Ian Bayley
Encyclopedia
Ian Bayley is a UK
quiz player who, despite his youth when compared with other leading players (he is in his early thirties), won several medals in quizzing, both in singles and as a member of a team. He is largely known as a strong team player winning the European Championships
three times straight from 2007 to 2009 with "Broken Hearts" (ft. Olav Bjortomt
, David Stainer
and Mark Grant) and the English national team in 2004. With his double partner Pat Gibson
he also won the European pair championships in 2005 and the British Championships (IQA) in 2006 (there are no world championships for teams and pairs, just individuals, so this is the highest possible title). In individual competitions he has thus far won just one title, the British Championship in 2001. As such his name appears on the Mark Bytheway
trophy, being the trophy awarded by the British Quiz Association
to its champions.
In addition, he has represented the University of Oxford
in the Intercollegiate Championship Tournament run by NAQT, one of the world's foremost buzzer competitions. His scores compared respectably alongside some of the leading American buzzer quiz players. He also made an appearance on Who Wants to be a Millionaire as a "phone a friend".
In 2010 he won the final of the BBC Radio 4
quiz Brain of Britain
, scoring more points than the other three contestants put together. In April 2011 he was crowned BBC Mastermind
after his win in the show's 2011 series final (actually recorded in October 2010).
side that won the 2004 European Quiz Championships, won the 2005 European Pairs Quiz with Pat Gibson
and the Club competition in 2007 to 2009 with his club "Broken Hearts" (that also play QLL). He is ranked seventh in the World/Europe
.
and got to the final where he scored 28 points, but was beaten into second place by Nancy Dickmann (30 points), the first female winner for twelve years. His specialist subjects were Tchaikovsky, Doctor Who
in the 1970s, and American Presidents of the 19th century. He attempted Mastermind again in 2011, and this time won the final on Friday 15th April 2011, beating Peter Reilly to win the title. In the final, he answered questions on paintings in the National Gallery
.
near Liverpool
. He studied computing at Imperial College London
and then the University of Oxford
, where he studied at Balliol College
to earn a DPhil in computing. He represented both universities on University Challenge
- Imperial in the 1996-7 series and Balliol in the 2000-01 series. He is currently a lecturer in computer science
at Oxford Brookes University
having previously lectured in the School of Design, Engineering & Computing at Bournemouth University
between 2002 and 2004.
As a result of a mispronunciation in Tallinn during the 2005 European Quizzing Championships, he is often known by the nickname of "Iron" Bayley.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
quiz player who, despite his youth when compared with other leading players (he is in his early thirties), won several medals in quizzing, both in singles and as a member of a team. He is largely known as a strong team player winning the European Championships
European Quizzing Championships
The European Quizzing Championships are an annual multi-disciplinary quiz event, in which representatives from various countries compete as individuals, teams and pairs. The last championships took place in Bruges, Belgium 4-6 November 2011...
three times straight from 2007 to 2009 with "Broken Hearts" (ft. Olav Bjortomt
Olav Bjortomt
Stein Olav Bjortomt is an England international quiz player. He was the winner of the inaugural 2003 individual World Quizzing Championships, in the absence of Kevin Ashman when it was a fledgling event with then only 45 participants...
, David Stainer
David Stainer
David Stainer is an English quizzer best known for outstanding team playing skills.After studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oriel College, Oxford he works as a solicitor in the City of London....
and Mark Grant) and the English national team in 2004. With his double partner Pat Gibson
Pat Gibson
Pat Gibson is an Irish multiple quiz show winner and a panellist on Eggheads.He was born and educated in Ireland but has lived in the United Kingdom for many years, and has represented England in the European Quizzing Championships since 2005.- Early life and education :Pat was born in Galway in...
he also won the European pair championships in 2005 and the British Championships (IQA) in 2006 (there are no world championships for teams and pairs, just individuals, so this is the highest possible title). In individual competitions he has thus far won just one title, the British Championship in 2001. As such his name appears on the Mark Bytheway
Mark Bytheway
Mark Bytheway was an England International Quiz player best known for becoming Quizzing World Champion in 2008 and winning the Top Brain competition of Brain of Britain.-Brain of Britain:...
trophy, being the trophy awarded by the British Quiz Association
British Quiz Association
The British Quiz Association runs the British Quizzing Championships on the first Saturday in September every year.-Quiz Championships 1999/2000:...
to its champions.
In addition, he has represented the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in the Intercollegiate Championship Tournament run by NAQT, one of the world's foremost buzzer competitions. His scores compared respectably alongside some of the leading American buzzer quiz players. He also made an appearance on Who Wants to be a Millionaire as a "phone a friend".
In 2010 he won the final of the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
quiz Brain of Britain
Brain of Britain
Brain of Britain is a BBC radio general knowledge quiz, broadcast on BBC Radio 4.-History:It began as a slot in What Do You Know? in 1953 before becoming a programme in its own right in 1967. It was chaired by Franklin Engelmann until his death in 1972.-Format:The format of the quiz is simple...
, scoring more points than the other three contestants put together. In April 2011 he was crowned BBC Mastermind
Mastermind
-In psychology:* Genius* Mastermind , one of the 16 role variants that the Keirsey Temperament Sorter is based on* INTJ , a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator-In games:* Mastermind, classic board game...
after his win in the show's 2011 series final (actually recorded in October 2010).
National and international titles (IQA)
He was part of the EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side that won the 2004 European Quiz Championships, won the 2005 European Pairs Quiz with Pat Gibson
Pat Gibson
Pat Gibson is an Irish multiple quiz show winner and a panellist on Eggheads.He was born and educated in Ireland but has lived in the United Kingdom for many years, and has represented England in the European Quizzing Championships since 2005.- Early life and education :Pat was born in Galway in...
and the Club competition in 2007 to 2009 with his club "Broken Hearts" (that also play QLL). He is ranked seventh in the World/Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Mastermind
Bayley took part in the 2008-9 series of MastermindMastermind (TV series)
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
and got to the final where he scored 28 points, but was beaten into second place by Nancy Dickmann (30 points), the first female winner for twelve years. His specialist subjects were Tchaikovsky, Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
in the 1970s, and American Presidents of the 19th century. He attempted Mastermind again in 2011, and this time won the final on Friday 15th April 2011, beating Peter Reilly to win the title. In the final, he answered questions on paintings in the National Gallery
National gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
.
Personal details
Ian Bayley attended Merchant Taylors' School, CrosbyMerchant Taylors' School, Crosby
Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby is a British independent school for day pupils, located in Great Crosby on Merseyside....
near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He studied computing at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
and then the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he studied at Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
to earn a DPhil in computing. He represented both universities on University Challenge
University Challenge
University Challenge is a British quiz programme that has aired since 1962. The format is based on the American show College Bowl, which ran on NBC radio from 1953 to 1957, and on NBC television from 1959 to 1970....
- Imperial in the 1996-7 series and Balliol in the 2000-01 series. He is currently a lecturer in computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
having previously lectured in the School of Design, Engineering & Computing at Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
between 2002 and 2004.
As a result of a mispronunciation in Tallinn during the 2005 European Quizzing Championships, he is often known by the nickname of "Iron" Bayley.