University Challenge Imperial’s captain gets criticized for “ignoring and patronising” his teammates. Viewers labeled the tension as “excruciating”.

  • Michael Mays from Imperial College London was the victim of backlash due to social media
  • Viewers charged Gilbert Jackson and Mays with ‘completely disregarding’ their teammates 
  • PhD student Mays slammed for ‘appalling’ attitude towards teammate Sheriff










University Challenge viewers have branded last night’s episode ‘excruciating’ to watch due to the ‘uncomfortable’ tension between the students of Imperial College London. 

Imperial captain Michael Mays faced backlash on social media following yesterday’s quarter final, which saw the team beat King’s College London with a huge 235 points to 50. 

Viewers accused Mays and fellow student Gilbert Jackson of ‘completely ignoring’ their teammates Max Zeng and Fatima Sheriff, with one branding the BBC2 programme a ‘bad show’ for the university. 

Mays, PhD student and captain of the team, was also attacked for his “appalling attitude” towards Sheriff, science communication student. Sheriff tried to help with a question. 

University Challenge viewers accused Imperial students Michael Mays and Gilbert Jackson of 'completely ignoring' their teammates Max Zeng and Fatima Sheriff

University Challenge viewers accused Imperial students Michael Mays and Gilbert Jackson of ‘completely ignoring’ their teammates Max Zeng and Fatima Sheriff

Viewers claimed Hays and Jackson were dismissing their teammates, preferring to collaborate only with each other, before giving their answers to host Jeremy Paxman

Viewers believed that Hays & Jackson had dismissed each other’s teammates and preferred to work together only before they gave answers to host Jeremy Paxman.

“Why do Mays and Jackson completely ignore their fellow teammates? Please make eye contact while your colleagues are talking. It was extremely rude and difficult to see,” wrote one viewer. 

Another wrote, “Absolutely exhausting watching Mays ignore Sheriff & Zeng at University Challenge” 

A third said: ‘If Mays went on Mastermind his specialist subject would be Jackson’s eyes #universitychallenge.’ 

#universitychallenge: Identify the 10 points that keep you looking wrong. 

Viewers accused captain Michael Mays and fellow student Gilbert Jackson of 'completely ignoring' their teammates Max Zeng and Fatima Sheriff, with one branding the BBC2 programme a 'bad show' for the university

A viewer accused Gilbert Jackson, a fellow student and captain Michael Mays of completely ignoring their teammates Max Zeng Sheriff and Fatima Sherriff. Another labeled the BBC2 show a bad program for the university.

Viewers believed that Hays & Jackson had dismissed each other’s teammates and preferred to work together only before they gave answers to host Jeremy Paxman.  

Hays was also accused of ‘patronising’ Sheriff, in one instance brushing away her attempts to help  after Paxman asked: ‘What unit is equivalent to 100 square meters?’ 

The host specified he was looking for a three letter word, however after Sheriff, who  misheard the question, suggested they were looking for a three word phrase, the captain became visibly frustrated before telling her: ‘There would never be a unit that’s like three words.’ 

Mays, a PhD student, was also slammed for his 'appalling attitude' towards science communication student Sheriff when she tried to help out with a question

Mays was a doctoral student and was also criticised for his “appalling attitude” towards Sheriff, a science communication student. Sheriff tried to assist Mays with a question.

The captain of Birmingham 's University Challenge team faced an onslaught of online criticism on after appearing to ignore the only female member of his team during last week's episode

After appearing to overlook the female team member during last week’s episode, Birmingham University Challenge’s captain faced a storm of criticism online

The tension comes after the captain of Birmingham ‘s University Challenge team faced an onslaught of online criticism after appearing to ignore the only female member of his team last week. 

Michael Joel Bartelle from San Antonio, Texas, faced massive backlash via social media. Users accused the US student, Jamie Sajit, of “totally blanking” his female teammate.

 This isn’t the first time Bartelle has been accused of dismissing his female teammate, with viewers taking to social media to vent their frustration after the team’s first appearance in December. 

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