University Challenge: BBC rubbishes claims questions have been ‘dumbed down’ for ratings
THE BBC has hit back at claims that the level of questions on quiz show favourite University Challenge has been lowered in a bid to boost viewing figures.
University Challenge contestant Bartholomew Cuthbert Joly de Lotbiniere
According to reports, the programme - which pits students from different higher institutions against one another - has been posing easier questions for the benefit of people watching at home.
The broadcaster was said to have introduced fewer highbrow conundrums because audience members tuning in were being left confused by the complicated scientific questions and those which needed a thorough knowledge of humanities and the classics.
An insider said: “There will be fewer mind-blowing mathematical and complex classical music questions this time.”
The source went on to tell The Daily Star Sunday: “In many ways they want to return to the Bamber Gascoigne days when viewers from almost every age group could have a stab at the answers and really get involved.”
However, the BBC rubbished the reports and said it was “nonsense”.
A BBC Spokesperson told Express.co.uk: "This story is untrue. There are no plans to change University Challenge."
Jeremy Paxman has presented University Challenge since 1994
Jeremy has previously said that the questions have got harder
The questions are expected to get harder through the series
There are no plans to change the difficulty of the questions on University Challenge
University Challenge has received criticism in the past from viewers, who have taken to social media to blast the programme for making the questions supposedly easier.
Despite suggestions that University Challenge has become lowbrow, presenter Jeremy Paxman has argued to the contrary and even previously said the questions were “dumbed-up”.
The latest series of the game show started last week and saw team members from the University of Sheffield taking on a group from Bristol University.
It is expected that the questions will get more tricky as the show progresses through the rounds and eliminates weaker teams.
The BBC has hit back at claims the questions are more lowbrow
The questions require deep knowledge of science, art and maths
In recent years University Challenge has hit the headlines over some of its more outlandish contestants, which have included a student wearing a leather vest and another who was afraid to press the buzzer.
University Challenge has become a firm fixture on the box since being first broadcast back in 1962, the majority of previous winners have been from colleges from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
The programme was originally presented by Bamber between 1962 to 1987, before the show was later brought back by the BBC in 1994 with Jeremy taking on quiz master duties.
University Challenge continues on BBC Two tomorrow night at 8pm.