Fans of University Challenge have defended a contestant after she was trolled on Twitter over her gender.

Sophie Rudd appeared on the BBC Two quiz show as a member of the University of Warwick team during Monday’s episode.

The computer science master’s degree student became the subject of negative tweets posted on the social networking site as the Jeremy Paxman-fronted programme aired.

Sophie Rudd appeared on University Challenge on Monday
Sophie Rudd was trolled on Twitter as she appeared on University Challenge on Monday (BBC/BBC iPlayer grab)

Prompted by the comments, viewers of the long-running show took to Twitter to defend Sophie.

Hailed as “one of the brightest stars of this year’s University Challenge” by one viewer, Sophie was also called a “genius” for helping lead her team to victory.

One viewer wrote: “Notice University Challenge trending and think “wow” then see it’s simply because mocking and questioning of someone’s gender ‘sigh’.”

Another added: “University Challenge, does it really matter what gender a contestant on a TV show is? Chances are she’s brighter than you.”

Sophie and her fellow contestants Sophie Hobbs, Thomas Van and captain Giles Hutchings were the winners of the episode against students from the University of Liverpool.

The BBC declined to comment.