BBC called to defend ‘elitist’ format of University Challenge

Professor complains that show’s Oxbridge bias is even more pronounced in Christmas specials and calls for public debate

A campaigner has called on BBC bosses to defend the “elitist” format of University Challenge in a public debate, after complaining that the show’s Oxbridge bias is even more pronounced in its Christmas specials.

Frank Coffield, an emeritus professor of education, has asked for fairer entry rules that would confine Oxbridge and Cambridge to one team each in line with all the other universities. In a yearlong campaign, he has argued that the current format is rigged in favour of Oxbridge colleges, which he claims breaches BBC rules on impartiality.