Amol Rajan says: "There is always something magical about the Christmas series of University Challenge, and this year is no exception. The contestants are a rather lovely bunch of journalists, academics, politicians and other assorted professionals, all trying desperately to remind themselves of what they've forgotten from their own student days. I can't give away too much but we have some wonderful laughs, several thrilling finishes, and a little Christmas surprise that you won't want - or be able - to miss!"

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC says: "I’m elated that viewers can once again enjoy the festive magic of University Challenge with Amol Rajan at the helm. Viewers can expect an exciting blend of wit and wisdom as our teams compete for the winning title.”

Peter Gwyn, Executive Producer: "Christmas University Challenge returns with an exciting array of alumni contestants, from broadcasters and scientists to authors and actors. This year’s festive series promises a captivating mix of questions, giving viewers the chance to test their own knowledge alongside our teams as they compete for the coveted Christmas crown."

The University Challenge Christmas series starts on 23 December at 8.30pm on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two.

The full team line-ups are below

University of Warwick

Mimi Fawaz: journalist and sports presenter

Syma Khalid: Professor of Computational Microbiology at the University of Oxford

Yomi Adegoke: journalist and author (Slay in Your Lane; The List)

Huma Qureshi: author (Playing Games; Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love)

Durham University

Liz James: Professor of Art History at the University of Sussex

Tracey Macleod: critic, broadcaster, and talent agency director

Carla Denyer: MP for Bristol Central; co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales

Sophia Smith Galer: author, content creator, and pioneer of TikTok journalism

Worcester College, Oxford

Glyn Maxwell: poet, librettist, novelist, and playwright (The Lifeblood; How the Hell Are You)

Alice Jolly: novelist, short story writer, playwright (From Far Around They Saw Us Burn; The Matchbox Girl)

Tom Parker Bowles: food critic and writer.

Sir Peter Barnes: respiratory scientist and clinician, Professor at Imperial College London

University of Bristol

Danny Robins: writer, broadcaster, and podcast host (The Battersea Poltergeist; Uncanny)

Briony May Williams: chef and presenter

Lord Paul Boateng: former Labour Party MP and Cabinet Minister, now Member of the House of Lords

James Stewart: science and sustainability presenter

Manchester Metropolitan University

Vicky Tolfrey: sports scientist, Professor of Applied Disability and Para Sport and Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University

Lee Chambers: business psychologist and entrepreneur, expert in male allyship and workplace inclusion

Debra Stephenson: impressionist, comedian and actor.

Rachel Mann: Anglican priest, writer, and feminist theologian; Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton 

University of Brighton

David Taylor: Director of Pharmacy and Pathology at the Maudsley Hospital and Professor of Psychopharmacology at King’s College London

Hannah Berry: comics artist and writer (Adamtine; Livestock); UK Comics Laureate 2019-21

Adam Pearson: actor (Under the Skin; A Different Man), presenter, disability rights campaigner

Chris Riddell: illustrator and occasional writer of children’s books (The Edge Chronicles; Ottoline series); UK Children’s Laureate 2015-17

Leeds Trinity University

Harpz Kaur: DJ and presenter

Mobeen Azhar: documentary film-maker and presenter

Lauren Layfield: TV and radio presenter

Dorothy Koomson: novelist (The Ice Cream Girls; Every Smile You Fake)

University of Nottingham

Rutendo Shackleton: elephant conservation scientist, wildlife presenter and podcaster

Clive Tyldesley: sports broadcaster and commentator

Yasmin Ali: chemical engineer and science communicator

Lynn Saunders: Professor of Applied Criminology at the University of Derby

University of Southampton

Ben Pritchard: para-rower (Paralympic Gold at Paris 2024)

Tom Jubert: video game writer and narrative designer (Subnautica; The Talos Principle)

Justine Greening: former Conservative Party MP and Cabinet Minister, now social mobility campaigner

Nathan J. Robinson: marine biologist, science communicator, and environmental activist

Churchill College, Cambridge

Catherine Green: biologist at the University of Oxford

Diarmaid MacCulloch: academic, historian and broadcaster, Emeritus Professor of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford

Helen Czerski: physicist and oceanographer, science writer and presenter

Spencer Kelly: technology journalist and presenter

Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Robert Laidlow: composer (Post-Singularity Songs; Silicon)

Emma Sidi: writer, comedian, actress

Stig Abell: journalist, newspaper editor, radio presenter

Andrew Harding: foreign correspondent (currently BBC Paris Correspondent) and non-fiction author

Queens‘ College, Cambridge

John Zarnecki: Emeritus Professor of Space Science at the Open University; former President of the Royal Astronomical Society

Stephanie Merritt: literary critic and novelist (Giordano Bruno series)

Jenny Kleeman: journalist, documentary-maker, non-fiction author

Richard K. Morgan: science fiction and fantasy author (Altered Carbon; The Steel Remains)

St Andrews University

Abigail Harrison Moore: Professor of Art History and Museum Studies at the University of Leeds

Jamie MacDonald: stand-up comedian.

Abigail Thorn: actress (House of the Dragon; The Acolyte), writer, and creator of the YouTube channel Philosophytube

Tim Samuels: documentary-maker and non-fiction author 

LSE

Sir Ian Diamond: UK National Statistician

Halima Begum: Chief Executive of Oxfam GB

Mark Urban: journalist and historian

Jessica Fostekew: stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster.