A GROUP of students are set to become stars of the airwaves as they get set to record an episode of BBC Radio 4’s popular quiz show ‘The 3rd Degree’.

University of Cumbria students will feature on the weekly show, which pits three students against three members of staff in a general knowledge and specialist subject quiz.

Members of the staff team include Dr Andrew Weatherall, a senior lecturer in forestry conservation at the university’s National School of Forestry, and experienced aquatic ecologist Dr Gill Notman, who is course director of the university’s BSc (Hons) marine and freshwater conservation and an applied science lecturer.

The final staff team member is Dr Steve Chubb, who is a senior lecturer in secondary education within the university’s Institute of Education.

The trio will be taking on a student team of Ella Farley, Lauren Toyne and Barney Price.

Each student is studying one of the three subjects taught by the academics – Barney is a forestry student, Ella is studying marine and freshwater conservation, and Lauren is a student of the university’s respected Institute of Education that is a leading provider of teacher training.

Quiz rounds vary between specialist subjects and general knowledge, with team questions, quickfire and buzzer rounds and individual questions.

Hosted by Steve Punt, The 3rd Degree is recorded at a different university each week.

Due to Covid restrictions, technology is allowing for the episodes to be recorded remotely. A virtual audience has also been invited to watch this evening’s recording.

Heading into its 11th series, producers expect this latest crop of episodes – including Cumbria’s - to be broadcast on Radio 4 in early summer.

The series is produced by David Tyler for Pozzitive Television Ltd for BBC Radio 4.

His various producing credits range from Spitting Image and Victoria Wood’s Dinner Ladies through to BBC Radio 4’s Cabin Pressure and Armando Iannucci’s Charm Offensive among others.

A University of Cumbria spokesman said: “Our thanks go to David and Katie at Pozzitive for extending the invitation to our university to take part in this witty quiz."

They also added their gratitude for the opportunity to take part in something that has proven to have brought both staff and students together during a time that has been so isolating for so many people in our region.

The spokesman added: “While we’re all affected by current coronavirus restrictions, the way the show is being produced provides members of our diverse and dispersed bodies of staff and students to come together and connect, sharing what promises to be a fun evening.”

The University of Cumbria has two campuses in Carlisle and others in Ambleside, Lancaster and London with sites also operating in Barrow and west Cumbria.

Its five institutes offer a diverse range of programmes across the arts, health, education, business and leadership, and science, natural resources and outdoor studies.

To find out more about The University of Cumbria you can visit www.cumbria.ac.uk or email.

Enquiries can also be taken over the phone on 0845 606 1144.