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Inland
Revenue takes the spoils in a taxing University Challenge –
The Professionals
The
Inland Revenue is the first ever team to win University Challenge
– The Professionals (Monday 8 September, Â鶹Éç TWO, 8.30pm).
A team
from the Royal Meteorological Society paid the toll, as the Revenue
took the champions title with 145 points to 110.
The
Meteorological Society was off to a slow start as the Inland Revenue
stormed ahead. The Meteorologists soon caught up to reach a level
pegging at 50 points and for a short while they took the lead before
the Revenue staged a fight back.
With
just minutes to go, it looked all over for the Meteorologists with
a mere 70 points to the Revenue's stunning 125. But in the last
few gasp moments, the contest hung in the balance as the Meteorologists
came within 10 points of the Revenue.
Although
they put up a fight, the Meteorological Society couldn't quite catch
up and the Revenue took the spoils.
Captain
of the Royal Meteorological Society team, Peter Francis, knew they
were in for tough contest.
Says
Francis: "We knew what a formidable team they were. Even Paxman
thought we'd be annihilated! The match was fairly close, it could
have gone either way.
"It
was incredibly exciting at the end. We'd gone in fairly light-hearted,
but about half way through we realised we could actually win!"
Captain
of the Inland Revenue team, David Edney, agrees that his team couldn't
let their guard down.
Says
Edney: "The match was a bit hairy, a bit too close for comfort!
We were never able to break away and always having to fight back.
"When
we won, the energy drained from us. We were wondering if we'd stepped
into a parallel universe!"
The
teams answered questions on subjects as diverse as 18th Century
sneers, monarchs, thermodynamics, films made in 3D and neologisms
reflecting working practices.
The
trophy was presented to the Inland Revenue by former Cabinet minister,
Mo Mowlam, who said that she could only answer two questions.
Mowlam
says it was, "a fantastic evening. It's just great to be amongst
so many bright people, the brightest in the country I'd guess."
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.
University
Challenge – The Professionals final (02.09.03)
Top
professionals take on University Challenge (26.03.03)
Birkbeck
take the spoils in University Challenge Final (01.04.03)
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