University Challenge winners face 'cheat' probe

University Challenge host Jeremy Paxman

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Sunday, 01, Mar 2009 06:13

The winning team on the BBC's University Challenge programme are to be investigated after allegations that one team member was not a student, according to a newspaper report.

It has emerged that Sam Kay, who claimed he was studying chemistry at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, graduated in June last year and has already begun working for Pricewaterhouse-Coopers.

The Sunday Mirror story claims Kay was due to return to Oxford to study for a PhD but failed to secure the necessary funding.

Corpus Christi won the prestigious BBC2 educational quiz on the back of a stunning performance from Kay's team-mate Gail Trimble, who accrued enough points on her own to beat Manchester University in the final.

However, Kay also played a key role by answering several chemistry-related questions - and this has prompted the BBC to investigate.

"We understand the allegations made and are taking this issue seriously," a spokesperson for the corporation said.

According to the Mirror, Manchester University has demanded a re-run of the show.