By Nayeema Chowdhury

Day Three: Oxford

Snooty Oxford received a good dose of Newcastle Gateshead culture as the BBC Bluebus rolled up in Broad Street in Day Three of the Capital of Culture tour.

With the Oxford Culture Team's Chief Exec Robert Hutchinson's recent comments about Newcastle Gateshead people lacking the intelligence to appreciate real culture, we were ready for battle to commence.

Paul and Ian prepare to do battle with the Oxford intellectuals

Paul and Ian grilled guest Paul Langford - Chair of Oxford Inspired about their bid and challenged the passion of Oxford people for the title.

The response from the Oxford people was far from enthusiastic. Indeed, many came up to the bus to voice their support for Newcastle Gateshead instead.

Helen O'Keeffe supports the Newcastle Gateshead bid

While our welcome to Oxford may not have been as warm as that from the people of Cardiff, the bus was inundated with expats which certainly brightened our day.

Helen O'Keeffe, from Hebburn, is studying at Lincoln College, Oxford.

She says: "Newcastle Gateshead is everything from the people to what's going on. It's not just about Capital of Culture, the whole city is being regenerated."

Bridget Phillipson - homesick for the North East

The bus was provided a reminder of home for Bridget Phillipson from Washington, currently a student at Hertford College.

She says: "Newcastle Gateshead has so much going for it. I never thought I would miss it so much when I am away."

David Russell- another North East intellectual in Oxford.

David Russell, from Burnopfield, currently studying at Balliol gives Newcastle Gateshead the thumbs up. "It is a great place to grow up and infinitely better than Oxford," he says.

And the bus was given a warm welcome by Nigel Eggleton, formerly of Jesmond, now Commercial director of Go Ahead buses in Oxford.

He says: "I live in Oxford now, but whenever I head back up North, it always feels like home when I am crossing the Tyne."

The Radio Newcastle listeners, Chris and Eva Taylor gave Oxford six out of ten in their report so Cardiff is still the favourite stop so far with eight and a half. Can Birmingham do any better?