EDINBURGH’S University Challenge team has been hailed for its “terrific” score after a stunning victory over Cambridge last night.

Jeremy Paxman, the presenter of the long-running BBC programme, praised the team’s 270 points and noted it was the highest score he’d seen in this round of the competition so far.

Paxman congratulated the group – consisting of Ben Russell Jones, Lewis Thomas, team captain Rishi Sundar and Niall Karunaratne – and said he looked forward to seeing them again in round two of the show.

The National:

The contest ended with Edinburgh on a whopping 270 points while Peterhouse, said to be the oldest of the Cambridge houses, finished with 80 points.

Edinburgh University will now be moving on to the second stage.

During Edinburgh’s performance, there was an unfortunate incident involving team member Russell Jones.

When the groups were asked which Swedish scientist won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1903, Russell Jones appeared to get his finger stuck on the buzzer – throwing his arm into the air in dramatic fashion.

Thankfully captain Sundar correctly answered the question with “Arrhenius”, securing the 10 points for Edinburgh.

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Across social media there was widespread praise for Edinburgh’s performance, with writer Neil Burns branding the team “inspirational”.

“Thank you for making me believe in the intelligence, education, and learning of young minds in academia,” he added.

“I think that’s what is known as a tonking,” added Paul Smith. “Edinburgh looking good.”

“Peterhouse PUMPED,” wrote one user. “Bravo Edinburgh.”

Meanwhile journalist Niecy O’Keeffe added: “Cambridge getting absolute destroyed by Edinburgh. You love to see it.”

Others predicted that Edinburgh will make it all the way to the final. Good luck boys!