Chemistry student Oliver Jeacock led the the University of Birmingham team to victory over Trinity College Cambridge in the first televised round of University Challenge on 11 July 2011. Oliver Jeacock was joined by team mates Kirk Surgener, Eliott Rhodes and Thomas Farell. Birmingham led a furious one-way attack during the opening ten minutes thanks in no small part to team mate Kirk Surgener's shrewd early buzzing. Cambridge levied a respectful counter-attack during the closing stages, but it wasn't enough to topple their opponent's 120 point lead, with Birmingham finishing the bout on 225 points.  Jeacock's team make it through to the second round as a result, airing later this year.

The first round continues on Mondays at 20:00, BBC 2.