University quiz team disqualified

Corpus Christi had beaten Manchester University by 275 points to 190

The BBC has disqualified the latest University Challenge winning team for breaking the rules by using a contestant who was no longer a student.

The title has been transferred to the University of Manchester, the team beaten by Corpus Christi College, Oxford on the TV quiz last week.

By the time the final was filmed, team member Sam Kay was working as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr Kay has apologised and said "it was never my intention to mislead anyone."

Manchester captain Matthew Yeo said he was "saddened" to win in this way.

A joint statement from the BBC and Granada said: "The University Challenge rules on student eligibility are that students taking part must be registered at their university or college for the duration of the recording of the series.

"Whilst obviously not intending to, Corpus Christi broke this important rule when other universities and colleges taking part adhered to it.

"We therefore find ourselves in the regrettable position of having no choice but to disqualify Corpus Christi from the final. This means they forfeit their hard-fought title which now goes to the Manchester University team."

University Challenge quizmaster Jeremy Paxman said: "I suppose it is mildly embarrassing but I do feel sorry for the Corpus Christi team - I mean they were all legitimate students when it started.

"But rules are rules, and they had to be stuck to."

In the introductory part of the show, Mr Kay told viewers he was studying chemistry.

But PricewaterhouseCoopers told the BBC Mr Kay was employed as a graduate accountant last September and is training to be a chartered accountant.

The final was filmed in November and Mr Kay was an important factor in the showdown, answering two "starters for 10" at a crucial point when his team was trailing.

According to newspaper reports, Mr Kay failed to get funding for a PhD and left the Oxford college after graduating last year.

Speaking after the decision he said: "I hugely regret not confirming my change of status to the University Challenge programme makers before the final rounds."

"I had honestly believed I was eligible as I had indicated my course dates when I applied."

Sam Kay said he honestly believed he was eligible to compete

The second placed Manchester team had said they had "no desire" for a rematch.

Team captain, Matthew Yeo, commented: "While we accept the decision of the University Challenge judges, we are saddened to have been awarded the trophy under such circumstances.

"As far as Simon, Henry, Reuben and I are concerned the final was a great experience and we believe Corpus Christi College were outstanding opponents."

Speaking to the Guardian newspaper "Our statement to the BBC reflects the unity of the team. We regard the Corpus Christi team as fantastic opponents and we're very sad that the competition has ended in this way with Corpus having to forfeit.

"In order to spare any more hurt at this time we want to draw a line underneath this. We knew the decision wasn't in our hands and we're very saddened. But the decision was not ours to be made. We've certainly been awarded a victory but it saddens us that it happened in this way. To prevent further heartache for all eight of us we don't want to say any more."

A spokesperson from Corpus Christi college said: "Our students entered University Challenge in good faith. The team had a wonderful run and we are, of course, disappointed to be losing the title."

The final had already made headlines due to the performance of Corpus Christi's team captain Gail Trimble. The 26-year-old was nicknamed the "Human Google" after scoring two-thirds of her team's 1,200 points on the way to the final.

Ms Trimble was unavailable for comment, referring all calls to the university.

The captain of last year's winning University Challenge team said it was a "tragic" way for Manchester to win the contest.

Christchurch, Oxford, team leader Max Kaufman told the BBC: "I don't think anybody would really want to win under these circumstances.

"And I think given that there's no cash prize at stake and it is purely for the honour of the thing I feel it is rather a tragic way to win in the end."

One Manchester University student said for her team to win under these circumstances "tarnished" the victory.

Cori Bromfeld, 22, said: "I was talking to some of my friends and we think that Manchester did brilliantly to get to the final, and to win in this way does take away some of the achievement.

"People in the future will say that we only won because the other team cheated."

BBC NEWS REPORT.