123-632: Alastair James Hay Murray (born 10 May 1968) is an English comedian, actor, musician and writer. After graduating from the University of Oxford , Murray's comedy career began by working with Harry Hill for BBC Radio 4 . He regularly performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe , before launching his "Pub Landlord" persona. This led to the Sky One sitcom Time Gentlemen Please and the chat show Al Murray's Happy Hour for ITV . In 2003, Murray
246-564: A college or hall became customary in Oxford. In addition, members of many religious orders , including Dominicans , Franciscans , Carmelites , and Augustinians , settled in Oxford in the mid-13th century, gained influence and maintained houses or halls for students. At about the same time, private benefactors established colleges as self-contained scholarly communities. Among the earliest such founders were William of Durham , who in 1249 endowed University College , and John Balliol , father of
369-540: A dress shirt with a distinctive oversized collar and cuffs. He won the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer at the 1992 Edinburgh Festival Fringe , and began his career in radio and television comedy with the radio series Harry Hill's Fruit Corner (1993–1997). He has hosted his own television comedy show Harry Hill's TV Burp (2001–2012), and narrated You've Been Framed! from (2004–2022). His other projects include The Harry Hill Movie , released in 2013. Hill
492-553: A "crisp competition" hosted by Gary Lineker , used to raise money for Comic Relief . The other flavours were "Jimmy Con Carne" ( Jimmy Carr ), "Stephen Fry-Up" ( Stephen Fry ) and "Frank Roast Dinner" ( Frank Skinner ). The winner was Stephen Fry-up at 27%, with Al's in 2nd with 25%. The other two got 24% each. In April 2016, Murray played Nick Bottom in Shakespeare Live , a celebration of 400 years of Shakespeare, opposite Judi Dench as Titania. In 2018 he starred in pantomime at
615-526: A book of children's jokes, released in 2006. The book was also made available as an iPhone application. A second book, Harry Hill's Bumper Book of Bloopers , was released for Christmas 2011. The Harry Hill Movie premiered in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2013. The film also stars Matt Lucas , Julie Walters , Johnny Vegas , Sheridan Smith , Simon Bird , Marc Wootton , Jim Broadbent , and band The Magic Numbers . The film sees Hill embark on
738-529: A box to aid Harry in some way. Guests on the show included George Formby Society , Alison Hammond and Les Dennis . The series has received positive reviews, with many pointing out the similarities to TV Burp . The show moved to Saturday evenings between 7.30 pm and 8.00 pm for a second series, aired in 2018, and a third in 2019. In 2020, Harry Hill started presenting Harry Hill's World of TV . Using archive clips, this TV Burp -style show pokes fun at television, with each episode themed around
861-500: A chicken, followed by a performance of the song "Hey Little Hen". In later series, Hill and Kwouk appeared in sketches as Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace . Hill's screen wife Mai Sung also made several appearances on the show, mainly on the theme of trying to steal his Abbey National bank savings book. Another character that featured on the show was Stouffer the Cat, a glove puppet cat made from blue rubber. Stouffer would normally sit in
984-513: A college and a PPH is that whereas colleges are governed by the fellows of the college, the governance of a PPH resides, at least in part, with the corresponding Christian denomination. The four current PPHs are: The PPHs and colleges join as the Conference of Colleges, which represents the common concerns of the several colleges of the university, to discuss matters of shared interest and to act collectively when necessary, such as in dealings with
1107-646: A diverse range of subjects. Facilities such as libraries are provided on all these levels: by the central university (the Bodleian ), by the departments (individual departmental libraries, such as the English Faculty Library), and by colleges (each of which maintains a multi-discipline library for the use of its members). The university's formal head is the Chancellor , currently Lord Patten of Barnes (due to retire in 2024), though as at most British universities,
1230-458: A doll of The Apprentice star Alan Sugar , who would regularly rap before clips of The Apprentice were introduced. The show was piloted in December 2001, before running for fifteen full series between 2002 and 2012, before being cancelled to allow Hill to work on other projects. Hill would occasionally say his catchphrase "Chippy chips!" and the show became known for another catchphrase "You get
1353-409: A first-year examination that was heavily focused on classical languages . Science students found this particularly burdensome and supported a separate science degree with Greek language study removed from their required courses. This concept of a Bachelor of Science had been adopted at other European universities ( London University had implemented it in 1860) but an 1880 proposal at Oxford to replace
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#17330853075861476-636: A former headmaster of Rugby School, was a key member of the Oxford Commission; he wanted Oxford to follow the German and Scottish model in which the professorship was paramount. The commission's report envisioned a centralised university run predominantly by professors and faculties, with a much stronger emphasis on research. The professional staff should be strengthened and better paid. For students, restrictions on entry should be dropped, and more opportunities given to poorer families. It called for an enlargement of
1599-572: A future King of Scots ; Balliol College bears his name. Another founder, Walter de Merton , a Lord Chancellor of England and afterwards Bishop of Rochester , devised a series of regulations for college life; Merton College thereby became the model for such establishments at Oxford, as well as at the University of Cambridge. Thereafter, an increasing number of students lived in colleges rather than in halls and religious houses. In 1333–1334, an attempt by some dissatisfied Oxford scholars to found
1722-606: A great love of the British 1970s rock band Queen , often getting musician(s) on his show to perform one of Queen's tunes in their own style. He has described his persona as a "know-all know-nothing blowhard who knows the answer to every question even though he hasn't been asked any of them". The character first appeared in 1994 during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in the show "Pub Internationale", with Harry Hill and Matthew Bradstock-Smith (who played "Little Alan" as well as
1845-449: A group which evolved into the Society of Oxford Home-Students and in 1952 into St Anne's College . These first three societies for women were followed by St Hugh's (1886) and St Hilda's (1893). All of these colleges later became coeducational, starting with Lady Margaret Hall and St Anne's in 1979, and finishing with St Hilda's , which began to accept male students in 2008. In
1968-470: A little and it put tons of distance between us. One of the things I took from boarding school is that it made me emotionally self-sufficient." Murray read Modern History at St Edmund Hall, Oxford . He performed in the comedy group the Oxford Revue , in a show directed by Stewart Lee . Having started out by touring with comedians such as Harry Hill and Frank Skinner , Murray won the Perrier Award at
2091-551: A major public fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Oxford . The current campaign, its second, was launched in May 2008 and is entitled "Oxford Thinking – The Campaign for the University of Oxford". This is looking to support three areas: academic posts and programmes, student support, and buildings and infrastructure; having passed its original target of £1.25 billion in March 2012, the target
2214-511: A member of the university, all students, and most academic staff, must also be a member of a college or hall. There are thirty-nine colleges of the University of Oxford and four permanent private halls (PPHs), each controlling its membership and with its own internal structure and activities. Not all colleges offer all courses, but they generally cover a broad range of subjects. The colleges are: The permanent private halls were founded by different Christian denominations. One difference between
2337-559: A new university at Stamford, Lincolnshire , was blocked by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge petitioning King Edward III . Thereafter, until the 1820s, no new universities were allowed to be founded in England, even in London; thus, Oxford and Cambridge had a duopoly, which was unusual in large western European countries. The new learning of the Renaissance greatly influenced Oxford from
2460-539: A podcast with historian James Holland called 'We Have Ways of Making You Talk', where they discuss battles and campaigns of World War II. Over 700 episodes have been released, including interviews with veterans and other historians, as well as Murray's narration of the book, 'The Cauldron' by Zeno. In October 2021, Murray presented the Sky History programme Why Do the Brits Win Every War? In each episode, Murray
2583-471: A range of academic departments which are organised into four divisions . Each college is a self-governing institution within the university, controlling its own membership and having its own internal structure and activities. All students are members of a college. The university does not have a main campus, but its buildings and facilities are scattered throughout the city centre. Undergraduate teaching at Oxford consists of lectures, small-group tutorials at
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#17330853075862706-567: A reverence for the past, a code of honour for the present, which could not but be serviceable. He had enjoyed opportunities... of intercourse with men, some of whom were certain to rise to the highest places in the Senate, in the Church, or at the Bar. He might have mixed with them in his sports, in his studies, and perhaps in his debating society; and any associations which he had this formed had been useful to him at
2829-558: A road trip to Blackpool with his Nan ( Julie Walters ) when he discovers that his hamster has only one week to live. The 88-minute film was directed by Steve Bendelack and made $ 3,647,870 at the box office. It was also released on DVD on 14 April 2014. Hill presented a revived version of the ITV talent show Stars in Their Eyes . The series aired for six episodes from 10 January until 14 February 2015. The revival has proved divisive. Fans of
2952-475: A rotating basis from any two of the colleges, are the internal ombudsmen who make sure that the university and its members adhere to its statutes. This role incorporates student discipline and complaints, as well as oversight of the university's proceedings. The university's professors are collectively referred to as the Statutory Professors of the University of Oxford . They are particularly influential in
3075-505: A short film about the band in 2002. At this time the lead singer Reid said of Murray: "He's still not a household name, but anyone who's into comedy knows who Al Murray is". Murray's principal character in performance is an English publican with conservative values and an animosity towards Germans and the French; he challenges audience members to name any country before producing some plausible instance of Britain bettering it. The character has
3198-525: A short film, Pub Fiction. He made a brief appearance as the Pub Landlord in Series 2, Episode 6 of Lee and Herring 's This Morning with Richard Not Judy . Murray's Pub Landlord theatre show, My Gaff, My Rules was short-listed for an Olivier Award in 2002. The Pub Landlord is the central character in the television series Time Gentlemen Please . He has made many other television appearances, including
3321-406: A similar format to Fruit Corner , Hill performed a series of sketches, with celebrity guests making cameo appearances. The series ran for six episodes on BBC2 between October and December 1994. For Christmas that year, a VHS containing a 100-minute compilation of the best material from the series, as well as unseen sketches, was released by BBC Video. Hill was a regular on Saturday Live , which
3444-557: A specific genre. In 2002, Hill published a novel entitled Flight from Deathrow , based around the unlikely fictional antics of real-life celebrities and politicians, as seen through the eyes of a storyteller who drifts in and out of a coma. His second book, Tim the Tiny Horse , was published in October 2006, and featured the tale of a small horse who has to wear glasses because of poor eyesight. Hill's third book, The Further Adventures of
3567-570: A throne, supported by a rubber arm in the style of Rod Hull , and was employed to intimidate guests during Hill's standup routines. Some of Stouffer's catchphrases are "he got a big face" and "sorted – respect due". At the end of each episode, an event called "The Badger Parade" was supposed to take place. The parade featured a number of puppet badgers that included " Gareth Southgate badger" and " Tasmin Archer badger", among others – however, every week, there would be some kind of problem, resulting in
3690-505: A weekly online comedy series on the ChannelFlip website, entitled Harry Hill's Little Internet Show . Ten episodes of the show were broadcast online. In 2003, The Observer listed Hill as one of the fifty funniest acts in British comedy. In 2005, in a poll to find The Comedian's Comedian , he was voted amongst the Top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. In 2007, Hill
3813-592: Is a fan of George Formby and is a member of the George Formby Society . On 8 March 2023, Hill joined math-rock band Black Midi onstage during their residency at the Village Underground in London. He performed a verse of Cardi B 's " I Like It " to applause. Hill is also a fan of former Black Midi front man, Geordie Greep. Hill is a supporter of the Labour Party and canvassed for the party during
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3936-600: Is an upside-down pound sign , not dissimilar to UKIP's purple and gold pound sign. Murray said: "it seems to me that the UK is ready for a bloke waving a pint around, offering common sense solutions", adding: "let it be known that like many of the parliamentary hopefuls in the forthcoming election, I have no idea where South Thanet is – but did that stop Margaret Thatcher from saving the Falkland Islands ? No!” Farage appeared to welcome his new opponent on Twitter , saying "the more,
4059-460: Is apocryphal. It is known that teaching at Oxford existed in some form as early as 1096, but it is unclear when the university came into being. Scholar Theobald of Étampes lectured at Oxford in the early 1100s. It grew quickly from 1167 when English students returned from the University of Paris . The historian Gerald of Wales lectured to such scholars in 1188, and the first known foreign scholar, Emo of Friesland , arrived in 1190. The head of
4182-475: Is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation . It grew rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris . After disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk, some Oxford academics fled northeast to Cambridge , where they established
4305-504: Is half boy and half speed camera , and Evelynne Hussey, a one-woman band who played a number of different instruments. While the show featured a game-show element, Help the Aged , it was very similar in structure to Harry Hill . In the show, Hill wore a pale yellow, custard-coloured shirt, with a giant collar, instead of his usual white collar. The series was never released on DVD; however, it did spawn Harry Hill's Whopping Great Joke Book ,
4428-549: The An Audience with... strand. He hosted three series of Al Murray's Happy Hour in a peak Saturday evening time slot for ITV in 2007–08. Theatre tours have included ...And a Glass of White Wine for the Lady (another catchphrase ) and Giving it Both Barrels . The Pub Landlord has hosted television programmes including Fact Hunt , named after the fictional quiz machine of the same name from Time Gentlemen Please . In addition,
4551-827: The Birmingham Repertory Theatre in February, before transferring to London's West End at the Phoenix Theatre in May for 13 weeks. Murray played the part of King Charles II in The Crown Jewels , a humorous play written by screenwriter Simon Nye and performed at the Garrick Theatre in London in 2023, about Colonel Blood 's theft of the Crown Jewels in 1671. The part of Blood was played by Aidan McArdle , and
4674-619: The Discovery Channel . This was a series about the last phase of the Second World War, taking him from the beaches of Normandy , through Arnhem and up the Rhine , ending in Berlin . He drove around in a restored Willys jeep , and interviewed survivors from both sides of the war. In the episode about Operation Market Garden he parachuted, together with veterans, from an aircraft, to commemorate
4797-671: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1999, after being nominated in 1996, 1997 and 1998. He started out with an act that involved sound-effect impressions, including guns, animals and a car boot. He made his first TV appearance on Channel 4's The Word in November 1991. With this act, he supported Jim Tavaré in Leeds in winter 1992. In 1994–95, Murray was the drummer in the band Evangelista, the house band at Stewart Lee and Simon Munnery's experimental Cluub Zarathustra in London. Film maker Martin Pickles made
4920-508: The England cricket team before their departure for the 2013–14 Ashes series . Murray was awarded an honorary degree (Hon MA) by the University of Bedfordshire in 2014, and an honorary doctorate of Social Science (Hon SScD) by the University of Wolverhampton in 2017. University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford , England. There
5043-597: The Examination Schools , where examinations and some lectures take place. The University Church of St Mary the Virgin was used for university ceremonies before the construction of the Sheldonian. In 2012–2013, the university built the controversial one-hectare (400 m × 25 m) Castle Mill development of 4–5-storey blocks of student flats overlooking Cripley Meadow and the historic Port Meadow , blocking views of
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5166-583: The High Street is the oldest botanic garden in the UK. It contains over 8,000 different plant species on 1.8 ha ( 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 acres). It is one of the most diverse yet compact major collections of plants in the world and includes representatives of over 90% of the higher plant families. The Harcourt Arboretum is a 130-acre (53 ha) site six miles (9.7 km) south of the city that includes native woodland and 67 acres (27 hectares) of meadow. The 1,000-acre (4.0 km ) Wytham Woods are owned by
5289-833: The New Wimbledon Theatre , as Jack's brother Al, in Jack and the Beanstalk , winning 'Best Newcomer' for this role, at the Great British Pantomime Awards in April 2018. In 2016, Murray appeared in Taskmaster series 3. He finished third overall. In October 2018, Murray fronted the History channel TV series Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate The English , appearing both as Al Murray and his alter-ego The Pub Landlord. The series looks at
5412-740: The Queen Mum , was published in October 2007, and was a comic take on the life and times of the Queen Mother. His fourth novel, Tim the Tiny Horse at Large , which is a sequel to Tim the Tiny Horse , was published in October 2009. In 2010, Hill released Livin' the Dreem , a fictional account of a year in his life with frequent references to pop culture. The book was reprinted in May 2011, with additional entries for events occurring between January and April of that year. A Complete History of Tim (the Tiny Horse)
5535-527: The Sky Atlantic sitcom This is Jinsy . Between July and October 2003, Hill presented a Sunday morning comedy and music show on Capital Radio called "Funch". In October 2006, Hill presented his own episode of long running ITV series, An Audience With... , in which he revived several characters from Harry Hill . On 4 October 2004, he also appeared in an episode of Room 101 . In November 2010, Hill released his debut comic album, 'Funny Times'. The album
5658-405: The University of Cambridge in 1209. The two English ancient universities share many common features and are jointly referred to as Oxbridge . The University of Oxford is made up of 43 constituent colleges, consisting of 36 semi-autonomous colleges , four permanent private halls and three societies (colleges that are departments of the university, without their own royal charter ), and
5781-631: The University of London in 1988. Hill worked as a houseman at Doncaster Royal Infirmary , before quitting the medical profession because he "didn't feel in control of what was happening"; he is still registered on the General Medical Council 's list of Registered Medical Practitioners . In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom , Hill nearly returned to work at the temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital London , after filling in
5904-533: The " steamboat ladies " to receive ad eundem degrees from the University of Dublin . In June 1878, the Association for the Education of Women (AEW) was formed, aiming for the eventual creation of a college for women in Oxford. Some of the more prominent members of the association were George Granville Bradley , T. H. Green and Edward Stuart Talbot . Talbot insisted on a specifically Anglican institution, which
6027-465: The "fun capsule" of the title) that Earthlings are good fun and therefore worthy of saving from destruction. Harry alludes to the premise of the show as being rather tenuous in a running joke during each show's introduction, before introducing the two teams of guests, usually a mix of comedians and television stars. In a similar style to Harry Hill's TV Burp , the show includes various clips from television and film, often attributed or related somehow to
6150-483: The 19th century included the replacement of oral examinations with written entrance tests, greater tolerance for religious dissent , and the establishment of four women's colleges. Privy Council decisions in the 20th century (e.g. the abolition of compulsory daily worship, dissociation of the Regius Professorship of Hebrew from clerical status, diversion of colleges' theological bequests to other purposes) loosened
6273-433: The 20th century, with the exception of St Antony's, which was founded as a men's college in 1950 and began to accept women only in 1962. By 1988, 40% of undergraduates at Oxford were female; in 2016, 45% of the student population, and 47% of undergraduate students, were female. In June 2017, Oxford announced that starting the following academic year, history students may choose to sit a take-home exam in some courses, with
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#17330853075866396-624: The Chancellor is a titular figurehead and is not involved with the day-to-day running of the university. The Chancellor is elected by the members of Convocation , a body comprising all graduates of the university, and may hold office until death. The Vice-Chancellor , currently Irene Tracey , is the de facto head of the university. Five pro-vice-chancellors have specific responsibilities for education; research; planning and resources; development and external affairs; and personnel and equal opportunities. Two university proctors , elected annually on
6519-456: The German armed forces, bearing the inscription, 'In memory of the men of this college who coming from a foreign land entered into the inheritance of this place and returning fought and died for their country in the war 1914–1918'. During the war years the university buildings became hospitals, cadet schools and military training camps. Two parliamentary commissions in 1852 issued recommendations for Oxford and Cambridge. Archibald Campbell Tait ,
6642-514: The ITV version included the Hamilton Challenge, featuring Neil and Christine Hamilton , and a butterfly in blue jeans. The Channel 4 series was revisited in August 2012, for a retrospective documentary entitled Whatever Happened to Harry Hill? . In October 2001, Hill moved to ITV in a lucrative deal, in which he created an all-new show, Harry Hill's TV Burp , where he would take a look at
6765-491: The Oxford Martin Principles. The total assets of the colleges of £6.3 billion also exceed total university assets of £4.1 billion. The college figure does not reflect all the assets held by the colleges as their accounts do not include the cost or value of many of their main sites or heritage assets such as works of art or libraries. The university was one of the first in the UK to raise money through
6888-419: The University of Oxford is long and includes many who have made major contributions to politics, the sciences, medicine, and literature. As of October 2022, 73 Nobel laureates and more than 50 world leaders have been affiliated with the University of Oxford. The university passed a statute in 1875 allowing examinations for women at roughly undergraduate level; for a brief period in the early 1900s, this allowed
7011-533: The University of Oxford, while its alumni have won 160 Olympic medals . Oxford is the home of numerous scholarships, including the Rhodes Scholarship , one of the oldest international graduate scholarship programmes. The University of Oxford's foundation date is unknown. In the 14th century, the historian Ranulf Higden wrote that the university was founded in the 10th century by Alfred the Great , but this story
7134-555: The armed forces. By 1918 virtually all fellows were in uniform, and the student population in residence was reduced to 12 per cent of the pre-war total. The University Roll of Service records that, in total, 14,792 members of the university served in the war, with 2,716 (18.36%) killed. Not all the members of the university who served in the Great War were on the Allied side; there is a remarkable memorial to members of New College who served in
7257-438: The badgers being unable to perform. In place of the badger parade, Hill would usually sing a song, with a guest that he had invited onto the show. A tie-in book relating to the series was released in October 1998, entitled Harry Hill's Fun Book . The series was cancelled in April 2000 but was revived by ITV in March 2003, as The All-New Harry Hill Show . It was broadcast along with episodes of TV Burp . Regular features on
7380-819: The basis of geographical origins, into two ' nations ', representing the North ( northerners or Boreales , who included the English people from north of the River Trent and the Scots ) and the South ( southerners or Australes , who included English people from south of the Trent, the Irish and the Welsh ). In later centuries, geographical origins continued to influence many students' affiliations when membership of
7503-425: The battle. Murray starred in Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder , a sketch show, which aired in early 2009. In late 2010, Murray made a documentary on German culture for BBC Four Al Murray's German Adventure in which he presented a different side of the German nation from the one portrayed by "The Pub Landlord" character. Murray invented his own potato crisps – branded "Steak and Al Pie" – as entered in
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#17330853075867626-449: The cast also included Neil Morrissey and Mel Giedroyc . On 14 January 2015, Murray announced his formation of the "Free United Kingdom Party" (FUKP) and declared his candidacy, deploying his Pub Landlord persona, for the seat of South Thanet running against UKIP leader Nigel Farage , as parliamentary candidate in the 2015 general election . Murray's agent, Dan Lloyd, told the BBC : "it's definitely happening". The party 's logo
7749-564: The central university. The Conference of Colleges was established as a recommendation of the Franks Commission in 1965. Teaching members of the colleges (i.e. fellows and tutors) are collectively and familiarly known as dons , although the term is rarely used by the university itself. In addition to residential and dining facilities, the colleges provide social, cultural, and recreational activities for their members. Colleges have responsibility for admitting undergraduates and organising their tuition; for graduates, this responsibility falls upon
7872-434: The character has ghost written four books: The Pub Landlord's Book of British Common Sense, The Pub Landlord's Think Yourself British, The Pub Landlord's Great British Quiz Book and Let's Re-Great Britain . Murray has an interest in music and is a semi-professional drummer. As a teenager, he played in the big band at Bedford School, and also played percussion in the Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra. He plays drums for
7995-404: The church was a requirement to graduate as a Bachelor of Arts, and " dissenters " were only permitted to be promoted to Master of Arts in 1871. The university was a centre of the Royalist party during the English Civil War (1642–1649), while the town favoured the opposing Parliamentarian cause. Wadham College , founded in 1610, was the undergraduate college of Sir Christopher Wren . Wren
8118-410: The city centre. The Science Area , in which most science departments are located, is the area that bears closest resemblance to a campus. The ten-acre (4-hectare) Radcliffe Observatory Quarter in the northwest of the city is currently under development. Iconic university buildings include the Radcliffe Camera , the Sheldonian Theatre used for music concerts, lectures, and university ceremonies, and
8241-458: The classical requirement with a modern language (like German or French) was unsuccessful. After considerable internal wrangling over the structure of the arts curriculum, in 1886 the "natural science preliminary" was recognised as a qualifying part of the first year examination. At the start of 1914, the university housed about 3,000 undergraduates and about 100 postgraduate students. During the First World War, many undergraduates and fellows joined
8364-432: The colleges and halls, seminars, laboratory work and occasionally further tutorials provided by the central university faculties and departments. Postgraduate teaching is provided in a predominantly centralised fashion. Oxford operates the Ashmolean Museum , the world's oldest university museum ; Oxford University Press , the largest university press in the world; and the largest academic library system nationwide. In
8487-412: The colleges', is managed by the university's wholly-owned endowment management office, Oxford University Endowment Management, formed in 2007. The university used to maintain substantial investments in fossil fuel companies. However, in April 2020, the university committed to divest from direct investments in fossil fuel companies and to require indirect investments in fossil fuel companies be subjected to
8610-401: The current guests. The guests also partake in sketches and songs based on or directly spoofing the funny or bizarre items featured. There is a regular slot entitled "Local News Round Up", accompanied by its own theme tune, which involves each of the guests taking turns to read out bizarre headlines from local newspapers. Alan the Alien also appears as a green extra-terrestrial's arm, emerging from
8733-578: The curriculum, with honours to be awarded in many new fields. Undergraduate scholarships should be open to all Britons. Graduate fellowships should be opened up to all members of the university. It recommended that fellows be released from an obligation for ordination. Students were to be allowed to save money by boarding in the city, instead of in a college. The system of separate honour schools for different subjects began in 1802, with Mathematics and Literae Humaniores . Schools of "Natural Sciences" and "Law, and Modern History" were added in 1853. By 1872,
8856-414: The departments. In 2017–18, the university had an income of £2,237m; key sources were research grants (£579.1m) and academic fees (£332.5m). The colleges had a total income of £492.9m. While the university has a larger annual income and operating budget, the colleges have a larger aggregate endowment: over £6.4bn compared to the university's £1.2bn. The central University's endowment, along with some of
8979-526: The early 19th century, the curriculum at Oxford was notoriously narrow and impractical. Sir Spencer Walpole , a historian of contemporary Britain and a senior government official, had not attended any university. He said, "Few medical men, few solicitors, few persons intended for commerce or trade, ever dreamed of passing through a university career." He quoted the Oxford University Commissioners in 1852 stating: "The education imparted at Oxford
9102-479: The early 20th century, Oxford and Cambridge were widely perceived to be bastions of male privilege ; however, the integration of women into Oxford moved forward during the First World War. In 1916 women were admitted as medical students on a par with men, and in 1917 the university accepted financial responsibility for women's examinations. On 7 October 1920 women became eligible for admission as full members of
9225-498: The fiscal year ending 31 July 2023, the university had a total consolidated income of £2.92 billion, of which £789 million was from research grants and contracts. Oxford has educated a wide range of notable alumni, including 31 prime ministers of the United Kingdom and many heads of state and government around the world. As of October 2022, 73 Nobel Prize laureates , 4 Fields Medalists , and 6 Turing Award winners have matriculated, worked, or held visiting fellowships at
9348-577: The form after "A few drinks". He was asked if he could start immediately due to his last medical specialism being in "Respiratory Emergencies". However, he turned down the role due to travel issues. Hill achieved his breakthrough in 1992, when he won the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Shortly after, a radio show starring Hill was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 entitled Harry Hill's Fruit Corner . Hill hosted
9471-560: The fossil fuel industry between 2010 and 2015, £18.8 million between 2015 and 2020 and £1.6 million between 2020 and 2021. Harry Hill Matthew Keith Hall (born 1 October 1964), known professionally as Harry Hill , is an English comedian, presenter and writer. He pursued a career in stand-up following years working as a medical doctor, developing an offbeat, energetic performance style that fused elements of surrealism , observational comedy , slapstick , satire and music . When performing, he usually wears browline glasses and
9594-437: The historical rivalries between England and its closest neighbours and features comedians Antoine de Caunes , Elis James , Andrew Maxwell , Fred MacAulay and Henning Wehn representing their respective nations. In 2019, Murray starred as his own ancestor William Makepeace Thackeray in a three-part BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Vanity Fair by Jim Poyser, with additional material by himself. In April 2019, Murray started
9717-412: The idea with that" and Hill's actual sideways look at a topic. The show won a number of BAFTA awards, and spawned five Best of TV Burp DVD compilations, and a book based on the series, which was released for Christmas 2009. From 2004 to 2022, Hill narrated 15 series of the comical clip show You've Been Framed! , often shortened to YBF! , replacing Jonathan Wilkes on the show. In February 2023, it
9840-623: The imperialist Cecil Rhodes in 1902. In 1996 a donation of £20 million was received from Wafic Saïd who was involved in the Al-Yammah arms deal , and taking £150 million from the US billionaire businessman Stephen A. Schwarzman in 2019. The university has defended its decisions saying it "takes legal, ethical and reputational issues into consideration". The university has also faced criticism, as noted above, over its decision to accept donations from fossil fuel companies having received £21.8 million from
9963-473: The intention that this will equalise rates of firsts awarded to women and men at Oxford. That same summer, maths and computer science tests were extended by 15 minutes, in a bid to see if female student scores would improve. The detective novel Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers , herself one of the first women to gain an academic degree from Oxford, is largely set in the all-female Shrewsbury College, Oxford (based on Sayers' own Somerville College ), and
10086-496: The issue of women's education is central to its plot. Social historian and Somerville College alumna Jane Robinson 's book Bluestockings: A Remarkable History of the First Women to Fight for an Education gives a very detailed and immersive account of this history. The university is a "city university" in that it does not have a main campus; instead, colleges, departments, accommodation, and other facilities are scattered throughout
10209-785: The keyboards in Hill's Edinburgh, radio and TV shows). The show featured the "Pub Band", with Murray playing the drums and compering. After trying out a character deemed not to have worked, at the opening show Murray suggested saying that the compere had not made it to the show and that the barman in the venue, the Pleasance Cabaret Bar, had offered to fill in. At the Edinburgh Festival , Murray came up with "The Pub Landlord". Murray made his first television appearances on Harry Hill in 1997 playing Harry's big brother Alan ("If it's too hard, I can't understand it!"), and subsequently featured in
10332-458: The last of these had split into "Jurisprudence" and "Modern History". Theology became the sixth honour school. In addition to these B.A. Honours degrees, the postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) was, and still is, offered. The mid-19th century saw the impact of the Oxford Movement (1833–1845), led among others by the future Cardinal John Henry Newman . Administrative reforms during
10455-568: The late 15th century onwards. Among university scholars of the period were William Grocyn , who contributed to the revival of Greek language studies, and John Colet , the noted biblical scholar . With the English Reformation and the breaking of communion with the Roman Catholic Church , recusant scholars from Oxford fled to continental Europe, settling especially at the University of Douai . The method of teaching at Oxford
10578-435: The link with traditional belief and practice. Furthermore, although the university's emphasis had historically been on classical knowledge, its curriculum expanded during the 19th century to include scientific and medical studies. The University of Oxford began to award doctorates for research in the first third of the 20th century. The first Oxford DPhil in mathematics was awarded in 1921. The list of distinguished scholars at
10701-495: The media during the vote count, Murray invited Farage to a drink in his pub to drown his sorrow at losing. Murray, together with Stephen Fry , supported Paul Chambers 's High Court appeals after Chambers had been arrested for contravening the Communications Act 2003 when a joke tweet was regarded by police as "menacing" and a terrorist threat. An appeal against Chambers's conviction was successful. In August 2014, Murray
10824-635: The merrier", and a spokesperson for the UKIP MEP said: "at last, serious competition in the constituency". The Conservative candidate, Craig Mackinlay , said he enjoyed Murray's video and his proclamations but was not worried that the comedian would split the anti-UKIP vote. Finally, the Labour candidate, Will Scobie, insisted it was "always good to have people putting their names forward to stand" and that Murray would "certainly make things interesting". When nominations for South Thanet were released on 9 April 2015, it
10947-594: The new yogurt, Danio by Danone . He also sang in 2001 " This Charming Man " by The Smiths as Morrissey in Stars in their Eyes . In February 2001, and again in April, Hill appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank . Hill has also appeared as a guest on the BBC Radio 4 series I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue , in the ChuckleVision episode "Mind Your Manors", the first episode of the twentieth series, and as Joon Boolay in
11070-706: The novelist William Makepeace Thackeray , Murray's grandfather was the former British ambassador Sir Ralph Murray , from the Scottish aristocracy and married into the Kuenberg family, Counts of the Holy Roman Empire . His maternal grandfather was killed in action at the Battle of Dunkirk . Murray was educated at Bedford School . He played percussion in the Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra, which
11193-409: The opportunity of making acquaintance with one another, and full liberty to live their lives in their own way, without evolving in the best among them, some admirable qualities of loyalty, independence, and self-control. If the average undergraduate carried from University little or no learning, which was of any service to him, he carried from it a knowledge of men and respect for his fellows and himself,
11316-419: The original format were extremely critical of it, saying that Hill had made the show about himself rather than the contestants. In April 2015, it was announced that the show had been axed by ITV, due to extremely poor ratings. Tea Time saw Hill welcome guests to a spoof comedy kitchen and ask them to cook bizarre things. A new entertainment series for Sky 1 , the first series debuted on 16 October 2016, and
11439-440: The rise of organised sport was one of the most remarkable and distinctive features of the history of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was carried over from the athleticism prevalent at the public schools such as Eton , Winchester , Shrewsbury , and Harrow . All students, regardless of their chosen area of study, were required to spend (at least) their first year preparing for
11562-723: The rock covers band T-34 and appeared at the Download Festival in 2010 , returning once again in 2011. Murray is a fan of the progressive rock bands Genesis , King Crimson and Yes . He appeared in the documentary Genesis: Together and Apart , and was announced as the host of the 2019 Progressive Music Awards for Prog magazine. Murray played in the Hampshire located Folk Rock band: Bemis "Folk Rock That Breathes New life into The Spirit of Woodstock" In 2013, Murray guest-starred in series 5 of children's show Horrible Histories . Murray presented Al Murray's Road to Berlin on
11685-594: The running of the university's graduate programmes. Examples of statutory professors are the Chichele Professorships and the Drummond Professor of Political Economy . The University of Oxford is only a "public university" in the sense that it receives some public money from the government, but it is a "private university" in the sense that it is entirely self-governing and, in theory, could choose to become entirely private by rejecting public funds. To be
11808-573: The show as himself, and each week he was joined by various guest performers, as well as regular character actors including Al Murray and Burt Kwouk . The show featured a variety of other celebrity guests during its run including Rolf Harris and Ronnie Corbett . Each episode is interspersed with Hill's stand-up routines. Fruit Corner ran for four series on BBC Radio 4 . Hill made his television breakthrough in 1994, when he starred in BBC2 black-and-white silent comedy series Harry Hill's Fruit Fancies . In
11931-487: The spires in the city centre. The development has been likened to building a "skyscraper beside Stonehenge ". The University Parks are a 70-acre (28 ha) parkland area in the northeast of the city, near Keble College , Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall . It is open to the public during daylight hours. There are also various college-owned open spaces open to the public, including Bagley Wood and most notably Christ Church Meadow . The Botanic Garden on
12054-481: The time, and might be a source of satisfaction to him in after life. Out of the students who matriculated in 1840, 65% were sons of professionals (34% were Anglican ministers). After graduation, 87% became professionals (59% as Anglican clergy). Out of the students who matriculated in 1870, 59% were sons of professionals (25% were Anglican ministers). After graduation, 87% became professionals (42% as Anglican clergy). M. C. Curthoys and H. S. Jones argue that
12177-422: The university and used for research in zoology and climate change . Colleges arrange the tutorial teaching for their undergraduates, and the members of an academic department are spread around many colleges. Though certain colleges do have subject alignments (e.g., Nuffield College as a centre for the social sciences), these are exceptions, and most colleges will have a broad mix of academics and students from
12300-407: The university and were given the right to take degrees. In 1927 the university's dons created a quota that limited the number of female students to a quarter that of men, a ruling which was not abolished until 1957. However, during this period Oxford colleges were single sex , so the number of women was also limited by the capacity of the women's colleges to admit students. It was not until 1959 that
12423-432: The university had the title of chancellor from at least 1201, and the masters were recognised as a universitas or corporation in 1231. The university was granted a royal charter in 1248 during the reign of King Henry III . After disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk in 1209, some academics fled from the violence to Cambridge , later forming the University of Cambridge . The students associated together on
12546-585: The university's statutes. These, to a large extent, remained its governing regulations until the mid-19th century. Laud was also responsible for the granting of a charter securing privileges for the University Press , and he made significant contributions to the Bodleian Library , the main library of the university. From the beginnings of the Church of England as the established church until 1866, membership of
12669-547: The week's television, showing clips from various British television programmes, and framing them with funny commentary or intercutting additional footage. The series would feature a regular stable of all new characters, including the Knitted Character, a small knitted rabbit, Wagbo, a demon love child whose parents are reportedly Wagner Carillho and Mary Byrne of X Factor fame, and an interpretation of Heather Trott from EastEnders , played by Steve Bernham, as well as
12792-466: The women's colleges were given full collegiate status. In 1974, Brasenose , Jesus , Wadham , Hertford and St Catherine's became the first previously all-male colleges to admit women. The majority of men's colleges accepted their first female students in 1979, with Christ Church following in 1980, and Oriel becoming the last men's college to admit women in 1985. Most of Oxford's graduate colleges were founded as coeducational establishments in
12915-493: Was a victim of identity theft ; a sum of £280,000 was stolen from his bank account. In Autumn 2008, Hill launched Harry's Nuts , a brand of Fairtrade peanuts. On 17 July 2014, Hill was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of Kent , in recognition of his contribution to television and the arts. On 25 August 2016, Hill became a patron of Action Duchenne which funds research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy , and fights for improved standards of care. Hill
13038-693: Was based in Bedford; the orchestra played concerts with the Bedfordshire county choirs. He also performed in the Bedfordshire second youth orchestra, in Dunstable. With the orchestra he performed in Spain, France and Scotland. Murray later said of his time at school: "When I was nine I was sent to boarding school, which I despised. The first five years were hideous because I wanted to be at home. I guess I resented my parents
13161-554: Was born in Woking , Surrey on 1 October 1964 and grew up in Staplehurst , Kent, where he attended the local primary school. At the age of 14, Hill moved with his family to Hong Kong for two years and attended Island School there. He was later educated at Angley School and then Cranbrook School in Kent and St George's Hospital Medical School . He received his MBBS medical degree from
13284-418: Was broadcast in 1996 on ITV for eight episodes. Harry Hill got his own television series on Channel 4 in 1997. Among the regular characters were Harry Hill's big brother, Alan, played by Al Murray, and his adopted son, Alan Jr., played by Matt Bradstock. Burt Kwouk also appeared in many episodes as Harry's "Chicken Catcher" – and each week, he would come up with an excuse as to why he has not yet captured
13407-513: Was confirmed that Murray would appear on the ballot paper with no description, rather than his FUKP name and emblem. The results of the election were announced on 8 May, revealing that Murray received 318 votes. When it was announced that Farage had failed to get elected, coming second in the poll to the Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay , Murray's reaction – feigning shock and clapping on stage – garnered widespread media attention. Speaking to
13530-530: Was joined by a different guest in examining conflicts against the Romans, Vikings, Scottish, French, Americans, and Germans. The programme features Bruno Tonioli , John Thomson , Sanjeev Kohli , Reginald D. Hunter , and Henning Wehn. In 2023, Murray co-wrote with Matt Forde and Sean Foley and is a voiceover artist Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical based on the TV series Spitting Image , which premiered at
13653-548: Was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in 2007 he was voted the 16th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4 's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups. He continues to perform as a stand-up and is a regular on British TV and radio. Murray was born in Stewkley , Buckinghamshire . His father was a lieutenant colonel in 131 (Parachute) Regiment, Royal Engineers and worked for British Rail . A descendant of
13776-428: Was not such as to conduce to the advancement in life of many persons, except those intended for the ministry." Nevertheless, Walpole argued: Among the many deficiencies attending a university education there was, however, one good thing about it, and that was the education which the undergraduates gave themselves. It was impossible to collect some thousand or twelve hundred of the best young men in England, to give them
13899-520: Was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue . Murray married Amber Hargreaves in 2002. The couple, who have two daughters, separated in 2008. He now resides in Chiswick . Murray is a keen cricket fan, and was invited to attend a farewell lunch for
14022-553: Was part of a brilliant group of experimental scientists at Oxford in the 1650s, the Oxford Philosophical Club , which included Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke . This group, which has at times been linked with Boyle's " Invisible College ", held regular meetings at Wadham under the guidance of the college's Warden, John Wilkins , and the group formed the nucleus that went on to found the Royal Society . Before reforms in
14145-565: Was preceded by the singles 'I Wanna Baby', 'SuBo', and 'Ken!', which features William Roache , as his Coronation Street character, Ken Barlow , is the feature of the song. Since October 2010, Hill has had his own comic strip in The Dandy , entitled Harry Hill's Real Life Adventures in TV Land , drawn by Nigel Parkinson . Hill was directly involved in its creation and is co-credited with Parkinson. Between October and December 2010, Hill starred in
14268-593: Was published in November 2012 which contains the first two Tim the Tiny Horse novels, with four new stories. Hill has recorded voice-overs on television commercials. Advertisements that Hill has provided a voice over for include the holiday adverts for Boots in 2004, the "Bring on the Branston!" adverts for the Branston Pickle brand during 2006 to 2007, adverts for the Green Flag car breakdown service, and adverts for
14391-405: Was raised to £3 billion. The campaign had raised a total of £2.8 billion by July 2018. The university has faced criticism for some of its sources of donations and funding. In 2017, attention was drawn to historical donations including All Souls College receiving £10,000 from slave trader Christopher Codrington in 1710, and Oriel College having receiving taken £100,000 from the will of
14514-536: Was reported that the show had been axed by ITV. In October 2005, Hill wrote and starred in Harry Hill's Shark Infested Custard , a thirteen-part show broadcast in the CITV children's television slot, on ITV . While many of his well-known characters, such as Stouffer and Garry Hill, his fictional layabout son from his first marriage, remained, it also showcased several new characters, including Speed Camera Boy, an outsider who
14637-445: Was transformed from the medieval scholastic method to Renaissance education, although institutions associated with the university suffered losses of land and revenues. As a centre of learning and scholarship, Oxford's reputation declined in the Age of Enlightenment ; enrolments fell and teaching was neglected. In 1636, William Laud , the chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury , codified
14760-649: Was unable to be there and sent Wagbo to collect it on his behalf. He was also nominated for 3 other awards, including the People's Choice Award, which was won by Miranda Hart. Hill married artist Magda Archer in 1996, in Wandsworth , London. They have three daughters: Kitty Clover, Winifred Millicent and Frederica Aster, all born in Kensington and Chelsea . Hill and his family live in Whitstable , Kent . In February 2006, Hill
14883-486: Was unacceptable to most of the other members. The two parties eventually split, and Talbot's group founded Lady Margaret Hall in 1878, while T. H. Green founded the non-denominational Somerville College in 1879. Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville opened their doors to their first 21 students (12 at Somerville, 9 at Lady Margaret Hall) in 1879, who attended lectures in rooms above an Oxford baker's shop. There were also 25 women students living at home or with friends in 1879,
15006-733: Was viewed by 400,000 viewers. Ratings slipped the following week, when only 180,000 watched. Guests for the first series included Paul Hollywood , Joey Essex , Gok Wan , Martin Kemp and Jason Donovan . Harry Hill's Tea Time was commissioned for a second series which began airing in January 2018. In March 2017, Hill began presenting six thirty-minute episode of Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule , which aired on ITV on Thursday nights, 8.30 to 9 pm. The panel show sees Harry welcoming two teams of two celebrity guests as they are tasked with saving planet Earth from alien invasion by sending evidence (via
15129-408: Was voted #5 on Channel 4's hundred greatest stand ups. On 13 December 2006, Hill won two Highland Spring British Comedy Awards , over the favourites Ant and Dec , which Hill made light of in his acceptance speeches. In 2008, he won two BAFTAs, and another in 2009 for Best Entertainment Performance. In 2009, he won two British Comedy Awards , making it his sixth award. He also won again in 2011, but
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