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University quiz genius could read at age of one
Amar Singh24 Feb 2009
THE WOMAN hailed as the greatest ever University Challenge contestant today spoke of her "self-image issues".
Gail Trimble, who last night captained her Oxford University-Corpus Christi team to victory in the final against Manchester University, has answered more correct questions than any other contestant in the history of the quiz. But the 26-year-old postgraduate Classics student admits that she worries that people will dislike her if she appears too intelligent.
She said: "I've had lots of issues about my self-image - being a clever person you worry you're not going come across as a nice person in other ways. Of course we should all be ourselves and people are always telling me not to worry, but I'm just trying to get on with people."
Ms Trimble, who says she "bites her lip" to avoid correcting people all the time, grew up in Walton-on-Thames and studied at Lady Eleanor Holles school in Hampton.
Her mother is a JP, her father a BT manager and her boyfriend of five years, Tom West, is a trainee solicitor and fellow opera lover.
Since being described as a sex symbol for her scholarly looks, Ms Trimble has been forced to turn down a a photoshoot for "lads' mag" Nuts.
She insisted: "I want to be an academic - this has just been a bit of fun."
Reader views (21)
I do not see what all the fuss is about. I answer every question on University Challenge every week and I am nice to everybody all the time. I am also better looking than Gail.
- Mike, ashfield, nottinghamshire, 01/03/2009 19:49
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Perhaps this country is finally turning the corner and we can revert to normality. Let's get back to sensible standards.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 25/02/2009 08:51
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I don't think people will dislike her for being too intelligent I think it is more for the self righteous look she gave whenever she beat anyone to the buzzer and the sulky pout when she didn't.
- Louie, London, 24/02/2009 23:47
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I thought she made quite a few massive clangs. shouting "get me a pen"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at the t.v
- Clevererthanher, london, 24/02/2009 22:56
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Not all that exceptional. Even I got a couple of questions right ... which she didn't know the answers to.
- Dhanraj, basildon, 24/02/2009 15:42
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Congratulations to Gail and her team for winning the University Challenge competion. Close call, great final.
Wouldn't it great if the Jeremy Kyle show was gatecrashed by Univerity graduates. Might be worth watching then.
- Paul B, London, 24/02/2009 15:37
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26? She needs to get out of university and bring her massive intellect to bear on the problems of the country.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 24/02/2009 15:34
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Well done to Gail, she was a truly inspiring contestant (and so were her team mates to be honest) and just blew me away with her knowledge. Manchester were always going to be hard to beat but they just left them behind in the last 5 minutes. People like her are often seens as 'geeks' or 'anoraks' in this country, which is totally ridiculous. Knowledge is everything, without it we are nothing.
- Marc Tielemans, Swindon, England, 24/02/2009 15:32
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What a breath of fresh air! Be yourself Gail and be never dumb down your intelligence. I also love the fact that the greatest ever University Challenge contestant is a woman. Well done.
- Sharon, London, 24/02/2009 15:26
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Well Done
- Martin, London, 24/02/2009 15:24
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I agree that is a great pity that certain elements in our society look down on intelligence and learning; but these are clearly great assets for anyone who is fortunate enough to posess them: they make for a more fulfilling life, with a much greater prospect of happiness and wellbeing (both mental and physical. Along with kindness, basic humanity and a rational outlook, these are surely attributes that all young people should aspire to.
- Alan, London, 24/02/2009 14:53
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Smarter than a bag of Einsteins and a lovely English rose. If the boneheaded slacker no-goods of the UK are jealous of her, GOOD. They should be. They forget that brainboxes like her have ALL the answers. And I'm so glad she treated the 'offer' by Nuts with the contempt it deserved. What an awesome woman!
- Lisa, London, 24/02/2009 13:49
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Great girl, like the smug thing too, very sexy
- Daniel, London, 24/02/2009 13:46
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Having read a few pages in various publications today, I find it sad that there is a general tendency to denigrate people because they rise above the norm. I think it's great what she's achieved and long may she continue to be extraordinary.
- Matthew, london, 24/02/2009 13:34
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Don't worry Gail, intelligence is never anything to apologise for; if only there were more of it about instead of vacuous brain dead "celebrities"
- Inéz L Collier, Epping, England, 24/02/2009 13:22
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And a looker, too!
- Tom, London, 24/02/2009 12:57
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At last ! A positive role model for the young on the box. And of course some people want to denigrate this ..
- Madmax, London, UK, 24/02/2009 12:24
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Nothing to worry about and nothing to apologise over. A credit to your family and beacon of hope for the Country. Well done.
- Roger, Surrey, 24/02/2009 11:54
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Instead of celebrating the non-entities that make up the pages of Hello and Big Brother, it is people like Gail Trimble who should be lauded for their intellectual achievements. Playing dumb or intentionally failing at school has become cool in this country. We need people like Gail to encourage teenagers to work hard and achieve their best.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 24/02/2009 11:35
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I shouldn't worry about it if I were you. It's hardly your fault if the majority of people in this country are, shall we say, none too bright.
Long may our education system throw up shining examples like yourself.
- Barry Chapman, Welwyn England, 24/02/2009 10:13
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Ladies like Ms Trimble made this country great. Perfect manners and a brain like a sythe. I'd prefer someone like this to be running our banks than testosterone filled egomaniacs with considerable intellectual shortcomings.
- Alex C, London, 24/02/2009 10:10
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