Friday's game in Oxford illustrated perfectly that as well as the contest between the teams, there's also the contest between the players collectively and the sadistic swine setting the questions. The aim of the question-setter is to pitch the difficulty just at the limit of the teams' abilities, in that corridor of uncertainty between "I know this" and "I haven't a expletive deleted clue". Err towards too hard, and you risk a lynching; err towards too easy, and you can almost feel the disdain as the answers are given.

The teams in those games were good - very good. And, frankly, they mauled the questions. I lost count of the number of times I found myself muttering "we're too good to you" as they despatched yet another bonus for 15. The most telling statistic of all was that the Town and Gown teams dropped just 65 of the 600 points available on the 24 starters and bonuses they faced. That works out that, as well as not missing a starter, they missed just one part of every other bonus. Sickening.

The evening did restore some of the glamour to quizzing, however. Oxford's own El Prez, Krishna Omkar, came up with the bright idea of asking his teams to turn up in "sub fusc", the white-tie-and-gown combo in which Oxford students attend various ceremonies and take their exams. Their opponents mostly showed up in smart suits to keep the side up. And at the moderators' desk, Krish and I were resplendent in black tie, although I resisted the urge to adopt a good old BBC received pronunciation accent as well.

It was a nice change, I must admit, if you'll pardon me coming over all "digusted of Tunbridge Wells" for a minute. I've lost count of the number of games I've moderated featuring a sweaty creature in sports kit, or a hungover student in a grubby sweatshirt that hasn't met a washing machine in a year. I fear however that even the executive power of El Prez might not stretch to including a dress code in the BQ rules. However, am I alone in thinking quizzers should smarten up a bit? Does it matter for a mind sport what you wear on your body? Does it matter if you're not wearing anything at all? Er... excuse me while I poke out my mind's eye. Thoughts to the usual address, anyway.

El Prez promises Dr Bayley a load more questions on country music

Elsewhere, the paparazzi were lurking on Friday. Now, speaking of poking your eyes out, you might want to think twice about calling up the larger version of the picture on the right if you're of a nervous disposition at all. I could explain the context - well, I could try - but I'd rather leave it to you lot to suggest a caption. Suffice to say that no Dr Bayleys were hurt in the making of this image. I might even be tempted into opening the Presidential wallet to stand an Amazon gift certificate for the best caption - e-mails to the usual address.

First the questions and now this - this generosity thing must be virulent!

For those whole follow such matters, University Challenge reaches the final tomorrow night (8:30 pm on BBC2). Despite having had any number of good teams over the years (and a British student title to show for it), Manchester have never won UC. Similarly, it's over a decade since Cambridge last got their hands on the trophy - Trinity College in 1995, as our own Dr Blanchflower will tell you - and it was 1996 the last time that Trinity Hall (a different college) even took part in the series. Given their form so far and the general good standard of this series, it promises to be a decent final, although I don't dare offer FA Cup-esque fireworks.

Meantimes, I'm off to deal with the deluge of e-mails about Masoquizm. If you haven't yet signed up, I think there might be one more place available, but until I've cleared the backlog and got back to everyone, I wouldn't swear by it. Either way, if you're wanting to join us for the long haul next Saturday, you'd better be quick in letting us know.

Yours glamorously,

El Prez

Rob Linham is El Prez, although he tends not to order many summary executions these days.
Photo credit: Sam Warnakulasuriya