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University
Challenge – The Professionals final
Of
the 22 professions willing to risk their reputations on the ultimate
TV quiz show, only two remain.
The
Royal Meteorological Society faces the Inland Revenue
in the final of University Challenge – The Professionals (Monday
8 September, Â鶹Éç TWO, 8.30pm).
The
Inland Revenue has so far proved that it can collect points with
as much rigour and persistence as they do taxes!
The
team has consistently had the highest scores throughout the series,
scoring a phenomenal 285 points on average.
They
have trounced teams from the College of Arms, the British Dental
Association and the TUC.
It
is easy to see why quiz-master Jeremy Paxman describes them as an
'exceptionally fierce team'.
They
have an impressive talent for anticipating the answer and the confidence
to interrupt Paxman by buzzing in.
The
team sees its strengths as arts, maths and classics, but is less
sure on science questions.
They
are good, methodical thinkers and have shown that they keep their
heads under pressure.
The
Meteorologists have also proved that they are far from having their
heads in the clouds.
In
their first round match, they quashed a team from the British Veterinary
Association.
They
had a tougher time when they came up against a formidable team from
the Women's Institute.
And
in the semi-final, they beat a team of journalists by a mere 15
point margin.
But
with an average score of 170 points, they are a force to be reckoned
with.
Before
the contest, they felt they had a broad breadth of knowledge and
felt confident in geography, sciences, literature, music and the
arts.
More
importantly, two of the team are used to presenting live weather
forecasts, so they won't buckle under Paxman's pressure!
The
teams will come up against questions on subjects as diverse as thermodynamics,
17th Century French theatre and films made in 3D.
The
trophy will be presented to the winning team by former Cabinet Minister
Mo Mowlam.
University
Challenge is a Granada Production for Â鶹Éç TWO.
Notes
to Editors
The
Teams:
•
The Royal Meteorological Society
Peter
Francis (Captain), a research Scientist working for the Met Office
in Bracknell;
Peter
Gibbs, a Met Office forecaster and a Â鶹Éç weather presenter;
Peter
Inness, Research fellow in the Department of Meteorology at the
University of Reading;
Philip
Avery works for the Met Office at the Â鶹Éç Weather Centre.
Route
to the final
Royal
Meteorological Society: 215 v British Veterinary Association: 30
Royal Meteorological Society: 180 v Women's Institute: 125
Royal Meteorological Society: 115 v Journalists: 100
The
Royal Meteorological Society was founded as the British Meteorological
Society in April 1850.
It
became The Meteorological Society in 1866, when incorporated by
Royal Charter, and The Royal Meteorological Society in 1883.
Meteorological
science includes climatology, hydrology and physical oceanography.
•
The Inland Revenue
David
Edney (Captain) specialises in shares and financial markets;
Allana
Sheil specialises in business tax;
Terry
Cook specialises in the taxation of companies;
Richard
Thomas specialises in insurance companies.
Route
to the final
Inland
Revenue: 270 v College of Arms: 95
Inland Revenue: 280 v British Dental Association: 105
Inland Revenue: 305 v TUC: 95
The
Inland Revenue is over 200 years old. Income tax was first introduced
as a temporary measure to pay for the Napoleonic wars at the end
of the eighteenth century.
It's
now a much bigger organisation, responsible for the efficient administration
of direct taxes plus tax credits, child benefit, national insurance
contributions and stamp duties together with the collection of student
loans and National Minimum Wage enforcement.
Top
professionals take on University Challenge (26.03.03)
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