Challenging time ahead

Competing in the new edition of  University Challenge are University of Otago team members (from left)  Fran Allen, Matthew Ordish, Naomi Woods and Tim Foster. Photo supplied.
Competing in the new edition of University Challenge are University of Otago team members (from left) Fran Allen, Matthew Ordish, Naomi Woods and Tim Foster. Photo supplied.
After 25 years off the air, quiz show University Challenge is returning to TV screens today, with Otago taking on ''reigning champion'' Waikato.

Otago University team member Fran Allen said Waikato University was the winner last time the show aired in 1989, which ''technically'' made it reigning champion.

This made today's round - which airs on Prime at 11.30am - all the more important, Ms Allen said.

The teams took the competition seriously, but got on well and made a few new friends over the week of filming.

''It was very competitive while you were actually on the stage answering the questions and it could get a little tense at times.''

''But as soon as you were off the stage and watching other people, it was just all about fun,'' Ms Allen said.

Team members have had to be tight-lipped about how they did since 31 episodes of the show were filmed in Invercargill over five days in July.

At least two members of the team - Ms Allen and team captain Naomi Woods - were keen to enter again next year, but that depended on whether the programme was successful.

''It all depends on how many people watch it,'' she said.

The original University Challenge was produced in Dunedin by TVNZ, with Otago University winning six times in its 14-year run - more than any other university.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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