On January 1, 2026, a moment of televised confusion quickly became the talk of social media and political circles when former Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer appeared on the University Challenge Christmas special on BBC Two. What should have been a straightforward geography question instead sparked laughter, criticism, and a fresh look at the intersection of politics and pop culture knowledge.
Denyer, now a Member of Parliament for Bristol Central and former co-leader of the Green Party, captained the Durham University alumni team in the semi-final round against Trinity College Cambridge. The stakes were high, but it was a single question from host Amol Rajan that would steal the show and set off a chain reaction online.
Rajan posed, "Now the most populous city north of the Arctic Circle, which Russian city was founded on the Kola Peninsula in the 1910s to serve as a naturally ice-free seaport for the country?" The Durham team, which included journalist and TikTok influencer Sophia Smith Galer, broadcaster Tracey MacLeod, and art historian Liz James, huddled for a quick consultation. Smith Galer hesitantly asked, "Minsk isn't in Russia is it?" MacLeod, perhaps recalling an old TV trope, replied, "Yes," prompting Denyer to hazard the answer: "Minsk?"
The response drew immediate laughter from Rajan, who corrected the team: "Minsk is the capital of Belarus. It's Murmansk that we're after." According to BBC, the moment was lighthearted, but the fallout was anything but.
Despite the misstep, the Durham team rallied to a convincing victory, beating Trinity College Cambridge by a score of 185 to 125. Their win secured them a spot in the final, set to air on January 2, 2026, at 8:30 pm on BBC Two, where they would face Keble College Oxford, who had bested University College London in the other semi-final.
But the geography gaffe quickly overshadowed the win. As soon as the episode aired, viewers took to social media to voice their reactions. One Twitter user wrote, "Carla Denyer MP, until recently leader of the Greens, was on University Challenge last night and she didn't know where Minsk was. Am I being unreasonable in thinking that seems like a pretty big knowledge gap for a party leader given events in Ukraine over the last four years?" Others, however, were more forgiving, with one noting, "I'm no fan of hers but she's been consistently pretty good on this University Challenge series. Depth of general knowledge seems to be very good and probably puts a lot of other MPs to shame."
The mistake even drew pop culture comparisons, with several viewers recalling a 1994 episode of the TV comedy Friends in which Minsk is described as being "in Russia"—an error that, decades later, found new life on a British quiz show. "Maybe got her geopolitics knowledge from Friends which also made this error?" joked another user.
While the blunder was fodder for internet memes and gentle ribbing, it also sparked a more serious conversation about the expectations placed on public figures, especially in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions. Minsk, as many pointed out, was part of Russia from 1793, following the Second Partition of Poland, until the revolution and formation of the Soviet Union. After the First World War, it became the capital of the Belorussian republic from 1919 until 1991, when Belarus gained independence after the fall of communism. The city's complex history, coupled with the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, made the error more than just a harmless slip for some observers.
Denyer herself has been outspoken on the war in Ukraine. On the third anniversary of the conflict in February 2025, she called for the UK government to maintain strong support for Ukraine and to tighten sanctions on Russia. As reported by The Telegraph, Denyer stated, "Our unwavering position is that the voice of Ukraine must be front and centre of the peace talks that must take place. It is for the people of Ukraine to decide their future. Not Putin, not Trump. The UK Government could and should be doing much more to tighten sanctions on Russia. Sales of Russian fossil fuels are paying for the missiles and drones used to attack Ukrainian civilians. The UK Government must close all the loopholes enabling the Kremlin to refill its war chest. Ukrainians who came to the UK to seek safety and still cannot return to their war-torn homes must be given ongoing protection and proper support."
Denyer's background adds another layer to the story. She studied mechanical engineering at St Chad's College, Durham from 2005 to 2009 before working in renewable energy and then moving into politics. Elected in the 2024 General Election as MP for Bristol Central, Denyer was one of four Green Party politicians to win seats that year—a record for the party. She served as co-leader from October 2021 to September 2025, stepping down to focus on her parliamentary duties and succeeded by Zack Polanski.
Her teammates on the University Challenge episode brought their own credentials: Smith Galer is known for her journalism and social media presence, MacLeod is a former BBC presenter, and James is an art historian. Together, they formed a formidable team, despite the now-famous misfire on Eastern European geography.
The incident also reignited debate about the standards to which politicians are held. Some viewers expressed disappointment, arguing that a basic grasp of European geography is essential for anyone involved in policymaking—especially given the ongoing war in Ukraine and the broader context of UK foreign policy. Others, however, saw the error as a humanizing moment, pointing out that even the most knowledgeable people can make mistakes under pressure.
For Denyer, the episode may simply be a footnote in a career marked by advocacy and public service. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder that even politicians—no matter how well-versed in policy or passionate about global issues—are not immune to the occasional slip of the tongue or momentary lapse in memory. And as the laughter from Amol Rajan and the viewing public demonstrated, sometimes a little humility and good humor are the best responses of all.
The University Challenge Christmas 2025 final, featuring Denyer and the Durham team, aired as scheduled on January 2, 2026, giving them another chance to showcase their knowledge—and perhaps avoid any more geographical pitfalls.
Whether remembered for the blunder or the victory, the episode has certainly left its mark, proving once again that quiz shows can be both a test of knowledge and a mirror for the public’s expectations of those in the spotlight.
