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Solve a puzzle like a University Challenge star

The stars of this year's University Challenge quiz show have some top tips for all you puzzlers out there.

Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull took part in the Today programme's Puzzle for Today and had a few pointers for people struggling to find that "divine inspiration".

7 August 2017

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BBC News

East of England weather forecast

Men can be seen standing near the broken plane

Footage shows survivors walking from crashed Azerbaijani plane

Jean McKenzie wearing a cream coat standing by a busy street in Seoul in the evening

What just happened in South Korea?

A back-and-white image of former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh speaking in front of a microphone

Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh: In his own words

A wooden bookshelf full of old books. The majority on the left have been attached to the shelf with large metal chains, which are dangling off the edge.

The library where books are kept under lock and key

Lydia Hepworth bites an orange

Ambulance crew reunite with mum and baby they saved

Former prisoner Lee Jack, wearing a black coat, smiles while looking at the camera - he's standing behind a cafe counter with cakes and biscuits in glass jars

The cafe helping prisoners escape a life of crime

Tayside & Central Scotland

Manmohan Singh

Watch: Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh's life and legacy

Stacey, Jason, Nessa, Smithy and Gavin laughing on a sofa.

What do fans think of the Gavin & Stacey finale?

Runners dressed in Santa hats line up on the beach ready to run into the sea.

Watch: Hundreds run into sea at Boxing Day dips

Group of around 30 people in front of a snow house with someone dressed as Santa on the roof.

The Glaswegian who spends Christmas in Antarctica

Big Zuu stands in a Christmas-decorated kitchen

Big Zuu takes on Christmas leftovers

Charles Cavey in his black, tubular bin with his arms, and guitar neck protruding from the side holes. The black bin has LITTER in gold writing on its side

Meet the man who busks from inside a litter bin

Character Jesse Chadwick dressed in a wedding suit hugs smiling wife Gail in the back of a car.

Watch: Helen Worth's final scene as Gail after 50 years

King Charles standing in the chapel decorated with Christmas trees and white lights.

Watch: King speaks of 'pride' at unity shown after riots

Space crew on ISS

Watch: ISS crew sends Christmas greetings from space

Science & Environment

A pork pie

Pork pie shop's unique creations for Christmas

Christmas Day hike

'Christmas Day hikes have been life-changing'

A black and white image of a popular 1950s television puppet called Hank the Cowboy

What London's children got for Christmas in 1952

Queen smiling into the camera in 1957.

Archive: Queen's first televised Christmas message

Singer Chris Martin on a stage in Luton performing at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend

Watch: Coldplay pay tribute to Luton in new song, Orange

Chris Martin's Coldplay shared a new song in tribute to Luton where the band were playing.

Entertainment & Arts

Raye singing on stage against a green backdrop

Watch: Raye performs Prada at Big Weekend

The record-breaking Brit Award winner was headlining the second day of Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Entertainment & Arts

Piers Morgan

Baby Reindeer 'a big problem' for Netflix and Gadd - Morgan

Journalist Piers Morgan says there are issues to be addressed by the programme makers.

Entertainment & Arts

Nemo waving non-binary flag

'It just shattered' - Nemo explains broken Eurovision trophy

Returning from the contest, Swiss singer Nemo was greeted by hundreds of fans at Zurich Airport.

Entertainment & Arts

Joe Lycett

Watch: Joe Lycett dressed as Queen Elizabeth I

Other celebrities wore loose fitting outfits, as they tried to keep cool with the sun beating down.

Entertainment & Arts

Jasmine Jobson holding her Bafta award

Best of Baftas 2024 TV Awards... in 86 seconds

Our recap of this year's 2024 Bafta TV Awards.

Entertainment & Arts

Eden Golan responding to pro-Palestinian protests

Watch: Israel's Eden Golan responds as Eurovision protests rage

The contestant says she is "focused on the music" as 10,000 protest against Israel's participation.

Entertainment & Arts

The Hydro announced Olly Murs would not perform due to "unforeseen circumstances".

Glasgow singer stands in for Olly Murs at Hydro

The Hydro announced Olly Murs would not perform due to "unforeseen circumstances".

Entertainment & Arts

Picture of author Paul Auster

Paul Auster: Americans are divided like never before

In a HARDtalk interview from 2021, Paul Auster reflects on culture wars in the US.

Entertainment & Arts

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling outstunt each other

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling discuss doing their own stunts, performing at the Oscars and why they've bonded over British comedy.

Entertainment & Arts

Michael Flatley

Michael Flatley on Riverdance at Eurovision

The Irish dancer speaks to the BBC

Entertainment & Arts

Nicole Kidman

Watch: 'I'm an Aussie girl...standing here in Hollywood'

Nicole Kidman becomes the first Australian actress to win the AFI Life Achievement Award.

Entertainment & Arts

David Bowie sings into a microphone

Can you hear the hyenas and wild pigs in new Bowie hit?

The late musician's song is part of a project giving financial credit to nature.

Entertainment & Arts

Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham calls out demanding paparazzi

The Olivier Awards host reacted after a snapper apparently asked her to "show your leg".

Entertainment & Arts

Sir Salman Rushdie

Rushdie reveals extent of his wounds from knife attack

The Satanic Verses author has been speaking ahead of publishing a memoir about the stabbing.

Entertainment & Arts

Kirsten Dunst

Spiderman star on Hollywood's gender pay gap

Kirsten Dunst reveals why she never challenged being paid less than her male co-stars

Entertainment & Arts

Referee at Gladiators

Gladiators final: Contenders are you ready?

The four Gladiators finalists were on BBC Breakfast ahead of tonight's ultimate challenge.

Entertainment & Arts

Frankie Juma

The success story behind England's homeless football team

Meet the Sudanese refugee taking England's homeless footballers to a World Cup in South Korea.

Entertainment & Arts

Sheridan Smith

Sheridan Smith opens up about her public breakdown

Sheridan Smith stars in a new play in the West End called Opening Night. Her character is an actress facing mental health troubles before the first night of her new show.

Entertainment & Arts

I love my mum (but not like that...)

What is the Oedipus Complex and how do we know that incest is wrong?

Entertainment & Arts