How well do you know The Open University?

Bit of an easy one to start you off - we are celebrating its 50th Anniversary after all! Fun fact: after its founding in 1969, the OU took its first 24,000 students in 1971.

The Open University has its headquarters at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes, which is roughly 80km north of Central London.

Getting tricky now! Martha Lane Fox, Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, was installed as the sixth Chancellor of The Open University at the Milton Keynes degree ceremony on 10th September 2014, succeeding Lord Puttnam who stepped down after seven years in the role.

Fun fact: all the other options are linked to the Open University, too! Professor Mary Kellett became Vice-Chancellor in 2018, and Professor Josie Fraser was appointed acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2019. Malcolm Sweeting is the OU's current Pro Chancellor, whose role is to Chair the OU's Council.

Britain's former Labour Prime Minister took up office in 2007, but did you know he was also a part-time tutor at The Open University? Now you do! It was his first 'real' job before he took up politics.

You may also be familiar with one of the options here: Harold Wilson. He was actually one of the key founding members of The Open University!

It all began with 861 students studying the first law module 'W200 Understanding Law' in 1998, but now the OU is proudly the largest provider of Law graduates in the United Kingdom.

The Open University is one of few universities to have won the University Challenge twice - once in 1985, and the other in 1999. They were also the runners-up in 1997! As of 2019, the OU currently sits in the joint third highest position in the University Challenge all-time rankings.

Famous British stand-up comedian, actor, singer, writer and television presenter Sir Lenny Henry graduated from the Open University in 2017 with a degree in English Literature (BA Hons).

He's an Olympic Gold medalist winner in the Men's canoe slalom C-2 event, an appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and a student at the Open University currently studying Psychology - Etienne Stott is truly remarkable!

Fun fact: At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Etienne Stott and partner Tim Baillie managed to win the coveted gold medal by going completely undefeated (after running first, no less!) despite only just taking the last qualifying spot in the semi-final.

The Open University's TV broadcasts are an important aspect of its 50 year history, and the very first broadcast was aired on January 3rd 1971, live on BBC 2 at 11am! 

Fast-forward almost 36 years to December 16, 2006 at 05:30am when the last Open University course-related TV programme would be broadcast. Definitely the end of an era!