that you actually knew what he was asking. He _could_ have finished 'produces steel from what input materials?' (with the answer being 'pig iron and flux').

[@walkerousley8641]

I knew the Tom Scott fans would pull through🤣

[@noahthefence4047]

half expected Tom to say "I'm here at the university challenge studio" when he was introducing himself

[@goigus]

Tom Scott is a confident captain with a wide range of knowledge, but I have to give credit to Vanessa Kind, she is phenomenal with the questions.

[@NeilRossHistoryComedyPoetry]

And the answers!

[@RexCaelestis]

Damn, York really swept the floor with Durham! Scott and Kind are an unshakeable duo, with Woodward and Conn being amazing assists!

[@agent0422]

*starts video* I'm currently in the University Challenge studio

[@Muscleduck]

A new Tom Scott rabbit hole, after the Only Connect one I've yet to climb out of.

[@letmebecharlie]

haha same here :D

[@AntJoy23]

Kind was spot on this episode, I hope we see more of them. Came for Tom scott, stayed to see a good York team on solid form

[@thadrin]

Three episodes in and we finally get a competent team. York were not bad at all. Cheers Tybalt.

[@turkeyphant]

Not really, they missed tons of obvious ones.

[@gyroscope915]

I love how every is introduced and are these amazing experts in thier fields winning awards and doing important research. And here toms, he makes videos online and looking surprised to be called a presenter

[@iamthinking2252_]

eh, well he does research for his videos and interviews with many experts so that's something

[@Thisandthat8908]

@@iamthinking2252_ in a way he has proabably a wider range of relatively deep knowledge than the absolute experts. Or maybe not.

[@secretforreddit]

I used to be on my university's Quizbowl team and our best players were almost always the generalists rather than the specialists. In games where literally anything could be asked, you have a much better chance of getting one of the starting questions right is you know the basics of a lot, and then the specialists can shine in the bonus rounds!

[@peterfireflylund]

Note that many of them have relatively weak backgrounds: geology, English, education, sociology, … Linguistics and physics are much tougher and therefore much better predictors of high IQ.

[@peterfireflylund]

Chapman’s performance on electronics symbols was a disappointment.

[@UngodlyFreak]

So trippy to see Tom dressed up in something else than the red T-shirt or the grey hoodie.

[@lokiofsassgaard]

Oh yep, that's what was odd about this. Even on Only Connect, he wore a red shirt haha

[@michaelkenny6950]

As an American I don't watch a lot of British programing and I gotta say, I absolutely love the F U ending. "You. Say goodbye. And you. Say goodbye. Goodbye." **Credits.** In the colonies it's this big drawn out affair to keep you watching through the credits so you get hooked into the next show. Some channels start playing the next show *during the previous show's credits.* This is so final. "We're done. F off."

[@tybaltmacbeth]

haha

[@coasterb1]

Here in America, the ads pay for the shows. They don’t need that gimmick in Britain.

[@adityashekhawat8627]

How did the Durham Physicist not identify any of the freakishly common electrical symbols? Kind was queen, she knows so much! And good to see Scott still coming in strong with music knowledge after impressively answering the ‘trains’ music question from when he was on Only Connect!!

[@easonwang6654]

She’s a theoretical physicist that’s why

[@destroystheovik]

Well, physicists usually don't spend a meaningful part of their career looking at circuit diagrams.

[@element4element4]

As a working theoretical physicist I can tell you that electrical symbols are as relevant to our work as differential equations are to a linguist. I happen to know the symbols, but not because of my physics background but because I personally have electronics as a hobby.

[@Hue_Sam]

University Challenge is something. Anything can be a potential question in this show. It’s a true classic.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

This programme simply demonstrated that advanced academic prowess does not often result in broad, commonly known, general knowledge.

[@siononetic7529]

But which is genuinely more useful? Which can boost an individual higher?

[@fernbear3950]

I'd consider myself a skilled researcher with a number of different fields that I try to keep a competent knowledge in. I knew practically none of these questions given in the show (in some small part to my personal horror, I will unfortunately admit). Part of this is because my brain doesn't hold traditionally factual things like these very well unless they contribute to a "bigger picture" explaining the shape underneath a field or several fields. A benefit is that I'm able to have the "brain space" to intuitively polymath-shuttle concepts from one field to another, the downside is that I am quite horrid indeed at these types of challenges (especially if you're asking for process names, etc. Now, ask me the extended effects of a system given certain starting conditions, and I'll avenge myself on that question with delighted aplomb). Being an academic does require some general education, but if our best professors were just fact-memorizing, then I would find myself worried. One potential confounding factor is that I'm of an American background, so the divergence between what's considered academic "common knowledge" here and over the pond is likely to be higher, I'd reckon. (and a small final side note -- pulling out my researchy side here -- this program certainly did not demonstrate that advanced academic prowess does not often result in broad, commonly known, general knowledge. To first show this is true, you need to either change your statement to an appropriately weak one "does not often" >>> "may not always" / "might not" / "does not always", or get a large sample size, appropriately set some sort of metric definition for "often" (or even a range, who knows! You can always report at a table at the end of some paper), then increase your sample size to be much more significant. Then define a metric for what is considered "broad, commonly known, general knowledge", define and find either one or two good control groups (maybe a "fact finders/fact memorizers group" for a more contrastive bent to the study, and of course a well and appropriately recruited control group for the general population), run all those guys, gals, nonbinary people, and people who are otherwise through said metric, and the at the end report your Student's t test results vs. your control from the general standard population with respect to any metric(s), and there you should have your answer as to whether or not there is appropriately sufficient evidence to support the thesis statement. If anything, I have hopes that this side note demonstrates that there is so much more to academic pursuit than simple/rote fact-finding and memorization, as beautiful as those things are. To truly understand any tiny sliver of the field for I think any particular practice, in general, takes a lifetime, and I think that is a truly valid and beautiful pursuit for any particular given person

[@GlizzyGoblin757]

@@fernbear3950 words words words words words

[@Pieceofcakesterz]

Don't broad, commonly known and general mean the same thing? Unnecessary words?

[@MikhailFederov]

Seriously. That pathetic tram and their combined 500 years on earth performed abysmally

[@TheCheesyNachos]

7:34 he actually got a question related to that on Only Connect a while back too

[@letmebecharlie]

thank you so much for uploading this, you are a life saver for all non-uk tom scott fans haha

[@mcmadow]

Exactly, went from twitter to the link and then directly here

[@tybaltmacbeth]

You're very much welcome

[@tybaltmacbeth]

@@mcmadow Who posted it on Twitter (just out of interest) 😀

[@2tri749]

@@tybaltmacbeth Tom Scott

[@tybaltmacbeth]

@@2tri749 he posted the iplayer link, not the link of this video

[@tonywilde1709]

Thank you for the upload. The three episodes thus far have been lovely. Fairly pleased with my scores in all of them, so fully expecting a rude awakening in the next round! Jinxed it now! But we've had full rounds on Irish history, English football and WWII history, so no complains from me!

[@grimftl]

Thanks so much for uploading this. We don't get much mental stimulation in Denton, Texas :D I can't believe all those oldsters missed the question on "some farcical aquatic ceremony". I'm American and even I knew that one!

[@joh22293]

"Help! Help! I'm being repressed" XD

[@marcowen1506]

it's a sad indictment of the British education system that even the graduates don't know Monty Python.

[@lukeadv]

Kind was very solid, a bit hard to see next to the glowing Scott though.

[@HarryJukes]

Came for Tom Scott - surprised to see Chris Terrill - genuinely lovely guy!

[@chocolateorange]

bro went crazy with it, real brainer

[@definehome]

I love Tom Scott's expression when they named him a broadcaster

[@TheCoastermann]

I hope Tom asked Foulger where he could see an active volcano 🌋 1:07

[@bmcgoo6027]

York's questions were like my first General Knowledge. Durham's were ridiculously difficult. Like the crossing the bridge scene in Holy Grail.

[@marka2520]

Crossing the bridge theme?

[@PMA65537]

@@marka2520 Indiana Jones 3 ?

[@Lireoec]

Here for Tom Scott. Stayed for the hilarity and surrealism.

[@gogyoo]

It pains me to hear Paxo's speech getting slurred. I know he isn't immortal, but...

[@AbenZin1]

I know, it makes it a little hard to watch! He still seems pretty sharp mind,

[@premraghvani]

Can we just appreciate that the uploader actually added in subtitles?

[@tybaltmacbeth]

😅 I wish I was that amazing. But the subtitles are automatically generated by KZbin (I just briefly went through them and made small corrections).

[@premraghvani]

@@tybaltmacbeth ah - tbh at least you went through some effort, plus seeing the "autogenerated captions" for me personally is well not good cos how KZbin displays autogenerated captions.

[@spencerjames9417]

Something about this is just pleasant to watch

[@gerginius]

27:08 There was literally a Citation Needed episode on the Bessemer process!

[@davidha4830]

He was all over that sort question

[@TheCheesyNachos]

of course he did, he has a video on it

[@vantilate]

Help an ignorant spectator out - what’s it about and which video was it?

[@TheCheesyNachos]

@@vantilate it was titled Why My Teenage Code Was Terrible: Sorting Algorithms and Big O Notation

[@tybaltmacbeth]

@@TheCheesyNachos im still quite surprised that he got the answer before the question had finished on that one. Jeremy could have asked anything.

[@DavidChong]

@@tybaltmacbeth bubble & heap were the first two iirc. While I'd not have been as quick on the draw as Tom, I struggle to think of anything else that would fit.

[@toneranger]

Paxman doesn't seem as sharp as he used to be as an interviewer, and what a great interviewer he was, he slayed alot of politician's spin

[@peterfireflylund]

Parkinson’s + age.

[@MrCrinz]

I was jsut about to say the same. I didnt realise he has parkinsons. Looked it up and interestingly, a Dr diagnosed him after seeing him be less exuberant than normal on University Challenge.

[@GREYFLWRMUSIC]

3:59 Tom looks like he is on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

[@bjarkih1977]

How did they not know the answer to the question about "supreme executive power..." ?

[@stingersplash]

I should support Durham really as that is my very local university....but Tom Scott and David Conn? That's worlds colliding for me.

[@arthurgordon6072]

Basic electronics. So disappointing 😞

[@thecallousone]

tom's face of relief when he gets a question right

[@lucylou5766]

I am officially gobsmacked. I answered 26 questions faster than the teams. After years of watching, my best effort by a wide margin. Eight starters, 18 5 pointers, for an individual score of 170. 😊 October Revolution? Holy Grail? Seriously guys. Still, good effort by winning team.

[@tybaltmacbeth]

I was shocked when they didnt get October Revolution but sometimes contestants blank and scare to buzz in because of the pressure.

[@lucylou5766]

@@tybaltmacbeth Thank you for these uploads. Gives Dave Garda a rest!

[@tybaltmacbeth]

@@lucylou5766 Welcome. I hope he is enjoying his break.

[@martinstent5339]

I know that the Christmas Specials have easier questions, but these were really a lot easier than the usual UC standard! I have been scoring myself recently on UC. I got 120 here which is my highest score ever

[@jeff__w]

@@martinstent5339 “…these were really a lot easier than the usual UC standard” I thought so, too. These were Jeopardy-level questions, which are much easier than the UC ones.

[@freddiethecutestcavapoo9184]

At last, here in episode 3, a team which has some brains!! I was beginning to despair during the first two episodes!

[@turkeyphant]

I wouldn't go that far, the performance was pretty poor.

[@hughleigh3959]

Tom Scott's inner Monologue: "I'm on the BBC"

[@jazzhonk21]

Thanks for doing this; it's much appreciated.

[@tybaltmacbeth]

You're welcome Steve

[@aglenrios]

Great performance by York and Mr. Scott.

[@_Oli___]

putting Tom in the thumbnail = more engagement

[@tybaltmacbeth]

ikr :)

[@SeanAnthony-j7f]

I definitely think specialization and heavy research field on your specific study can hinder learning about general knowledge. Surprisingly teens that are voracious reader and learner has more capabilities for general knowledge. Nonetheless that was a very special edition indeed. Tom Scott is from heart ❤

[@annereidy7981]

Thank you and Happy Holiday!

[@Snowshowslow]

For the introductions: Is there a prize for not acknowledging that you are the one being talked about? 🤣

[@CODandponies]

This video got me into UC and now I've watched like 3 seasons. It makes me feel like an idiot but I love it.

[@tybaltmacbeth]

I'm glad it inspired you :)

[@sfumato8884]

Tom Scott fans rise up

[@empatheticgrinch]

Doesn't UK use standard circuit symbols? Genuine question because both teams not being able to get almost any of them baffles me. These are clever, perceptive people, it doesn't make sense. PS: Oh, and that Python reference was unforgivable.

[@tybaltmacbeth]

The UK normally uses IEC circuit symbols. I presume they struggle because they wouldnt typically come across transformers or transistors if they are not in that field.

[@pintpullinggeek]

Speaking as a fellow York alumni just a few years older than Tom the last time I had to deal with circuit diagrams was for GCSEs when I was 16 in the 90s. I remembered enough to recognise the first as specifically an LED and to think I knew that the last symbol is officially a cell as a battery is made of several cells but the rest were gibberish.

[@xander2bass]

I was very surprised by that, it was the only set of questions I got right.

[@garethgriffiths1674]

All those Durham scientists stood little chance when most of the questions came from the humanities and York had a Renaissance man as captain.😉

[@gideoncheung8731]

Such a shocker to be seeing Scott here!

[@peterboczan2116]

Whenever I watch University Challenge, which is not very often, I am reminded of the 4 "P's". 1:The Privileged 2:The Pretentious 3:The Pompous 4:The Precocious

[@artemis_furrson]

I was screaming when they couldn't answer those electrical engineering questions at 7:47

[@Ese96Agoaye]

Demolition! Which next BBC quiz show will Tom Scott make his appearance on? Eggheads? Mastermind? The Weakest Link?

[@dod_the_angel]

He did Only Connect ages and ages ago. He was still wearing a red shirt tho

[@plabcentral630]

In 3 years of watching I have now gotten 7 questions right.

[@TheSpacecraftX]

Damn. Durham seem more stacked on paper but York wiped the floor with them.

[@christophermanley1528]

I love Conn man, just smiling at Scott's answer, cause we're mainly here for Scott

[@OwlRTA]

expert thumbnail choosing

[@tybaltmacbeth]

lol yes

[@praalgraf]

what's a tom scott quiz without mentioning the bessemer process?

[@od1401]

It'd be cool if they incorporated something other than knowledge in this, like quickfire math or logic challenges

[@tybaltmacbeth]

Indeed, I wish so too

[@brontewcat]

That was fun - I actually knew the answers to many of the questions.

[@ladyflimflam]

Me shouting Julius Caesar like they can hear.

[@nathanpiazza9644]

Why are they whispering when they confer??? We need to hear

[@Ostenkaer]

Tom Scott must have been out adding to his wardrobe.

[@samgunn12]

It’s very confusing seeing Tom wearing anything but a red t-shirt.

[@bachinnn9795]

i want the TechDif squad in the York Uni side really bad

[@Draugo]

I'm surprised that Tom didn't buzz in as soon as he heard Bessimer

[@RolyMoes]

Haha at 27:15 Tom gets startled when his teammate buzzes in

[@rsssfgr1374]

Amazing how frighteningly intelligent they can be at some points and then be failing basic electric symbols

[@davidconnell1959]

Hee hee nice to see Tom Scott not lose on a tv quiz show. He’s much smarter than his record shows!

[@thedoreeto]

Thank you for this! I was looking for a way to watch this outside of the UK

[@tybaltmacbeth]

Yup, as a foreign resident myself I have resorted to watching the show via VPN and on KZbin in the past. I just wanted to help people out who arent in the UK with no access to IPlayer.

[@CineMiamParis]

@@tybaltmacbeth Much appreciated, thanks.

[@chitraagarwal8259]

Tom Scott for next UC host???

[@tybaltmacbeth]

I wish

[@ericforsyth]

I doubt he could deliver a "that isn't anywhere NEAR there!" with Paxmanian incredulity. But he'd be great, I'm sure

[@SrinivashM29]

He wouldn't accept it. Not for the next 3 years atleast. Has a lot of traveling around to do.

[@lipgloss675411]

Wow these questions were so much easier than usual

[@tybaltmacbeth]

They are! Typically in the Christmas edition since the contestants are no longer studying in academia they are expected to know less so the questions are easier than the original series.

[@TRDPaul]

Dear me Jeremy Paxman is getting too old for this Tom Scott is incredible though, also very impressed with Kind Were the questions easier than they normally are? I got a surprising amount correct 200 points is still amazing

[@TRDPaul]

Hope I remember to watch the semi finals

[@tybaltmacbeth]

The questions are normally easier on the Christmas Edition as the celebrities generally know less than the students on the show.

[@Aaackermann]

My english is quite decent and my knowledge is over par, but man did I struggle to understand these questions!

[@tybaltmacbeth]

They're a bit hard when you're not used to them. This show is one of Britain's hardest quiz shows if not the hardest.

[@ericforsyth]

They usually require intense concentration because they could misdirect you if you space out for even a word or two, often require some lateral thinking (at least to buzz in early, confidently) and/or require knowledge in multiple domains. These special episodes seem to give viewers more time to think, as contestants are much less likely to buzz in early, making it seem like the questions are easy in comparison to those of us who watch the regular version - when in actuality it's just that we actually get to hear the questions in full. All this is to say, the top-performing players on this programme are much more impressive than on many other quiz shows because of how difficult it is, even from home; let alone in front of cameras, a disapproving Jeremy Paxman and a lot of pressure from your fellow students.

[@Rycidex]

@@tybaltmacbeth onlyconnect is way harder than this tho

[@tybaltmacbeth]

@@Rycidex Definetely depends on your personal taste. I find myself doing better at Only connect partially as there is more time to think.

[@jamie2866]

Tom Scott is hardest man on campus

[@XoIoRouge]

My favorite part is the content creator who uploaded this knew to put Top Scott's face for the thumbnail. Nothing else matters.

[@ImNotGam]

Tom's moment came.

[@cosmicwire6356]

He looks like every answer exhausts him

[@EmuCosmo]

Go on Tom !! First on that buzzer!

[@danielrobinson3654]

I feel like Scott did really well

[@markkennedy9767]

Tom Scott beat those eggheads good. Seriously though, the standard of the career academics, stuck in their silos, was pretty poor.

[@oriel9347]

If you speed up playback 1.25 Paxo sounds ok.

[@rooshmookh]

The subtitles are hugely appreciated!

[@vaudevillian7]

Had no idea Tom Scott went to my old University

[@thecallousone]

tom scott just straight up being the leader of people with more degrees than him, we stan

[@fracturedopal]

5 professors emeritus and a you tuber! 😂

[@SeanAnthony-j7f]

Specialization

[@stephenfenwick4309]

I never made it on to the student panel when at Durham 20yrs ago, but still may have a chance on the Xmas shows in the future...

[@tybaltmacbeth]

Best of luck

[@josephturner7569]

How could they not know the Monty Python question?

[@johnmanalo1330]

I study at Durham but I was rooting for York and MR SCOTT

[@SirGingerOfKnight]

I'm clearly not the only one who saw Tom's intro come across a bit... demeaning the way it was read... ...For York to then *wipe the floor* with Durham Mystery Biscuits for York

[@orangebolo]

16:49 toms reaction lmaaaaao

[@MLB9000]

The book on dormant objects in domestic settings sound interesting. Where can I put my name down for a copy?

[@millarium4078]

27:16 Tom Scott scared for his life

[@zsht]

Paxman is not long for this world, sheesh