Goofs

During the 'University Challenge' competition, Brian answers a question with "Calcium Sulphite" and the question-master says he gave the correct answer of "Calcium Sulphate" (a different compound). An alternative interpretation is that because Brian comes from Essex, he would pronounce "sulphate" like "sulphite".

Before recording starts on University Challenge, there is a shot of a monitor focused on Bamber Gascoigne. The scoreboard next to him shows the final score.

In his last scene with Alice, Brian's satchel strap disappears for one shot when his back is to the camera.

ISTR institutions did not enter every year in the original series. They were invited to compete on a rota basis.

The producers of this film may have dug a pit for themselves by choosing to set it in 1985. The 1985 competition (which was not broadcast for a year) was a brief return for the series after a short hiatus. Granada had decided to pep it up by modifying the format. In round 1 teams played each other over two programs, the first of which comprised of a "baton relay". Competitors were pitched one-against-one and had to answer two questions correctly before passing the baton on to the team-mate to the left. None of this was reflected in the film. In addition, the set was completely redesigned in red and black, unlike the more recognizable scheme employed in the film.

Brian is woken by Patrick to be told they have to be in Manchester in 2 hours. Bristol to Manchester by car would take considerably longer than 2 hours.

In the follow-up questions on University Challenge, answers must be given through the team captain. The movie shows both Alice and Brian answering follow-up questions themselves. However, this was quite normal in the original series, the "captain restriction" appearing to be a feature of the Paxman era.

Venus by Bananarama is playing when Brian gets home for Christmas 1985. The song was not released until mid spring 1986.

The film is set in late 1985/early 1986, but after the students argue in the car they turn on the radio and hear "Wonderful Life" by Black - which was not released until late in the summer of 1987.

The single 'Pictures of You' by the Cure was not released until 1990, the film is set in 1985

The quiz teams are shown answering questions in 2 picture rounds, but in 1985 there was only 1 picture round and 1 music round in each episode of University Challenge. The 2 picture round format is a recent innovation.

Early in the film, Brian is shown being driven on a highway in the back seat of a car. Out the rear window, one can clearly see a 2nd generation Toyota Prius. These were not produced until 2003, with even the 1st generation unavailable until 2000.

Lucy incorrectly gives the source of the quote "To err is human" as Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Man." The quote actually originates from Pope's earlier work, "An Essay on Criticism."