The University of Liverpool is host to four contenders from the north west of England who compete for a place in the semi-finals.
Philip Wilson (computer system administrator) The life and career of Kathleen Ferrier
Hilary Carlisle (general practitioner) The life and regency novels of Georgette Heyer
David Kenrick (business consultant) The life and times of Neville Chamberlain
Philip Gray (planning manager) The history of the Arabs, AD 200-750