Manchester University provides the venue for this semi-final, the first of four, one of which is reserved for the four best runners-up.

Tonight's semi-finalists and their special subjects are:

STEVEN SCHNEEBAUM, law student, United States Constitution JOHN HART, schoolmaster, Rome and Romans: 1st Century BC MARTIN MCCLELLAND, sheet-metal worker, British Military Campaigns: 1700-1815

DAVID BURNS, Local Government officer, Life and Reign of Richard III

The winner of this match will go forward into the final.