Ex-student from region on winning TV uni team

TRIUMPHANT SCHOLAR ON VICTORIOUS SIDE IN FINAL OF TELLY QUIZ

Reporter A FORMER Gateshead student has proved himself one of Britain’s brightest young minds after emerging on the winning side in the University Challenge final.

Oxford University undergraduate Freddy Potts’ Balliol College beat Wolfson College, Cambridge by 190 points to 140 in the televised final on Monday night.

The 20-year-old Emmanuel College graduate had previously posed for The Chronicle when he achieved his impressive A-level grades to get into Oxford.

Before the final, Freddy spoke to the Huffington Post.

When asked what his specialist subject was, he replied: “History first and foremost, particularly medieval history, but also politics and geography.”

On his favourite University Challenge moment, he said: “Probably my correct buzz on ‘Friedrich Engels’ way back in round one; it was about the most ‘me’ question I could possibly have been given, and I got absolutely deluged with Facebook messages from friends watching.”

Freddy was then asked about his plans after graduation and said: “Absolutely no idea. Next starter for 10?” And on the weirdest thing he has seen about himself on Twitter, he said: “The barrage of comments focusing just on my hair and nothing else, although it’s been pretty positive, which is nice.” After the final, televised on BBC 2, the winning team was presented with the trophy by Stephen Hawkins at Cambridge University. The famous scientist said: “I have said in the past that it is not clear whether intelligence has any long-term survival value – bacteria multiply and flourish without it. But it is one of the most admirable qualities, especially when displayed by such young minds. “Many congratulations to both teams but especially to Balliol College, Oxford, on becoming series champions on University Challenge.” Freddy Potts pictured getting his A Level results at Emmanuel College