Christmas University Challenge

Jeremy Paxman asks the questions as teams of distinguished university graduates compete in a festive version of the quiz.

The first match is between the University of Reading, with BBC weather presenter Jay Wynne and writer Joan Smith, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, with writer and comedian Rory McGrath and broadcaster Mary-Ann Ochota.

In the second of the first round matches, broadcasters Fi Glover and James Wong represent the University of Kent as it battles against the University of Lancaster, represented by food critic Matthew Fort and actor Roger Ashton-Griffiths.

Another first round match sees distinguished graduates from two of the UK's top universities battle it out for a place in the semi-finals.

The University of Keele, with Steve Jackson, co-founder of Games Workshop, and Dr Maggie Atkinson, Children's Commissioner for England, plays the University of Aberystwyth with MPs Elfyn Llwyd and Dan Jarvis.

Tonight's first-round match features notable graduates from two top UK universities, who will battle it out for a place in the semi-finals.

The Gonville and Caius, Cambridge team includes Antiques Roadshow's Lars Tharp and historian and TV presenter Helen Castor. The Christ Church, Oxford team features Sky News political editor Adam Boulton and The Culture Show's Andrew Graham-Dixon.

In another first round match in the series for grown-ups, broadcaster Suzy Klein and writer Rowan Pelling represent St Hugh's, Oxford, as they play the University of Stirling, whose team includes Radio 4's Money Box presenter Paul Lewis and MSP Richard Lochhead.

It is the penultimate first-round match and two more teams fight it out to reach the semi-finals of the seasonal competition for grown-ups.

Playing tonight are the University of Leicester team, which includes TV's Sue Cook and astronomer Heather Couper, and Sussex University, with sports presenter Rob Bonnet and former news announcer Alice Arnold.

In the last of the first round matches, guests include comedian and writer Rory Bremner and novelist Susan Hill from King's College, London. They play the University of Southampton team, which features Jason Cowley, editor of the New Statesman, and horticulturalist Stefan Buczacki.

Jeremy Paxman asks the questions as teams of distinguished university graduates compete in a festive version of the quiz.

Jeremy Paxman asks the questions as teams of distinguished university graduates compete in a festive version of the quiz.

Jeremy Paxman asks the questions as teams of distinguished university graduates compete in a festive version of the quiz.