Students in 'hollow' quiz victory

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Corpus Christi College - who beat Manchester University 275 to 190 in the show's grand final - have been stripped of the title by the BBC after it emerged team member Sam Kay had already graduated and is in full-time employment.

Manchester have now instead been declared winners, but team contestant Henry Pertinez, 27, said their rivals "beat us fair and square" and his team was only awarded the series title "on a technicality".

More than 5.3 million viewers, a record audience, tuned in to see last week's final which featured Corpus Christi's brainbox contestant Gail Trimble.

The 26-year-old Latin scholar scored two-thirds of her team's 1,200 points before the final and has been described as the "best contestant ever".

Manchester's team captain, Phd student Matthew Yeo, 25, said of Oxford's disqualification: "This is certainly not how we wanted to be awarded the trophy and to be crowned champions of University Challenge.

"We feel not only has this detracted from the award but also detracted from the enormous fun of being on University Challenge."

Corpus Christi's Kay took a job with accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers after graduating with a first in Chemistry last June. He then travelled to the Granada TV studios to join his teammates for filming in Manchester during the latter stages of the competition.

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. I can only apologise to the other competitors and especially to my team as it was never my intention to mislead anyone."