BBC hits back after being slammed for ‘rigging’ University Challenge teams
THE BBC has hit back after being accused of favouring Cambridge and Oxford based teams on hit show University Challenge.
It comes after the programme came under fire for allowing Cambridge and Oxford to enter individual teams from the colleges housed withing the institutions.
At present, the rules state that each institution that offers a university-level education is allowed to put forward one team each.
However, many professors have taken a critical look upon this arguing that it simply allows the two leading universities an advantage to submit more than one team.
During the latest series of the BBC Two show, fronted by Jeremy Paxman, eight of the 28 teams came from an Oxford or Cambridge based university institution.
This was one down on the previous series which featured a total of nine.
It has resulted in the BBC being inundated with complaints who argued that it went against its own impartiality rules.
Highlighting the discrepancy to the broadcaster, professor of education at University College London, Frank Coffield, wrote: “Each of the 70-plus Oxbridge colleges (even those with only 300/400 students) is allowed to compete in University Challenge.”
He continued in his open letter by saying: “But huge civic universities like Manchester and Birmingham (with upwards of 40,000 students) are allowed only one entry each.
“What justification has the BBC for rigging the programme in this way?” as he added the programme’s format means non-Oxbridge institutions are treated as “second class”.
The BBC was quick to hit back as it offered up an explanation.
A statement read: “All institutions that deliver higher education courses at the level of bachelor’s degree or equivalent or higher are welcome to apply to take part in University Challenge.
“Institutions are eligible and welcome to apply to University Challenge independently of each other.”
It added: “All education institutions that design and deliver teaching towards university level qualifications are welcome to apply to University Challenge independently.
“This is not limited to Oxbridge colleges, but also includes around 300 colleges of further and higher education across the UK, several member institutions of the University of London, and a number of UK conservatoires and art schools.”
However, Professor Coffield was left unimpressed by the response and told The Guardian: “It still does not explain why more than 70 Oxbridge colleges are treated as separate universities.
“You don’t get a Christchurch college university degree but an Oxford degree. My main criticism still stands and the BBC is avoiding answering it.”
He added: “The balance is grotesque, inequitable and indefensible.”
University Challenge airs Monday on BBC Two and can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.