University Challenge (lost episode of British quiz show; 1975): Difference between revisions
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In 1975, the team representing the University of Manchester protested against what they believed to be the over-representation of Oxford and Cambridge in the programme, (each Oxbridge college may have its own team, whereas non-collegiate universities only have one. For perspective, the universities have around 70 colleges between them.) and the exclusion of polytechnics and further education institutions from participation. | In 1975, the team representing the University of Manchester protested against what they believed to be the over-representation of Oxford and Cambridge in the programme, (each Oxbridge college may have its own team, whereas non-collegiate universities only have one. For perspective, the universities have around 70 colleges between them.) and the exclusion of polytechnics and further education institutions from participation. | ||
The team, including David Aaronovitch, later a well-known journalist, '''answered every question with the names of various socialist revolutionaries (for example, Leon Trotsky and Karl Marx), and popular figures. (eg. Marilyn Monroe) It is said that this was an attempt to make the programme unbroadcastable'''. The recording was stopped several times, with the host Bamber Gascoigne urging the team to calm down and answer genuinely. They eventually obliged, going on to score 40 points. | The team, including David Aaronovitch, later a well-known journalist, '''answered every question with the names of various socialist revolutionaries (for example, Leon Trotsky and Karl Marx), and popular figures. (eg. Marilyn Monroe) It is said that this was an attempt to make the programme unbroadcastable'''.<ref>[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-anarchist-students-manchester-banned-23041572 ''Manchester Evening News'' detailing the University of Manchester protest in a 1975 episode.] Retrieved 8th Oct '22</ref> The recording was stopped several times, with the host Bamber Gascoigne urging the team to calm down and answer genuinely. They eventually obliged, going on to score 40 points.<ref>[http://www.blanchflower.org/uc/uc76.html ''Sean Blanchflower'' results of University Challenge for 1975-76 season (thirteenth series).] Retrieved 11th May '18</ref> | ||
Despite its content, the show was still | Despite its content, the show was still broadcasted today, with a small gap between 1987 to 1994. Though, the production company responsible for University Challenge, ITV Granada, is said to possess no copies. This is evident in a unknown documentary concerning the programme, which shows a reconstruction using extras, in a discussion of this episode. Several individuals online have claimed to be these extras, and claim that the original episode is lost, though other sources claim that small portions of the episode may still exist in ITV Granada's archives. It is also possible that amateur recordings exist, particularly audio recordings due to the cost of VCRs at the time.<ref>[https://missingepisodes.proboards.com/thread/6980/university-challenge-1975-trotsky-protest ''Missing Episodes'' discussing the lost 1975 University of Manchester episode.] Retrieved 8th Oct '22</ref> Only a still photo of the Manchester team remains, as part of a newspaper article mocking the team. Manchester was subsequently banned from the programme until 1979. | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
*[[University Challenge (partially lost episodes of British quiz show; 1962-1987)]] | *[[University Challenge (partially lost episodes of British quiz show; 1962-1987)]] | ||
*[[University Challenge's 'Press Special: Tabloids v Broadsheets' episode (found episode of BBC quiz show; 1999)]] | *[[University Challenge's 'Press Special: Tabloids v Broadsheets' episode (found episode of BBC quiz show; 1999)]] | ||
==Gallery== | |||
{{Video|perrow =1 | |||
|service1 =youtube | |||
|id1 =9LLR6tGRAUI | |||
|description1 =A unknown documentary clip that shows reconstruction of infamous University of Manchester's communist buzz incident in 1975. | |||
}} | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Lost TV]] | [[Category:Lost TV]] | ||
[[Category:Completely lost media]] | [[Category:Completely lost media]] | ||
Revision as of 20:13, 8 October 2022
An image of The University of Manchester team that was involved in the protest.
Status: Lost
University Challenge is a ITV-produced BBC quiz show whereby different universities take part in a series of head-to-head matches in order to win an overall tournament at the end of the season. It has been airing since September 1962. During holiday seasons, especially Christmas, there are celebrity variations, usually when prominent faces in British society practice out a similar format to usually represent their universities, albeit these matches are one-offs.
In 1975, the team representing the University of Manchester protested against what they believed to be the over-representation of Oxford and Cambridge in the programme, (each Oxbridge college may have its own team, whereas non-collegiate universities only have one. For perspective, the universities have around 70 colleges between them.) and the exclusion of polytechnics and further education institutions from participation.
The team, including David Aaronovitch, later a well-known journalist, answered every question with the names of various socialist revolutionaries (for example, Leon Trotsky and Karl Marx), and popular figures. (eg. Marilyn Monroe) It is said that this was an attempt to make the programme unbroadcastable.[1] The recording was stopped several times, with the host Bamber Gascoigne urging the team to calm down and answer genuinely. They eventually obliged, going on to score 40 points.[2]
Despite its content, the show was still broadcasted today, with a small gap between 1987 to 1994. Though, the production company responsible for University Challenge, ITV Granada, is said to possess no copies. This is evident in a unknown documentary concerning the programme, which shows a reconstruction using extras, in a discussion of this episode. Several individuals online have claimed to be these extras, and claim that the original episode is lost, though other sources claim that small portions of the episode may still exist in ITV Granada's archives. It is also possible that amateur recordings exist, particularly audio recordings due to the cost of VCRs at the time.[3] Only a still photo of the Manchester team remains, as part of a newspaper article mocking the team. Manchester was subsequently banned from the programme until 1979.
See Also
- University Challenge (partially lost episodes of British quiz show; 1962-1987)
- University Challenge's 'Press Special: Tabloids v Broadsheets' episode (found episode of BBC quiz show; 1999)
Gallery
References
- ↑ Manchester Evening News detailing the University of Manchester protest in a 1975 episode. Retrieved 8th Oct '22
- ↑ Sean Blanchflower results of University Challenge for 1975-76 season (thirteenth series). Retrieved 11th May '18
- ↑ Missing Episodes discussing the lost 1975 University of Manchester episode. Retrieved 8th Oct '22