The University of Huddersfield’s very own team of ‘Eggheads’

Dr Martin Carr and Dr Chris Cooper are both members of the University’s Quiz Society and recently featured in the Channel 5 quiz show Eggheads alongside Business Management student Callum and History and Politics student Oliver

THE University of Huddersfield’s very own group of ‘Eggheads’ have appeared in the Channel 5 quiz show of the same name and although fell at the final hurdle, they certainly gave one of the country’s most well-known quiz teams a run for their money.

Dr Martin Carr and Dr Chris Cooper from the Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences in the School of Applied Sciences featured in Episode 39 of Season One of the renowned television quiz show known as Eggheads, alongside Business Management student Callum and History and Politics student Oliver, with their team named ‘Our Drinking Team Has A Quiz Problem’.

The official Eggheads, who comprised of Lisa, Olav, Kevin, and Barry are recognised as the greatest quiz players in Britain and had won their last five games in a row. Every day amounts to £1,000 worth of cash for a team of challengers to win and the prize money rolls over to the next show if they fail to defeat them. The Huddersfield team was quizzing for the chance of winning an overall prize fund of £6,000.

As the show commenced Dr Chris Cooper spoke with television host Jeremy Vine who had asked the team whether or not they thought online quizzing had taken off during the pandemic.

“Our team originated in the Quiz Society at the University and we used to quiz regularly in pub quizzes, that's where our name originated from,” said Dr Cooper. “But since Lockdown, we've been quizzing online and Olly, Callum and myself have quizzed in some University tournaments and myself and my colleague Martin have quizzed in pub quizzes before.

“Quizzing online, certainly within the university circuit, became very popular and I know some pubs have been running their own little niche quizzes too. So, yes I think it has been quite successful.”

Callum, who had initially got the team off to a flying start by defeating his opposing Egghead Lisa in the first round, explained some of the activities such as one named Quizbowl that the students had been involved with during the pandemic.

Although the team was beaten in the final general knowledge round by the formidable Eggheads, they said they would do it again in a heartbeat and encourage anyone at the University who is also interested in quizzing to get involved with the University’s Quiz Society as during the pandemic they found being able to connect with peers outside of work a really positive thing.