Fans of University Challenge have defended a contestant after she was trolled on Twitter over her gender.
Sophie Rudd appeared on the BBC Two quiz show as a member of the University of Warwick team during Monday’s episode.
The computer science master’s degree student became the subject of negative tweets posted on the social networking site as the Jeremy Paxman-fronted programme aired.
Sophie Rudd was trolled on Twitter as she appeared on University Challenge on Monday (BBC/BBC iPlayer grab)
Prompted by the comments, viewers of the long-running show took to Twitter to defend Sophie.
Hailed as “one of the brightest stars of this year’s University Challenge” by one viewer, Sophie was also called a “genius” for helping lead her team to victory.
One viewer wrote: “Notice University Challenge trending and think “wow” then see it’s simply because mocking and questioning of someone’s gender ‘sigh’.”
Notice #universitychallenge trending and think "wow" then see it's simply because mocking and questioning of someone's gender "sigh"
— Brendan Bunting (@DapperArtist) July 25, 2016
When did #UniversityChallenge hashtag become a place where people make fun of someone's gender? Not cool guys, not cool at all…
— Rachel (@rmoomin84) July 25, 2016
Sad world when all folk comment on is the way the #UniversityChallenge contestants look! It's brains that matter not beards/gender/clothes!
— Laura Johnson (@LauraEJohnson80) July 25, 2016
Go Sophie Rudd! One of the brightest stars of this year's #UniversityChallenge
— Pritha Bardhan (@PrithaBardhan) July 26, 2016
Another added: “University Challenge, does it really matter what gender a contestant on a TV show is? Chances are she’s brighter than you.”
Sophie and her fellow contestants Sophie Hobbs, Thomas Van and captain Giles Hutchings were the winners of the episode against students from the University of Liverpool.
The BBC declined to comment.
#UniversityChallenge does it really matter what gender a contestant on a TV show is? Chances are shes brighter than you
— ukcynicalchild (@ukcynicalchild) July 25, 2016
#UniversityChallenge very impressed by Sophie Rudd's performance 2nite – so glad she enjoyed it and together they did so well!
— EvaInNL (@EvaInNL) July 25, 2016
Wtf! Can't believe some of the comments on here about Sophie Rudd on #UniversityChallenge tonight. What a brave, clever young woman she is x
— Cheryl :) x (@verucasalt0609) July 25, 2016
If you're saying anything about Sophie Rudd other than that she's a freaking genius then you need to sort yourself out. #UniversityChallenge
— Jocy Levy (@AccioJellyBean) July 25, 2016
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