Comics Emma Sidi, Jessica Fostekew and Jamie MacDonald are to appear on the celebrity editions of University Challenge.

Sidi, pictured, will be representing Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where she studied French and Spanish, and her teammates will be composer Robert Laidlow and journalists Stig Abell and Andrew Harding. 

They take on rival Cambridge college Queens’ – whose team includes former comedy critic turned novelist Stephanie Merritt – on December 30.

Fostekew is on the team of the London School of Economics, where she studied law. She will be seated alongside UK National Statistician Sir Ian Diamond; Oxfam chief executive Halima Begum and journalist and historian Mark Urban.

They take on a St Andrew’s university team that includes MacDonald – an ancient history graduate – as well as art history professor Abigail Harrison, actress Abigail Thorn and documentary-maker Tim Samuels on New Year’s Eve.

Actress and comedy impressionist Debra Stephenson is also taking part, representing Manchester Metropolitan University, while comic turned paranormal expert Danny Robins will be part of the University of Bristol team.

A total of 56 alumni from 14 universities are taking part in the new season, which kicks off on BBC Two and iPlayer on December 23.

Host Amol Rajan says: ‘There is always something magical about the Christmas series of University Challenge, and this year is no exception. 

‘The contestants are a rather lovely bunch of journalists, academics, politicians and other assorted professionals, all trying desperately to remind themselves of what they've forgotten from their own student days. I can't give away too much but we have some wonderful laughs, several thrilling finishes, and a little Christmas surprise that you won't want - or be able - to miss.’